Static Import Engine
Trace imports through your codebase
The Static Import Engine uses git grep to find all files that import or require the target file. Works instantly even for brand new files with no git history.
Overview
Unlike the other engines that rely on git history, the Static Import Engine works with the current state of your codebase. It uses fast pattern matching to find all files that import, require, or reference the target file, giving you an immediate view of downstream dependencies.
How It Works
- Pattern Generation: Generates search patterns for common import syntaxes: ES6 import, CommonJS require, dynamic import().
- Git Grep Search: Uses `git grep` for fast, index-aware searching across the entire repository.
- Result Parsing: Parses results to extract file paths, line numbers, and import types.
- Dependency Tree: Optionally builds a full dependency tree by recursively analyzing importers.
Technical Details
Uses `git grep -n` with regex patterns tailored to your project's language. Supports JavaScript/TypeScript (import/require), Python (import/from), Go (import), and more. Falls back to ripgrep or standard grep when git grep is unavailable.
Use Cases
New File Analysis
Understand who uses a file before you've made any commits to it.
Refactoring Impact
See all consumers of a module before changing its API.
Dead Code Detection
Find files that are never imported and may be candidates for removal.
Configuration Options
| Option | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
languages | ["javascript", "typescript", "python"] | Languages to generate import patterns for |
customPatterns | [] | Additional regex patterns to search for |
maxDepth | 3 | Maximum depth for recursive dependency tree building |