Configure search result boosting in GrepAI. Use this skill to prioritize certain paths and penalize others.
GrepAI Search Boosting
This skill covers configuring score boosting to prioritize relevant code paths and deprioritize tests, docs, and vendor code.
When to Use This Skill
Prioritizing source code over tests
Penalizing vendor/third-party code
Boosting important directories
Customizing result ranking
What is Boosting?
Boosting modifies search scores based on file paths:
Original score: 0.85 (src/auth.go)
Bonus (+10%): 0.935
Original score: 0.85 (tests/auth_test.go)
Penalty (-50%): 0.425
This ensures production code ranks higher than tests with similar content.
## Configuration
### Basic Configuration
```yaml
# .grepai/config.yaml
search:
boost:
enabled: true
penalties:
- pattern: /tests/
factor: 0.5
bonuses:
- pattern: /src/
factor: 1.1
Full Configuration
search:
boost:
enabled: true
# Reduce scores (factor < 1.0)
penalties:
# Test files
- pattern: /tests/
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /__tests__/
factor: 0.5
- pattern: _test.
factor: 0.5
- pattern: .spec.
factor: 0.5
- pattern: .test.
factor: 0.5
# Documentation
- pattern: /docs/
factor: 0.6
- pattern: /documentation/
factor: 0.6
# Vendor/third-party
- pattern: /vendor/
factor: 0.3
- pattern: /node_modules/
factor: 0.3
- pattern: /third_party/
factor: 0.3
# Generated code
- pattern: /generated/
factor: 0.4
- pattern: .gen.
factor: 0.4
- pattern: .pb.go
factor: 0.4
# Examples and samples
- pattern: /examples/
factor: 0.7
- pattern: /samples/
factor: 0.7
# Increase scores (factor > 1.0)
bonuses:
# Core source code
- pattern: /src/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /lib/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /app/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /core/
factor: 1.2
- pattern: /internal/
factor: 1.1
# Important directories
- pattern: /services/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /handlers/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /controllers/
factor: 1.1
How Factors Work
Factor
Effect
Use Case
0.3
70% reduction
Strong penalty (vendor)
0.5
50% reduction
Moderate penalty (tests)
0.7
30% reduction
Mild penalty (examples)
1.0
No change
Neutral
1.1
10% increase
Mild boost (src)
1.2
20% increase
Moderate boost (core)
1.5
50% increase
Strong boost
Pattern Matching
Patterns match against the full file path:
/project/src/auth/middleware.go
^^^^
Matches "/src/" pattern
Pattern Types
Pattern
Matches
Doesn't Match
/tests/
src/tests/auth.go
tests.go
_test.
auth_test.go
test_auth.go
.spec.
auth.spec.ts
spec/auth.ts
/src/
project/src/main.go
resource/file.go
Effect on Rankings
Without Boosting
Score: 0.85 | tests/auth_test.go:10-30
Score: 0.82 | src/auth/middleware.go:15-45
Score: 0.80 | src/auth/jwt.go:23-55
With Boosting
penalties:
- pattern: /tests/
factor: 0.5
bonuses:
- pattern: /src/
factor: 1.1
Score: 0.90 | src/auth/middleware.go:15-45 (0.82 × 1.1)
Score: 0.88 | src/auth/jwt.go:23-55 (0.80 × 1.1)
Score: 0.43 | tests/auth_test.go:10-30 (0.85 × 0.5)
Common Configurations
Standard (Recommended)
search:
boost:
enabled: true
penalties:
- pattern: /tests/
factor: 0.5
- pattern: _test.
factor: 0.5
- pattern: .spec.
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /vendor/
factor: 0.3
- pattern: /docs/
factor: 0.6
bonuses:
- pattern: /src/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /lib/
factor: 1.1
Frontend Project
search:
boost:
enabled: true
penalties:
- pattern: /__tests__/
factor: 0.5
- pattern: .test.
factor: 0.5
- pattern: .spec.
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /node_modules/
factor: 0.3
- pattern: .stories.
factor: 0.6
- pattern: /storybook/
factor: 0.6
bonuses:
- pattern: /src/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /components/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /hooks/
factor: 1.1
Go Project
search:
boost:
enabled: true
penalties:
- pattern: _test.go
factor: 0.5
- pattern: _mock.go
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /testdata/
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /vendor/
factor: 0.3
- pattern: .pb.go
factor: 0.4
bonuses:
- pattern: /internal/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /cmd/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /pkg/
factor: 1.1
Python Project
search:
boost:
enabled: true
penalties:
- pattern: /tests/
factor: 0.5
- pattern: test_
factor: 0.5
- pattern: _test.py
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /conftest
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /fixtures/
factor: 0.6
bonuses:
- pattern: /src/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /app/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /core/
factor: 1.2
Monorepo
search:
boost:
enabled: true
penalties:
- pattern: /tests/
factor: 0.5
- pattern: _test.
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /packages/deprecated/
factor: 0.3
- pattern: /packages/legacy/
factor: 0.4
bonuses:
- pattern: /packages/core/
factor: 1.2
- pattern: /packages/api/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /packages/shared/
factor: 1.1
Disabling Boosting
To disable boosting entirely:
search:
boost:
enabled: false
Or remove the boost section from config.
Boosting vs Ignoring
Approach
Effect
Use Case
Ignore
Completely excluded
Dependencies, build output
Penalty
Still searchable, lower rank
Tests, docs, examples
Neutral
Default ranking
Regular source code
Bonus
Higher rank
Core business logic
When to Ignore vs Penalize
Ignore: Files you NEVER want to search (node_modules, .git)
Penalize: Files you RARELY want but might need (tests, docs)
Testing Your Configuration
After configuring boosting:
# Search and observe rankings
grepai search "authentication"
# Check if tests are properly deprioritized
grepai search "test authentication" # Should still find tests, but ranked lower
Best Practices
Start with penalties: Deprioritize tests/vendor first
Add bonuses sparingly: Only for truly important paths
Test with real queries: Verify results make sense
Don't over-penalize: 0.5 is usually enough for tests
Document your choices: Add comments in config
Common Issues
❌ Problem: Tests always show up first
✅ Solution: Add penalty patterns for your test naming convention
❌ Problem: Can't find code in penalized paths
✅ Solution: Penalties reduce rank, don't hide. Use ignore for complete exclusion.
❌ Problem: Scores above 1.0 seem wrong
✅ Solution: Bonuses can push scores above 1.0; this is normal
❌ Problem: Pattern not matching
✅ Solution: Check that pattern appears in full path (use /tests/ not just tests)
Output Format
Boosting configuration status:
✅ Search Boosting Configured
Status: Enabled
Penalties (5):
- /tests/ → 0.5 (50% reduction)
- _test. → 0.5
- .spec. → 0.5
- /vendor/ → 0.3 (70% reduction)
- /docs/ → 0.6
Bonuses (3):
- /src/ → 1.1 (10% boost)
- /lib/ → 1.1
- /core/ → 1.2 (20% boost)
Effect: Source code ranks higher than tests with similar contentdon't have the plugin yet? install it then click "run inline in claude" again.