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Add cora query — simplified graph pattern DSL #435
Description
Goal
Add cora query command for simplified graph pattern matching over the code graph.
Context
Full Cypher parser is overkill (2-3 weeks). A simplified DSL covers 80% of use cases with minimal implementation.
Spec
cora query "main -> CALLS -> *" # What does main call?
cora query "* <- CALLS <- process_order" # Who calls process_order?
cora query "AuthService IMPLEMENTS -> *" # What does AuthService implement?
cora query "handle_request -> * -> *" # 2-hop from handle_request
cora query "parse_config CALLS json::from_str" # Specific edge
Grammar
query = node (direction edge_kind? direction node)*
node = "*" | symbol_name
edge_kind = IDENTIFIER (CALLS, IMPORTS, IMPLEMENTS, INHERITS, CHILD_OF)
direction = "->" (outgoing) | "<-" (incoming)
Implementation
- Simple hand-rolled parser (~100 LOC) — no nom/pest dependency
- Translate to SQL queries against
edges+symbolstables - Support
--limit,--json,--format
Example SQL generation
"main -> CALLS -> *"
→ SELECT s.* FROM symbols s
JOIN edges e ON e.target = s.name
JOIN symbols src ON src.name = e.source
WHERE src.name = 'main' AND e.kind = 'CALLS'
Acceptance
cora query "main -> *"returns what main callscora query "* <- CALLS <- main"returns same results--jsonreturns structured output- Parse errors give clear error messages
Blocking
- Depends on Wire up
store_kg_edges()— populateedgestable #429 (wire up edges table)
Estimated Effort
3-4 days
Activity
ajianaz commentedon Aug 1, 2026
Implemented. Closing as completed — feature verified in codebase.