moss view

View directories, files, symbols, or line ranges. The primary way to explore code.

Target Syntax

Syntax	Description
.	Current directory tree
path/to/dir	Directory tree
path/to/file	File skeleton (symbols)
file/Symbol	Symbol in file
file/Parent/method	Nested symbol
Parent/method	Symbol search (when Parent isn't a path)
SymbolName	Symbol search across codebase
file:123	Symbol containing line 123
file:10-20	Lines 10-20 (raw content)

Examples

# Directory tree
moss view .
moss view src/

# File skeleton (signatures only)
moss view src/main.rs
moss view src/main.rs --types-only

# Symbol within file
moss view src/main.rs/main
moss view src/config.rs/Config/new

# Symbol search (finds across codebase)
moss view Config
moss view Config/new

# Line-based
moss view src/main.rs:42        # Symbol at line 42
moss view src/main.rs:10-50     # Lines 10-50

Options

Display Control

• -d, --depth <N> - Expansion depth (0=names, 1=signatures, 2=children, -1=all)
• -n, --line-numbers - Show line numbers
• --full - Show full source code
• --docs - Show full docstrings (default: summary only)
• --raw - Disable smart display (no collapsing single-child dirs)

Filtering

• -t, --type <KIND> - Filter by symbol type: class, function, method
• --types-only - Show only type definitions (class, struct, enum, interface)
• --tests - Include test functions (hidden by default)
• --exclude <PATTERN> - Exclude paths matching pattern or @alias
• --only <PATTERN> - Include only paths matching pattern or @alias

Context

• --deps - Show imports/exports
• --focus[=MODULE] - Show skeletons of imported modules
• --resolve-imports - Inline signatures of imported symbols
• --context - Skeleton + imports combined
• --no-parent - Hide ancestor context for nested symbols

Output

• --json - Output as JSON
• --jq <EXPR> - Filter JSON with jq expression (implies --json)
• --pretty - Syntax highlighting and colors
• --compact - Compact output without colors
• -r, --root <PATH> - Root directory (default: current)
• -i, --case-insensitive - Case-insensitive symbol matching

Module Structure

view/
├── mod.rs      # Args, config, main routing
├── search.rs   # Symbol search (index + filesystem fallback)
├── tree.rs     # Directory tree viewing
├── file.rs     # File skeleton viewing
├── symbol.rs   # Symbol lookup and rendering
└── lines.rs    # Line range viewing

Config

In .moss/config.toml:

[view]
depth = 1              # Default depth
line_numbers = true    # Show line numbers by default
show_docs = false      # Show full docstrings by default

Use Cases

Replace Read tool

# Instead of Read tool for specific lines
moss view src/main.rs:10-50

# Instead of Read for file overview
moss view src/main.rs --types-only

Explore codebase structure

moss view .                    # Project tree
moss view src/ -d 2            # Deeper tree with symbols
moss view . --type function    # All functions

Navigate to symbol

moss view Config               # Find Config anywhere
moss view config.rs/Config     # Config in specific file
moss view Config/new           # Method within class