skim-py

A fast, zero-dependency, AST-resilient Python outline and verbatim code block extractor tailored for AI coding agents and terminal workflows.

Part of the skim-* family - check out the complete suite. Conforms to the skim-* Family Design Specification.

Why skim-py?

When AI coding assistants (such as Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, or Cursor) operate on real-world Python repositories, reading entire source files into prompt context leads to performance and cost degradation:

1. Context Window Exhaustion & Attention Drift: Dumping 1,000–5,000 line source files burns through token budgets rapidly. Irrelevant implementation details dilute the model's attention, leading to hallucinations and missed context.
2. The Test Bloat Trap: In modern Python codebases, test files (test_*.py, *_test.py, tests/) and in-file test suites (class Test*, def test_*) often make up 50–70% of a repository's volume. When exploring domain logic or architecture, test suites add immense noise.
3. Repeated File Reading Loops: Agents often read file A, find a call to a method on class B in file B, read all of file B, and repeat—quickly exhausting tool calls and context windows.
4. Syntax Tolerance During Active Edits: Codebases being actively refactored or edited often contain temporary syntax errors. Traditional strict parsers crash completely, leaving the agent unable to inspect surrounding structures.

skim-py solves this by giving agents (and developers) a pair of surgical tools powered by Python's built-in ast and tokenize modules (zero third-party dependencies):

• glance: Instant, high-density outlines of declarations, signatures, dataclass/Pydantic/enum fields, and line spans—with test files and in-file test suites filtered out by default.
• block: Verbatim code retrieval for an exact class, function, or qualified member (Class.method) with line gutters or raw code ready for editing.

Recommended Agent Workflow

flowchart TD
    A["1. Survey Structure<br/><code>skim-py glance src/ -s</code>"] --> B{"Need specific<br/>identifier?"}
    B -->|Yes| C["2. Locate Logic<br/><code>skim-py glance src/ -s -f keyword</code>"]
    B -->|No| D["Inspect Overview"]
    C --> E["3. Fetch Surgical Block<br/><code>skim-py block src/service.py UserService.get_user</code>"]
    D --> E
    E --> F["Form Accurate Hypotheses & Edit Safely"]

1. Survey (glance -s): Get the structural topography of a module or package in under 100 tokens.
2. Locate (glance -f <keyword>): Narrow down matching declarations across files with case-insensitive substring filters.
3. Inspect (block <file> <target>): Fetch the exact verbatim implementation block with accurate file line numbers for precision editing.

Features

• Zero Third-Party Dependencies: Pure Python standard library implementation using ast and tokenize.
• Fast Startup & Minimal Overhead: Launches instantaneously without waiting for heavy virtual environments or complex toolchains.
• Test-Blind by Default:
  • Automatically excludes test_*.py, *_test.py, conftest.py, and test directories (tests/, test/, testing/, __tests__/) during traversals unless -t / --include-tests is specified.
  • Automatically detects in-file test classes (Test*, unittest.TestCase) and test functions (test_*) and filters them out of outlines and target lookups, reporting skipped line ranges ([tests skipped: 8..9, 16..17, 20..25]).
• Language-Idiomatic Qualified Targets: Target methods via Class.method, constructors via Class.__init__, dunder methods via Class.__str__, or standalone functions, classes, and module-level variables.
• Decorator & Signature Preservation: Includes full decorator chains (@classmethod, @property, @field_validator) and return annotations in both outlines and block extractions.
• Exact-Case Precedence with Case-Insensitive Fallback: Matches basemodel.model_dump to BaseModel.model_dump while prioritizing exact case if both co-exist.
• Clear Ambiguity Diagnostics: If a target matches multiple candidates, skim-py exits with code 3 and presents numbered candidate locations with line spans and disambiguation tips.
• Syntax Error Tolerance & AST Recovery:
  • Reports syntax notices cleanly under the file header without crashing, pinpointing the error line and message.
  • Automatically recovers using a bounded iterative line-masking fallback (up to 100 iterations), isolating broken lines while preserving exact 1-to-1 line offsets so surrounding valid classes, methods, and functions remain fully outlined and extractable.

Installation & Usage

On-Demand (uvx or pipx)

Run directly without installing:

# Via uvx (Fastest & Recommended)
uvx --from skim-python skim-py glance src/ -s
uvx --from skim-python skim-py block src/models.py BaseModel

# Via pipx
pipx run --spec skim-python skim-py glance src/ -s

Global Install (uv / pipx / pip)

Install globally to add skim-py directly to your PATH:

# Via uv (Recommended)
uv tool install skim-python

# Via pipx
pipx install skim-python

# Via pip
pip install skim-python

From Local Source

git clone https://github.com/benedictjohannes/programming-helper-utils.git
cd programming-helper-utils/python/skim-py

# With uv:
uv tool install --editable .

# Or with pip:
pip install -e .

# Or link the standalone runner directly to your PATH:
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
ln -sf "$(pwd)/skim-py" ~/.local/bin/skim-py

CLI Reference & Concrete Examples

Usage:
  skim-py glance [options] <path>...
  skim-py block  [options] <file> <target>

1. glance Subcommand

Outlines structure, signatures, fields, and imports across files or directories.

Usage:
  skim-py glance [options] <path>...

Arguments:
  <path>...                 One or more source files, directories, or globs

Options:
  -s, --signatures          Show declarations & types without function bodies
  -d, --details             Show class attributes, annotated fields, and enum members
  -u, --uses, --imports     Display top-level import statements
  -f, --filter <text>       Filter items containing <text> (case-insensitive, repeatable)
  -t, --include-tests       Include test files (test_*.py, etc.) and test blocks

Example 1: Basic Structural Outline of a File

skim-py glance testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py

=== testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py (185 lines) ===

Outline:
  L15-L23      var __all__
  L28-L28      var DEV_ERROR_DOCS_URL
  L82-L98      class PydanticErrorMixin
  L90-L92        method __init__
  L94-L98        method __str__
  L101-L102    class PydanticUserError
  L105-L127    class PydanticUndefinedAnnotation
  L113-L115      method __init__
  L117-L127      method from_name_error
  L130-L138    class PydanticImportError
  L137-L138      method __init__
  L141-L149    class PydanticSchemaGenerationError
  L148-L149      method __init__
  L152-L160    class PydanticInvalidForJsonSchema
  L159-L160      method __init__
  L163-L182    class PydanticForbiddenQualifier
  L175-L182      method __init__
  L185-L185    var __getattr__

Example 2: Signatures and Imports (-s -u)

skim-py glance testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py -s -u

=== testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py (185 lines) ===

Imports:
  from __future__ import annotations as _annotations
  from typing import Any, ClassVar, Literal
  from typing_extensions import Self
  from typing_inspection.introspection import Qualifier
  from pydantic._internal import _repr
  from ._migration import getattr_migration
  from .version import version_short

Outline:
  L15-L23      __all__ = ('PydanticUserError', 'PydanticUndefinedAnnotation', 'PydanticImportError', 'PydanticSchemaGenerationError', 'PydanticInvalidForJsonSchema', 'PydanticForbiddenQualifier', 'PydanticErrorCodes')
  L28-L28      DEV_ERROR_DOCS_URL = f'https://errors.pydantic.dev/{version_short()}/u/'
  L82-L98      class PydanticErrorMixin
  L90-L92        def __init__(self, message: str, *, code: PydanticErrorCodes | None) -> None
  L94-L98        def __str__(self) -> str
  L101-L102    class PydanticUserError(PydanticErrorMixin, RuntimeError)
  L105-L127    class PydanticUndefinedAnnotation(PydanticErrorMixin, NameError)
  L113-L115      def __init__(self, name: str | None, message: str) -> None
  L117-L127      @classmethod def from_name_error(cls, name_error: NameError) -> Self
  L130-L138    class PydanticImportError(PydanticErrorMixin, ImportError)
  L137-L138      def __init__(self, message: str) -> None
  L141-L149    class PydanticSchemaGenerationError(PydanticUserError)
  L148-L149      def __init__(self, message: str) -> None
  L152-L160    class PydanticInvalidForJsonSchema(PydanticUserError)
  L159-L160      def __init__(self, message: str) -> None
  L163-L182    class PydanticForbiddenQualifier(PydanticUserError)
  L175-L182      def __init__(self, qualifier: Qualifier, annotation: Any) -> None
  L185-L185    __getattr__ = getattr_migration(__name__)

