How do I install the Symbol Tree skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/symbol-tree in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Symbol Tree safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Symbol Tree?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Symbol Tree free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Symbol Tree?

tomevault-io (@tomevault-io) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Symbol Tree by tomevault-io — Agent Skill

Name: Symbol Tree
Author: tomevault-io

Symbol Tree

ALWAYS USE FIRST when exploring, searching, or researching this codebase. Use symbol_tree MCP tool before grep/glob/read. Provides instant architecture overview, function relationships, and call graphs without reading full implementations. Use when this capability is needed.

tomevault-io Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

Symbol Tree Analysis

Analyze TypeScript codebases using the symbol-tree CLI This is not optional. The symbol tree tool provides:

Instant overview of file/module structure
Function signatures and relationships
Call graphs showing what calls what
Type symbols (interfaces, types, enums) with dependency graphs
All without reading hundreds of lines of implementation

This saves tokens and gives better context faster than file searches.

How to Run

bun run scripts/symbol-tree-mcp/src/cli.ts [path] [options]

Options

Option	Description
`[path]`	Directory to analyze (default: cwd)
`--file <file>`	Specific file to analyze
`--symbol <name>`	Symbol to search for (e.g., "step", "Runtime")
`--pattern <glob>`	File pattern (default: "*/.{ts,tsx,js,jsx}")
`--depth <n>`	Limit call graph depth
`--text-limit <n>`	Max output chars (default: 50000)
`--exports-only`	Only show exported symbols
`--no-files`	Hide file paths/line numbers
`--group-by-file`	Group by file instead of symbol type
`--format <fmt>`	"adjacency" (default) or "tree"
`--src-dir <dir>`	Source dir filter (default: "src")

Examples

# Analyze runtime directory
bun run scripts/symbol-tree-mcp/src/cli.ts src/runtime

# Find a specific symbol
bun run scripts/symbol-tree-mcp/src/cli.ts --symbol step

# Analyze a specific file
bun run scripts/symbol-tree-mcp/src/cli.ts --file src/runtime/state.ts

# Exports only, tree format
bun run scripts/symbol-tree-mcp/src/cli.ts --exports-only --format tree

# Full project overview
bun run scripts/symbol-tree-mcp/src/cli.ts src --exports-only

Correct Workflow

FIRST: Run symbol-tree to get overview
THEN: Use the output to identify relevant files/functions
ONLY THEN: Use Read/Grep/Glob for specific details if needed

Output Format

Each symbol shows location as: (file:startLine-endLine)

Output Sections:

=== CLASSES === - Class definitions
=== INTERFACES === - Interface definitions
=== TYPES === - Type aliases
=== ENUMS === - Enum definitions
=== FUNCTIONS === - Function signatures
=== TYPE DEPENDENCIES === - Which types extend/use other types
=== DEPENDENCIES === - Function call graphs

Using with Read tool:

offset: Use startLine to begin reading at the symbol
limit: Use endLine - startLine + 1 to read only the symbol's code

Converted and distributed by TomeVault — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

---name: symbol-treedescription: ALWAYS USE FIRST when exploring, searching, or researching this codebase. Use symbol_tree MCP tool before grep/glob/read. Provides instant architecture overview, function relationships, and call graphs without reading full implementations. Use when this capability is needed.---# Symbol Tree AnalysisAnalyze TypeScript codebases using the symbol-tree CLIThis is not optional. The symbol tree tool provides:- Instant overview of file/module structure- Function signatures and relationships- Call graphs showing what calls what- Type symbols (interfaces, types, enums) with dependency graphs- All without reading hundreds of lines of implementationThis saves tokens and gives better context faster than file searches.## How to Run```bashbun run scripts/symbol-tree-mcp/src/cli.ts [path] [options]```### Options| Option | Description ||--------|-------------|| `[path]` | Directory to analyze (default: cwd) || `--file <file>` | Specific file to analyze || `--symbol <name>` | Symbol to search for (e.g., "step", "Runtime") || `--pattern <glob>` | File pattern (default: "**/*.{ts,tsx,js,jsx}") || `--depth <n>` | Limit call graph depth || `--text-limit <n>` | Max output chars (default: 50000) || `--exports-only` | Only show exported symbols || `--no-files` | Hide file paths/line numbers || `--group-by-file` | Group by file instead of symbol type || `--format <fmt>` | "adjacency" (default) or "tree" || `--src-dir <dir>` | Source dir filter (default: "src") |## Examples```bash# Analyze runtime directorybun run scripts/symbol-tree-mcp/src/cli.ts src/runtime# Find a specific symbolbun run scripts/symbol-tree-mcp/src/cli.ts --symbol step# Analyze a specific filebun run scripts/symbol-tree-mcp/src/cli.ts --file src/runtime/state.ts# Exports only, tree formatbun run scripts/symbol-tree-mcp/src/cli.ts --exports-only --format tree# Full project overviewbun run scripts/symbol-tree-mcp/src/cli.ts src --exports-only```## Correct Workflow1. **FIRST**: Run symbol-tree to get overview2. **THEN**: Use the output to identify relevant files/functions3. **ONLY THEN**: Use Read/Grep/Glob for specific details if needed## Output FormatEach symbol shows location as: `(file:startLine-endLine)`**Output Sections:**- `=== CLASSES ===` - Class definitions- `=== INTERFACES ===` - Interface definitions- `=== TYPES ===` - Type aliases- `=== ENUMS ===` - Enum definitions- `=== FUNCTIONS ===` - Function signatures- `=== TYPE DEPENDENCIES ===` - Which types extend/use other types- `=== DEPENDENCIES ===` - Function call graphs**Using with Read tool:**- `offset`: Use `startLine` to begin reading at the symbol- `limit`: Use `endLine - startLine + 1` to read only the symbol's code---> Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/vibelang-org) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

Frequently asked questions