# Pensieve: local code search for AI coding agents

> Pensieve helps AI coding agents find code faster with local search.
- Title: Pensieve: local code search for AI coding agents · Pensieve
- Summary: Pensieve helps AI coding agents find code faster with local search. Pensieve reduces AI code searches from 3.4 to 2.0 tool calls per lookup by searching…
- Keywords: pensieve, ai coding agents, local code search, mcp context, code search, tool calls, git repositories, macos, claudia code, codex, technology, startups
- Source: Pensieve — https://tedhaley.ca/pensieve
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pensieve, ai coding agents, local code search, mcp context, code search, tool calls, git repositories, macos, claudia code, codex, technology, startups
## Local code search
Pensieve searches your files, folders, git repositories and conversations with coding agents locally.
## Press Control+Shift for search panel
Press Control+Shift to open a glass panel over your documents, folders, git repositories and conversations with coding agents.
## Search by meaning or exact words
Search by meaning or exact words to find files, repos and sessions without touching the mouse.
## Exact search examples
Exact search finds "retry" payments without draft, "rate limit" and "card declines, retry with backoff".
## Filter search results
Use filters like -draft, kind:code, ext:pdf to narrow down search results to specific files, code or sessions.
## MCP context for agents
Agents use MCP to get the right context from Pensieve with fewer tool calls and faster results.
## Why card retries stop
Card retries stop after a decline because of hard_decline in payments/retry.py.
## Tool calls with Pensieve
With Pensieve, agents find the right file in 131 of 144 runs versus 123 with grep alone.
## Fewer tool calls
Pensieve reduces tool calls from 3.4 to 2.0 per lookup with 43% fewer calls.
## Cheaper per lookup
Pensieve costs 18% less per lookup at $0.041 versus $0.050 with grep.
## Faster per lookup
Pensieve completes lookups 21% faster at 8.6 seconds versus 10.9 seconds.
## Know who owns code
Pensieve shows who owns code and who has the most domain knowledge in the team.
## Find knowledge gaps
Pensieve flags areas with few active experts and shows who knows them best today.
## Always current
Pensieve watches your folders, repos and agent sessions and re-indexes changes seconds later.
## Private by design
Pensieve indexes only your Mac, with no cloud service or account required.
## Key takeaway

Pensieve reduces AI code searches from 3.4 to 2.0 tool calls per lookup by searching locally on your Mac.