Example 3: Expand Details and Class Attributes (-s -d)

skim-py glance testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py -s -d

=== testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py (185 lines) ===

Outline:
  L15-L23      __all__ = ('PydanticUserError', 'PydanticUndefinedAnnotation', 'PydanticImportError', 'PydanticSchemaGenerationError', 'PydanticInvalidForJsonSchema', 'PydanticForbiddenQualifier', 'PydanticErrorCodes')
  L28-L28      DEV_ERROR_DOCS_URL = f'https://errors.pydantic.dev/{version_short()}/u/'
  L82-L98      class PydanticErrorMixin
  L90-L92        def __init__(self, message: str, *, code: PydanticErrorCodes | None) -> None
  L94-L98        def __str__(self) -> str
  L101-L102    class PydanticUserError(PydanticErrorMixin, RuntimeError)
  L105-L127    class PydanticUndefinedAnnotation(PydanticErrorMixin, NameError)
  L113-L115      def __init__(self, name: str | None, message: str) -> None
  L117-L127      @classmethod def from_name_error(cls, name_error: NameError) -> Self
  L130-L138    class PydanticImportError(PydanticErrorMixin, ImportError)
  L137-L138      def __init__(self, message: str) -> None
  L141-L149    class PydanticSchemaGenerationError(PydanticUserError)
  L148-L149      def __init__(self, message: str) -> None
  L152-L160    class PydanticInvalidForJsonSchema(PydanticUserError)
  L159-L160      def __init__(self, message: str) -> None
  L163-L182    class PydanticForbiddenQualifier(PydanticUserError)
                 | _qualifier_repr_map: ClassVar[dict[Qualifier, str]] = {'required': 'typing.Required', 'not_required': 'typing.NotRequired', 'read_only': 'typing.ReadOnly', 'class_var': 'typing.ClassVar', 'init_var': 'dataclasses.InitVar', 'final': 'typing.Final'}
  L175-L182      def __init__(self, qualifier: Qualifier, annotation: Any) -> None
  L185-L185    __getattr__ = getattr_migration(__name__)

Example 4: Filter by Keyword across Declarations (-f <keyword>)

skim-py glance testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py -s -f "from_name_error"

=== testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py (185 lines) ===

Outline:
  L105-L127    class PydanticUndefinedAnnotation(PydanticErrorMixin, NameError)
  L117-L127      @classmethod def from_name_error(cls, name_error: NameError) -> Self

Example 5: In-File Test Filtering & Inclusion (-t)

In-file test suites (Test*, test_*) are filtered out by default, with skipped ranges highlighted:

# Default: in-file tests omitted
skim-py glance tests/fixtures/tests.py

=== tests/fixtures/tests.py (29 lines) [tests skipped: 8..9, 16..17, 20..25, 28..29] ===

Outline:
  L4-L5        function normal_helper
  L12-L17      class NormalClass
  L13-L14        method regular_method

When test inspection is desired, pass -t:

skim-py glance tests/fixtures/tests.py -t

=== tests/fixtures/tests.py (29 lines) [test] ===

Outline:
  L4-L5        function normal_helper
  L8-L9        def test_helper_not_test() -> str
  L12-L17      class NormalClass
  L13-L14        method regular_method
  L16-L17        def test_like_method(self) -> None
  L20-L25      class TestSuite(unittest.TestCase)
  L21-L22        def test_example(self) -> None
  L24-L25        def test_another(self) -> None
  L28-L29      def test_standalone_func() -> None

