fallow similar-code: find semantically similar functions
Reference for fallow similar-code: flags, subcommands, and exit codes. Find functions that may do the same job with a pinned local model, then inspect and review them.
fallow similar-code finds pairs of functions that may do the same kind of work, also when their code looks different. A pinned local model compares complete functions. Every result is an unverified candidate. A person or an agent inspects it and decides.
The command is opt-in. It does not run in bare fallow, audit, dupes, CI gates, SARIF, LSP, or auto-fix. For the full workflow, see Semantic similar code.
fallow similar-code status
fallow similar-code setup --local
fallow similar-code --format json --quiet > similar-code.json
fallow similar-code inspect <CANDIDATE_ID> --candidates similar-code.json
fallow similar-code review --candidates similar-code.json --verdicts verdicts.jsonDiscovery options
Without a subcommand, fallow similar-code runs discovery and prints the candidates.
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
-r, --root <ROOT> | Project root directory. |
-c, --config <CONFIG> | Path to the config file. |
--allow-remote-extends | Allow trusted config files to extend HTTPS URLs. |
-f, --format <FORMAT> | human (default) or json. |
--pretty | Indent the JSON output. |
-q, --quiet | Suppress progress output and the guidance for a cold run. |
--no-cache | Do not use the incremental vector cache. |
--threads <THREADS> | Number of parser threads. |
--changed-since <REF> | Report only pairs that touch files changed since this git ref. |
--diff-file <PATH> | Unified diff for line-level scoping. |
--diff-stdin | Read the unified diff from stdin. |
-w, --workspace <WORKSPACE> | Scope the output to the selected workspaces. |
--changed-workspaces <REF> | Scope the output to the workspaces that changed since this git ref. |
--max-file-size <MB> | Skip source files that are larger than this number of megabytes. |
--explain | Add metadata that explains the metrics and the model. |
--threshold <0..1> | The minimum cosine similarity of a candidate. Default: similarCode.threshold in the config, else 0.8. |
--min-lines <N> | The minimum number of source lines of a function. Default: similarCode.minLines in the config, else 3. |
--top <N> | Show at most this number of candidates. The limit applies after the comparison. |
--file <PATH> | Report only pairs that touch these project-relative files. |
-o, --output-file <PATH> | Write the report to a file, not to stdout. |
The scope flags select which functions fallow compares first. Fallow compares only pairs where at least one function is fully in scope.
Subcommands
| Subcommand | What it does | Flags |
|---|---|---|
status | Shows if the companion and the pinned model are ready. It does not read project source. | --format, --pretty, --quiet |
setup --local | Downloads and verifies the pinned local model. It asks for confirmation first. | --local (required), --yes to confirm without a prompt, --format, --pretty, --quiet |
inspect <CANDIDATE_ID> | Reproduces one candidate against the current source and adds size-limited evidence. | --candidates <PATH> (the saved discovery JSON), --root, --config, --allow-remote-extends, --format, --pretty, --quiet, --output-file |
review | Joins the candidate JSON with a separate verdict document. | --candidates <PATH>, --verdicts <PATH>, --require-verdict-for-each-candidate, --format, --pretty, --quiet, --output-file |
cache clear | Removes the derived vectors of the project. The downloaded model stays. | --yes (required), --root, --config, --allow-remote-extends, --format, --pretty, --quiet |
Use --yes on setup only when a person already approved the download. Project config and agents cannot approve the download.
Exit codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
0 | The command ran. Candidates do not change the exit code. |
2 | Invalid input, for example a missing --yes on cache clear, an invalid verdict document, or a candidate without a verdict under --require-verdict-for-each-candidate. Also a failure of the local provider. |
3 | The local model is not ready. Run fallow similar-code setup --local. |
status exits 0 also when the model is not ready. Read model_ready in its JSON output to decide.