---
name: qmd-3b82879b60c9
description: Search and retrieve markdown documents from local knowledge bases using qmd. Supports BM25 keyword search, vector semantic search, and hybrid search with LLM re-ranking. Use for querying indexed notes, documentation, meeting transcripts, and any markdown-based knowledge. Requires qmd CLI installed (bun install -g https://github.com/tobi/qmd).
---

# QMD - Local Markdown Search

Search and retrieve documents from locally indexed markdown knowledge bases.

## Installation

```bash
bun install -g https://github.com/tobi/qmd
```

## Setup

```bash
# Add a collection
qmd collection add ~/notes --name notes --mask "**/*.md"

# Generate embeddings (required for vsearch/query)
qmd embed
```

## Usage Rules

**Always use `--json` flag** for structured output when invoking qmd commands.

## Search Commands

### search (BM25 keyword search - fast)

```bash
qmd search "authentication flow" --json
qmd search "error handling" --json -n 10
qmd search "config" --json -c notes
```

### vsearch (vector semantic search)

```bash
qmd vsearch "how does login work" --json
qmd vsearch "authentication best practices" --json -n 20
```

### query (hybrid with LLM re-ranking - best quality)

```bash
qmd query "implementing user auth" --json
qmd query "deployment process" --json --min-score 0.5
```

### Search Options

| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `-n NUM` | Number of results (default: 5, or 20 with --json) |
| `-c, --collection NAME` | Restrict to specific collection |
| `--min-score NUM` | Minimum score threshold |
| `--full` | Return complete document content in results |
| `--all` | Return all matches |

## Retrieval Commands

### get (single document)

```bash
qmd get docs/guide.md --json
qmd get "#a1b2c3" --json
qmd get notes/meeting.md:50 -l 100 --json
```

### multi-get (multiple documents)

```bash
qmd multi-get "docs/*.md" --json
qmd multi-get "api.md, guide.md, #abc123" --json
qmd multi-get "notes/**/*.md" --json --max-bytes 20480
```

## Maintenance Commands

```bash
qmd update              # Re-index changed files
qmd status              # Check index health
qmd collection list     # List all collections
```

## Search Mode Selection

| Mode | Speed | Quality | Best For |
|------|-------|---------|----------|
| search | Fast | Good | Exact keywords, known terms |
| vsearch | Medium | Better | Conceptual queries, synonyms |
| query | Slow | Best | Complex questions, uncertain terms |

**Performance note:** `vsearch` and `query` have ~1 minute cold start latency for vector initialization. Prefer `search` for interactive use.

## MCP Server

qmd can run as an MCP server for direct integration:

```bash
qmd mcp
```

Exposes tools: `qmd_search`, `qmd_vsearch`, `qmd_query`, `qmd_get`, `qmd_multi_get`, `qmd_status`


---
Source attribution: kbarbel640-del
Original project: https://github.com/kbarbel640-del/skills/blob/e7e336ac628c3e3bd771aff1aaa469c93778f94a/skills/dpaluy/qmd-cli/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 clawdbot

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: kbarbel640-del
Original project: https://github.com/kbarbel640-del/skills/blob/e7e336ac628c3e3bd771aff1aaa469c93778f94a/skills/dpaluy/qmd-cli/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Data & Analytics, Education & Research, Marketing
Roles: Content Marketer, Data Analyst, Researcher
Specialties: API
Tools: Qmd
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: dbbbbfac8388767e414afc31317908709920130e1fe4cfc51ea06a7af069cd33