Similarly, test files (test_*.py, tests/) are excluded by default during directory traversals and only included when -t is passed:

skim-py glance testingRepositories/pydantic/tests/test_warnings.py -t

=== testingRepositories/pydantic/tests/test_warnings.py (41 lines) [test] ===

Outline:
  L5-L10       def test_pydantic_deprecation_warning()
  L13-L17      def test_pydantic_deprecation_warning_tailing_dot_in_message()
  L20-L23      def test_pydantic_deprecation_warning_calculated_expected_removal()
  L26-L32      def test_pydantic_deprecation_warning_2_0_migration_guide_link()
  L35-L41      def test_pydantic_deprecated_since_2_0_warning()

Example 6: Syntax Error Tolerance & Recovery

If a file has a syntax error during active editing or refactoring, skim-py does not crash; it pinpoints syntax errors directly under the file header and automatically recovers to outline valid surrounding declarations:

skim-py glance tests/fixtures/syntax_error.py -s

=== tests/fixtures/syntax_error.py (12 lines) [! 1 syntax error] ===
# parsed with 1 line masked (L7)
  Syntax Notice: L7: invalid syntax

Outline:
  L1-L2        def valid_before()
  L5-L8        def broken_function()
  L11-L12      def valid_after()

Surrounding valid functions remain fully extractable via block (masking warnings are surfaced via stderr):

skim-py block tests/fixtures/syntax_error.py valid_after

tests/fixtures/syntax_error.py: # parsed with 1 line masked (L7)
=== tests/fixtures/syntax_error.py (L11-L12) ===
   11 | def valid_after():
   12 |     return 2

And if an extracted block contains a syntax error within its line span, the warning is surfaced directly above the block:

skim-py block tests/fixtures/syntax_error.py broken_function

tests/fixtures/syntax_error.py: # parsed with 1 line masked (L7)
=== tests/fixtures/syntax_error.py (L5-L8) [! 1 syntax error] ===
  Syntax Notice: L7: invalid syntax
    5 | def broken_function():
    6 |     x = 10
    7 |     y =
    8 |     return x

For cascade-prone mid-edit states (such as an unclosed def foo(x, header or unclosed bracket structure), skim-py masks the entire broken block in one step, marks the masked line range in the notice, and salvages the broken declaration in the outline so it remains targetable by block:

skim-py glance tests/fixtures/syntax_error_cascade.py -s

=== tests/fixtures/syntax_error_cascade.py (11 lines) [! 1 syntax error] ===
# parsed with 3 lines masked (L5, L6, L7)
  Syntax Notice: L5: '(' was never closed (L5-L7 masked)

Outline:
  L1-L2        def valid_before()
  L5-L7        def broken_header [syntax error]
  L10-L11      def valid_after()

skim-py block tests/fixtures/syntax_error_cascade.py broken_header

tests/fixtures/syntax_error_cascade.py: # parsed with 3 lines masked (L5, L6, L7)
=== tests/fixtures/syntax_error_cascade.py (L5-L7) [! 1 syntax error] ===
  Syntax Notice: L5: '(' was never closed (L5-L7 masked)
    5 | def broken_header(x,
    6 |     y = 1
    7 |     return y

2. block Subcommand

Extracts the exact verbatim source block for a class, function, variable, or Class.method.

