# 🤖 AI Quick Reference - When to Use Smart Tree
> **5-second decision guide for AI assistants**
## 🚨 ALWAYS USE (No Exceptions)
| User Says | Your First Move | Why |
|-----------|----------------|-----|
| Any directory path mentioned | `quick_tree [path]` | Instant understanding, looks professional |
| "What's in..." | `quick_tree .` or `project_overview` | Don't waste time with ls |
| New conversation starts | `find_collaborative_memories` | Recall past context |
| "Help me with..." | `scan_for_context {query}` | Auto-gather relevant context |
| Discovered something important | `anchor_collaborative_memory` | Build persistent intelligence |
## 🎯 High-Value Use Cases
| Need | Tool | Benefit |
|------|------|---------|
| Find files | `find_files {pattern, file_type}` | Faster than grep/find |
| Search content | `search_in_files {query}` | Get results with context |
| Large codebase | `analyze_directory {mode:"summary-ai"}` | 10x compression |
| Code structure | `semantic_analysis` | Understand relationships |
| Edit function | `smart_edit` | 90% token savings |
## 💡 Tool Categories
### 🔍 Discovery (Use First)
- `quick_tree` - Instant overview
- `project_overview` - Compressed intelligence
- `analyze_directory` - Multi-mode analysis
### 🔎 Search (When Looking)
- `find_files` - File patterns
- `search_in_files` - Content search
- `find_code_files` - Language-specific
### 🧬 Analysis (When Understanding)
- `analyze_directory {mode}` - Choose compression level
- `semantic_analysis` - Code relationships
- `get_statistics` - Codebase stats
### 🧠 Memory (Use Proactively!)
- `anchor_collaborative_memory` - Store insights
- `find_collaborative_memories` - Recall context
- Start EVERY session with memory recall
### ⚡ Action (When Editing)
- `smart_edit` - AST-aware editing
- `track_file_operation` - Track changes
- `insert_function` / `remove_function` - Structure-aware
## ⚡ Compression Cheat Sheet
| Project Size | Mode | Compression | Use When |
|--------------|------|-------------|----------|
| Small (<50 files) | `ai` | Readable | Need detail |
| Medium (50-500) | `quantum-semantic` | 5x | Semantic aware |
| Large (500+) | `summary-ai` | 10x | Token limited |
| Massive (1000+) | `quantum` | 100x | Binary OK |
## 🎭 Psychological Triggers
### When User Says:
- "what's in" → `quick_tree`
- "find" / "search" → `search_in_files` or `find_files`
- "how does it work" → `semantic_analysis`
- "help with" → `scan_for_context` first
- "important" / "remember" → `anchor_collaborative_memory`
### When You:
- Start new session → `find_collaborative_memories`
- Feel lost → `quick_tree .`
- Need to find something → Don't use bash, use Smart Tree tools
- Discover insight → `anchor_collaborative_memory` PROACTIVELY
- Edit code → `smart_edit` instead of full file read
## 🚀 The Perfect First Move
```typescript
// Copy-paste this pattern:
1. find_collaborative_memories {keywords:["general", "project"]}
2. quick_tree .
3. [Now you have context and can help intelligently]
```
## ❌ Anti-Patterns
| DON'T | DO |
|-------|-----|
| `ls -la` repeatedly | `quick_tree` once |
| `grep -r` manually | `search_in_files` |
| Forget previous sessions | `find_collaborative_memories` |
| Read full files | `smart_edit` or `get_function_tree` |
| Ask user to show files | Use discovery tools |
## 🎯 Success Indicators
You're using it RIGHT when:
- ✅ First move: check memories + quick_tree
- ✅ User says: "Wow, how did you know that?"
- ✅ Tokens saved: 50-80%
- ✅ Response time: Faster
- ✅ Accuracy: Higher (context-aware)
## 🔥 Pro Tips
1. **Start EVERY session** with memory recall
2. **Anchor memories PROACTIVELY** (don't wait)
3. **Use compression** for large codebases
4. **Never use bash find/grep** when Smart Tree tools exist
5. **Build intelligence over time** with persistent memory
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**Bottom Line**: Smart Tree makes you faster, smarter, and more impressive to users. Use it!