Claude Code/Cursor is using grep? Are we devolving

Every AI coding tool has a search problem. Claude uses grep. Cursor does basic vector search. Context retrieval? Honestly, pretty mediocre. As a co-founder of a vector database company, I’ve realized: the only way to understand real developer pain is to use these tools every day — not just sit in strategy meetings. Tried Claude Code. Loved the idea: delegating tasks from the terminal feels magical. But hit a wall fast — grep-based search doesn’t understand semantics. It finds strings, not meaning. Cursor? A good start with vector search, but still shallow. No deep understanding of code structure or intent. That pain point became our opportunity. The more I used Claude, Cursor, Windsurf… the clearer it became: AI tools lack true semantic code understanding. So we built Code Indexer CLI: One-click indexing of your codebase Fast, semantic retrieval Native support for all major AI coding tools We’re not just fixing search — we’re building a better foundation for AI coding. Because context matters more than code. Lesson: Don’t just build for AI. Build with it. Use what your users use. Feel their pain. Your best product ideas live inside your daily frustrations. → https://github.com/zilliztech/CodeIndexer