Usage:
  skim-py block [options] <file> <target>

Arguments:
  <file>                    Path to the source file
  <target>                  Name of class, method, function, or Class.method

Options:
  -t, --include-tests       Search inside test files and test blocks
  --raw                     Omit line number gutter (clean code for edits/diffs)

Example 7: Extract Class Definition

skim-py block testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/warnings.py PydanticDeprecationWarning

=== testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/warnings.py (L23-L54) ===
   23 | class PydanticDeprecationWarning(DeprecationWarning):
   24 |     """A Pydantic specific deprecation warning.
   25 | 
   26 |     This warning is raised when using deprecated functionality in Pydantic. It provides information on when the
   27 |     deprecation was introduced and the expected version in which the corresponding functionality will be removed.
   28 | 
   29 |     Attributes:
   30 |         message: Description of the warning.
   31 |         since: Pydantic version in what the deprecation was introduced.
   32 |         expected_removal: Pydantic version in what the corresponding functionality expected to be removed.
   33 |     """
   34 | 
   35 |     message: str
   36 |     since: tuple[int, int]
   37 |     expected_removal: tuple[int, int]
   38 | 
   39 |     def __init__(
   40 |         self, message: str, *args: object, since: tuple[int, int], expected_removal: tuple[int, int] | None = None
   41 |     ) -> None:
   42 |         super().__init__(message, *args)
   43 |         self.message = message.rstrip('.')
   44 |         self.since = since
   45 |         self.expected_removal = expected_removal if expected_removal is not None else (since[0] + 1, 0)
   46 | 
   47 |     def __str__(self) -> str:
   48 |         message = (
   49 |             f'{self.message}. Deprecated in Pydantic V{self.since[0]}.{self.since[1]}'
   50 |             f' to be removed in V{self.expected_removal[0]}.{self.expected_removal[1]}.'
   51 |         )
   52 |         if self.since == (2, 0):
   53 |             message += f' See Pydantic V2 Migration Guide at https://errors.pydantic.dev/{version_short()}/migration/'
   54 |         return message

Example 8: Extract Qualified Method (Class.method)

skim-py block testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py PydanticUndefinedAnnotation.from_name_error

=== testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py (L117-L127) ===
  117 |     @classmethod
  118 |     def from_name_error(cls, name_error: NameError) -> Self:
  119 |         """Convert a `NameError` to a `PydanticUndefinedAnnotation` error.
  120 | 
  121 |         Args:
  122 |             name_error: `NameError` to be converted.
  123 | 
  124 |         Returns:
  125 |             Converted `PydanticUndefinedAnnotation` error.
  126 |         """
  127 |         return cls(name=name_error.name, message=str(name_error))

Case-insensitive target matching is also supported:

skim-py block testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py pydanticundefinedannotation.from_name_error

Example 9: Raw Output for Seamless Patching (--raw)

skim-py block testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py PydanticUndefinedAnnotation.from_name_error --raw

    @classmethod
    def from_name_error(cls, name_error: NameError) -> Self:
        """Convert a `NameError` to a `PydanticUndefinedAnnotation` error.

        Args:
            name_error: `NameError` to be converted.

        Returns:
            Converted `PydanticUndefinedAnnotation` error.
        """
        return cls(name=name_error.name, message=str(name_error))

Example 10: Disambiguation Handling

When multiple candidates match an ambiguous target name, skim-py exits with status 3 and provides candidates and resolution tips:

skim-py block testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py __init__

Error: ambiguous target '__init__' matched 6 candidates in testingRepositories/pydantic/pydantic/errors.py:
  1) L90-L92    method PydanticErrorMixin.__init__
  2) L113-L115  method PydanticUndefinedAnnotation.__init__
  3) L137-L138  method PydanticImportError.__init__
  4) L148-L149  method PydanticSchemaGenerationError.__init__
  5) L159-L160  method PydanticInvalidForJsonSchema.__init__
  6) L175-L182  method PydanticForbiddenQualifier.__init__

Tip: Disambiguate with Class.method (e.g. BaseModel.model_dump) or read line range directly.

Exit Codes

skim-py adheres to the standardized POSIX / skim-* family exit codes:

Automated Tests

Unit tests and edge-case fixtures are located in tests/.

Run test suite via pytest:

pytest tests/

License

MIT