Definition
The specialized process within a RAG pipeline of searching and extracting relevant source code snippets, functions, or classes from a repository to provide context for an AI Agent. It often involves an architectural trade-off between simple semantic vector search (high recall) and complex structural parsing like AST-based retrieval (high precision/logic preservation).
Distinct from standard document retrieval; it prioritizes syntactic structure and functional dependencies over natural language prose.
"A specialized mechanic's workshop where tools are retrieved not just by name, but by how they fit into the specific engine block currently being repaired."
- AST (Abstract Syntax Tree)(Component)
- Semantic Search(Prerequisite)
- Context Window(Constraint)
- Chunking Strategy(Component)
Conceptual Overview
The specialized process within a RAG pipeline of searching and extracting relevant source code snippets, functions, or classes from a repository to provide context for an AI Agent. It often involves an architectural trade-off between simple semantic vector search (high recall) and complex structural parsing like AST-based retrieval (high precision/logic preservation).
Disambiguation
Distinct from standard document retrieval; it prioritizes syntactic structure and functional dependencies over natural language prose.
Visual Analog
A specialized mechanic's workshop where tools are retrieved not just by name, but by how they fit into the specific engine block currently being repaired.