Using Glean for Code Exploration

Glean indexes source code across the organization's connected repositories. Local tools (Grep, Glob, Read) see only the current repo; this skill is for everything else.

When to reach for this

• Finding the system — "Where does our payments code live?"
• Finding the patterns — "How do other teams handle rate limiting?"
• Finding the people — combining code authorship with employee_search reveals real owners (not just titled ones)
• Prior art before designing — see reference/plan-prep.md for the research-before-plan workflow
• Cross-repo exploration — understanding systems, mapping breadth, finding contributors across the organization

The tool you'll mostly use

This skill drives the code_search MCP tool. For full param shape, inline filter syntax, and pitfalls (quoting names, the app: filter not applying, recency caveats), read ../using-glean/reference/code-search.md. That is the canonical reference; this skill carries the workflow on top.

For this skill's own workflow patterns, see: