arc-search

Search indexed collections with semantic and full-text queries.

7|2|Updated Oct 19, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/cwensel/arcaneum --skill arc-search
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: arc-search
Source: https://github.com/cwensel/arcaneum/tree/main/.claude-plugin/skills/arc-search
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/cwensel/arcaneum --skill arc-search

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill enables fast discovery by combining semantic understanding with exact text search across all indexed collections, so you can locate relevant content in code, Markdown, PDFs, or knowledge bases with a single query.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Semantic Search: Understands concepts and retrieves conceptually related results across multiple collections.
  • Full-Text Search: Finds exact phrases and terms within documents, code, and notes.
  • Cross-Content Discovery: Mixes results from PDFs, Markdown, and source code to surface the most relevant content.
  • Use Case: Quickly locate a function reference, a policy paragraph, or a design note across your project repository without manual browsing.

Quick Start

arc collection list arc search semantic "authentication" --collection MyCode --limit 10 arc search text "parse" --collection Docs --limit 5

Frequently Asked Questions about arc-search

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I search across multiple collections by semantic meaning?

Semantic search understands concepts and retrieves contextually related results across indexed collections. Use `arc search semantic "your-query"` to find content by meaning rather than exact word matches, useful for locating related functions, design notes, or policy paragraphs across code, Markdown, and PDFs.

Can I search for exact phrases and terms in my indexed documents?

Full-text search finds exact phrases and terms within indexed content. Run `arc search text "your-phrase"` to locate specific code snippets, documentation sections, or references across your knowledge base without semantic approximation.

What file formats does arc-search work with?

Arc-search indexes and searches across code, Markdown, PDFs, and other documents stored in collections. You can query any content type added to your indexed collections using semantic or text search commands.

How do I list and filter my indexed collections?

Use `arc collection list` to view all indexed collections, then target specific ones with the `--collection` flag in search commands. Results can be filtered by metadata using `--filter` and returned as JSON with `--json` for structured output.

Can I limit search results and get structured output?

Yes, use the `--limit` parameter to cap result count and `--json` flag to return results in machine-readable format. Both semantic and text search support these options for controlling result scope and enabling downstream processing.

What's the difference between semantic and text search for discovery?

Semantic search retrieves conceptually related content using similarity, while text search finds exact term matches. Use semantic search for exploratory discovery across diverse content types and text search when you know specific phrases or code syntax to locate.