SeaShell finds code by meaning, not just text. Its codebase index runs hybrid semantic and keyword retrieval and fuses the two ranked lists with reciprocal rank fusion, returning the exact file and line spans that answer a query. It chunks code by AST declarations with tree-sitter and can embed locally with Ollama in 2026.
Semantic plus keyword, fused
Keyword search finds exact text; semantic search finds meaning. SeaShell runs both and fuses the ranked lists with reciprocal rank fusion, so a query like where do we validate auth tokens lands on the right code even without a literal match.
This hybrid approach avoids the failure modes of either method alone. Pure keyword search misses paraphrases; pure semantic search can drift. Fusing them gives results that are both precise and meaning-aware, which is what a coding agent needs to gather context before it edits.
AST-aware chunking
SeaShell indexes code by AST declarations using tree-sitter, emitting one chunk per function, class, or method rather than blind line windows. Results point at named symbols with exact line ranges.
Declaration-level chunks mean retrieval returns coherent units of code, not arbitrary slices. Gaps between declarations are line-windowed so nothing is lost, and unsupported languages fall back gracefully. The index is incremental and hash-keyed, so re-indexing only touches what changed.
Local-first and private
SeaShell can build its code index with local Ollama embeddings, keeping your code off third-party servers. The index is stored outside the repository and keyed per project.
For teams with privacy requirements, local embeddings mean semantic search never sends source to an external service. The same hybrid search powers the agent's context gathering, so better retrieval directly improves the quality of the changes SeaShell proposes.
Frequently asked questions
- How does SeaShell search code?
- SeaShell uses hybrid semantic and keyword retrieval fused by reciprocal rank fusion, returning ranked file and line spans that answer a query.
- What is reciprocal rank fusion?
- It is a method that blends multiple ranked result lists into one, letting SeaShell combine semantic and keyword matches into a single ranking.
- Does SeaShell understand code structure?
- Yes. SeaShell chunks code by AST declarations with tree-sitter, so results point at functions, classes, and methods rather than arbitrary line ranges.
- Can code search run locally?
- Yes. SeaShell can build its index with local Ollama embeddings, keeping code off third-party servers.
Try SeaShell in your terminal
The terminal-native AI coding agent. Free core, single binary.
Install SeaShellRelated guides
Atlas vs Gemini CLI: Terminal AI Coding Agents in 2026
Comparing Atlas and Gemini CLI in 2026: Atlas offers terminal-native TUI, detailed change review, and BYO model flexibility. Gemini CLI provides a million-plus token context and a generous free tier.
Atlas vs PearAI: A Developer's Guide to AI Coding Agents in 2026
Comparing Atlas, the terminal-native AI coding agent, with PearAI, a VS Code fork aggregating open agents, for developers in 2026. Evaluate features, pricing, and ecosystem.
Atlas with Claude Opus 4.8 in 2026
Discover Atlas with Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic's top coding model released in May 2026. Leverage its 1M token context window and advanced reasoning for complex multi-file refactors at $5/$25 per Mtok.
Upgrade a Dependency and Fix the Breakage with Atlas (2026 Workflow)
How to upgrade a dependency and fix the breakage with Atlas in 2026: bash drives the package manager, webfetch pulls the release notes, edit fixes each compiler error.
Atlas for Python in 2026
Atlas is a terminal-native AI coding agent for Python in 2026. Run it in a repo with a pyproject.toml or requirements.txt and review every diff before it lands.
Atlas with Command R 35B (Ollama) in 2026
Explore Atlas with Command R 35B (Ollama) in 2026. This free, self-hosted model offers a 128K context window, excelling at RAG and tool use for your terminal-native AI coding agent.
Atlas for Swift in 2026
Atlas for Swift in 2026 empowers developers with a terminal-native AI coding agent. Index code by AST, ensure privacy with local embeddings, and review changes with unified diffs.
Atlas for Flutter in 2026
Discover Atlas for Flutter in 2026. This terminal-native AI coding agent helps Flutter developers build apps faster and safer, integrating with widgets, state, and the Dart toolchain.