Command: fx ff

Find files whose names contain a keyword, with powerful filtering options and smart exclusions.

Overview

fx ff provides fast file discovery with keyword matching, flexible exclusion patterns, and smart default settings. Perfect for debugging, code navigation, and project analysis.

Key Features: - 🔍 Keyword and pattern-based file finding - 🚀 First-match mode for quick lookups (--first) - 🎯 Smart exclusions (.git, .venv, node_modules) - 📝 Multiple exclusion patterns (repeatable) - 🔄 Recursive search with symlink cycle detection

Usage

fx ff [OPTIONS] KEYWORD

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
`KEYWORD`	string	-	Keyword or pattern to search for (required)
`--first`	flag	False	Stop after first match (for speed)
`--include-ignored`	flag	False	Include default-ignored dirs (.git, .venv, node_modules)
`--exclude`	string	-	Exclude names or glob patterns (repeatable)

Examples

Basic Usage

Find files containing "test" in their names:

fx ff test

Find configuration files:

fx ff config

Find all Python files (using partial match):

fx ff .py

First Match Only

Return only the first match (faster):

fx ff test --first

Find first config file:

fx ff config --first

Including Ignored Directories

Search in .git, .venv, node_modules:

fx ff test --include-ignored

Excluding Directories and Patterns

Exclude specific directories:

fx ff test --exclude build --exclude cache

Exclude glob patterns:

fx ff api --exclude "*.pyc" --exclude "*.log"

Combine multiple exclusions:

fx ff src --exclude build --exclude cache --exclude "*.pyc"

Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: Development Workflow

Find TODO markers in code:

fx ff TODO --exclude node_modules --exclude .git

Find test files:

fx ff test --exclude coverage --exclude .nyc_output

Find configuration files:

fx ff config --exclude backup

Scenario 2: Project Cleanup

Find backup files:

fx ff .bak

Find temporary files:

fx ff .tmp

Find log files:

fx ff .log --exclude archive

Scenario 3: Debugging

Find error-related files:

fx ff error

Find debug files:

fx ff debug

Find exception files:

fx ff exception

Scenario 4: Dependency Management

Find jQuery files:

fx ff jquery --exclude node_modules --exclude dist

Find React components:

fx ff Component --exclude node_modules --exclude build

Find library files:

fx ff lodash --exclude node_modules

Scenario 5: Configuration Discovery

Find all config files:

fx ff config --include-ignored

Find environment files:

fx ff .env --exclude node_modules

Find setting files:

fx ff settings --exclude backup

Find API files:

fx ff api --exclude build --exclude cache --exclude "*.pyc"

Find service files:

fx ff service --exclude node_modules --exclude dist

Find model files:

fx ff model --exclude node_modules --exclude __pycache__

Scenario 7: Test Discovery

Find unit tests:

fx ff "*unit*test*" --exclude node_modules --exclude __pycache__

Find integration tests:

fx ff "*integration*test*" --exclude node_modules

Find e2e tests:

fx ff "*e2e*test*" --exclude node_modules

Scenario 8: Code Review

Find implementation files:

fx ff impl --exclude test --exclude node_modules

Find interface files:

fx ff interface --exclude test --exclude node_modules

Find abstract files:

fx ff abstract --exclude test --exclude node_modules

Tips and Tricks

Combining with Other Commands

# Find and grep file contents
fx ff api | xargs grep -l "endpoint"

# Find and analyze sizes
fx ff .log | xargs fx size

# Find and filter
fx ff .py | xargs fx filter py --sort-by modified

Finding by Extension

# Find all Python files
fx ff .py

# Find all JavaScript files
fx ff .js

# Find all markdown files
fx ff .md

Quick File Lookup

# Find file and open it
vim $(fx ff my_file --first)

# Find file and display it
cat $(fx ff README --first)

Complex Filtering

# Find "api" files but exclude multiple directories
fx ff api --exclude build --exclude cache --exclude "*.pyc" --exclude "*.log"

# Find test files excluding coverage reports
fx ff test --exclude coverage --exclude .nyc_output --exclude "*spec*"

Pipeline Integration

# Chain multiple searches
fx ff config | xargs grep -l "database"

# Find and count
fx ff .py | wc -l

# Find and backup
fx ff important.txt | xargs fx backup

Performance Tips

Speed Up Searches

# Use --first for quick lookups
fx ff my_file --first

# Exclude large directories
fx ff api --exclude node_modules --exclude build

# Use specific keywords instead of broad patterns
fx ff "api_v1" --exclude "*.pyc"

Optimize for Large Projects

# Exclude multiple heavy directories
fx ff test --exclude node_modules --exclude .venv --exclude dist --exclude build

# Use extension matching for faster results
fx ff .py --exclude __pycache__

Common Issues

Too Many Results

# Use --first for quick lookup
fx ff config --first

# Add exclusions
fx ff test --exclude node_modules --exclude build --exclude cache

No Results Found

# Check spelling
fx ff configuration  # instead of config

# Try partial matches
fx ff .py  # instead of python

# Include ignored directories
fx ff my_file --include-ignored

Slow Performance

# Exclude heavy directories
fx ff api --exclude node_modules --exclude .venv --exclude dist

# Use --first for quick match
fx ff my_file --first

# Be more specific with keyword
fx ff "api_v1_user" --exclude "*.pyc"