/symbol

description: Read one symbol's body with live-verified line bounds (path::Name, live range, or distill omission ref).
allowed-tools: Bash, Read

Repowise Symbol

Read one function, class, or constant with live-verified line bounds. This is the CLI adapter over `get_symbol`. Prefer it over a raw file Read when you already have a `symbol_id` from `/repowise:context` or `search_codebase`.

Steps

1. If `.repowise/` doesn't exist: "This repo isn't indexed yet. Run `/repowise:init` first." Stop. 2. Resolve the symbol id from `$ARGUMENTS`. If empty, ask for `path/to/file.py::Name`, a live range (`path:start-end`), or a `repowise#<hex>` omission ref from distill. 3. Run `repowise symbol` and present the body. Report `verified: true/false` when shown. If the id is ambiguous, show every matching body — do not silently pick one.

Choosing the invocation

• Named symbol → `repowise symbol "src/api/routes.py::login"`
• Live range read → `repowise symbol "src/api/routes.py:140-180"`
• Distill omission ref → `repowise symbol "repowise#a1b2c3d4e5f6"`
• Extra surrounding lines → `--context-lines N` (0–50)
• Filter restored omission lines → `--query <regex-or-substring>`
• Machine-readable / raw payload → `--format json` / `--full`

repowise symbol "src/api/routes.py::login"
repowise symbol "src/api/routes.py:140-180"
repowise symbol "repowise#a1b2c3d4e5f6"
repowise symbol "src/api/routes.py::login" --context-lines 3

A truncated body carries a `continuation` you can pass straight back to `repowise symbol`. Shared targeting flags (`--path`, `--repo`, `--no-workspace`) match the other tool-adapter commands.

Notes

• Cheaper and more precise than Read + offset math when you have a

`symbol_id`.

• For triage (layer / hotspot / callers) without bytes, use

`/repowise:context`.

• Never invent source — if the command errors or returns no body, say so.