using-ctx-tree

Use ctx-tree's MCP tools whenever token savings, context control, or recall across tool calls would be valuable. This applies broadly — not only to large codebases or long sessions.

Tools

• ctx_tree_read — read a file with symbol-level chunking; use budget_tokens to cap output
• ctx_tree_grep — search with ripgrep; results stored as graph nodes for future recall
• ctx_tree_search — keyword search across all previously captured content
• ctx_tree_compose — assemble a context bundle from seed node IDs within a token budget
• ctx_tree_neighbors — walk edges and parent relationships from a known node
• ctx_tree_recent — retrieve recently captured nodes
• ctx_tree_path_to_root — walk the parent chain from any node up to the root

When to reach for ctx-tree

Any of these signals is enough:

• Token savings matter — you want to limit how much context a file read or search consumes
• Mitigate context rot — you're in a long session and earlier reads are being pushed out
• Strict output control — you need precise control over what intermediate tool results land in context
• Cross-tool recall — you want to revisit a file or search result captured earlier without re-running the tool
• Graph relationships — you want to traverse edges between captures (file → grep match → related file)

Specific patterns:

• File already read this session → ctx_tree_search or ctx_tree_compose on the cached node
• Need a function body without loading the whole file → ctx_tree_read with lines + budget_tokens
• Pattern search you may need to revisit → ctx_tree_grep (stores results as nodes)
• Assembling context for a prompt from multiple prior captures → ctx_tree_compose

Fallback

Use native Read/Grep only when you need the full, untruncated output in context immediately and won't need to recall it later.