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XRAY performs on-demand structural analysis using ast-grep. There's no database to manage, no index to build, and no state to maintain. Each query runs fresh against your current code.
The current implementation of XRAY is the result of a rigorous evaluation of multiple code analysis methodologies. My journey involved prototyping and assessing several distinct approaches, each with its own set of trade-offs. Below is a summary of the considered architectures and the rationale for my final decision.
Naive Grep-Based Analysis: I initially explored a baseline approach using standard grep for symbol identification. While expedient, this method proved fundamentally inadequate due to its inability to differentiate between syntactical constructs and simple text occurrences (e.g., comments, strings, variable names). The high signal-to-noise ratio rendered it impractical for reliable code intelligence.
Tree-Sitter Native Integration: A direct integration with tree-sitter was evaluated to leverage its powerful parsing capabilities. However, this path was fraught with significant implementation complexities, including intractable errors within the parser generation and binding layers. The maintenance overhead and steep learning curve for custom grammar development were deemed prohibitive for a lean, multi-language tool.
