This release adds brv search - a pure BM25 retrieval command that ranks context-tree results with zero LLM calls, zero provider config, and zero token cost - plus a long-requested --timeout flag for brv curate and brv query so slow local models can finish their work. A handful of legacy-sync papercuts get cleaned up along the way.
๐ Highlights
๐ brv search - zero-cost BM25 over the context tree
A new command that ranks files in your context tree using pure BM25 retrieval - no LLM, no provider config, no token budget to watch. It complements brv query for cases where you want structured results with paths, scores, and excerpts rather than a synthesized answer. Flags: --limit <n> (1โ50), --scope <prefix> to restrict search to a subdirectory, and --format json for scripting. Rule of thumb: use brv search when you need the raw hits, brv query when you want an answer.
โฑ --timeout on brv curate and brv query
Override the previous hard-coded 5-minute limit so slower local models (Ollama, LM Studio, llama.cpp) can finish long-running operations. Accepts a value in seconds, defaults to 300, caps at 3600. No effect when combined with --detach.
๐งน Cleaner brv vc experience for legacy-sync users
Three fixes that make brv vc quieter and less confusing for projects migrating off the old space-sync flow: brv push / brv pull now show a clear deprecation pointing at brv vc init, brv status no longer litters the project with a stray .snapshot.json, and adaptive *.abstract.md / *.overview.md artifacts are excluded from the context-tree .gitignore so they stop showing up in brv vc diffs.
What's Changed
โจ Features
- Add
brv searchBM25 context-tree retrieval command by @danhdoan in #358 - Add
--timeoutflag tobrv curateandbrv queryby @andreivladmatei in #342
๐ Fixes
- Replace misleading "no space configured" error on
brv push/brv pullwith a deprecation notice linking tobrv vc initby @bao-byterover in #361 - Stop
brv statusfrom auto-creating.snapshot.jsonon VC-managed projects; now reports "Managed by Byterover version control" by @bao-byterover in #362 - Exclude adaptive
*.abstract.md/*.overview.mdartifacts from the context-tree.gitignoreso they stop pollutingbrv vcdiffs by @bao-byterover in #363
๐ Docs & Chores
- Updated
CHANGELOG.mdandCLAUDE.mdfor the 3.3.0 release by @bao-byterover
๐ Contributors
Thanks to everyone who shipped this release: @danhdoan, @andreivladmatei, and @bao-byterover.
After upgrading, run brv restart to reload the daemon.
Full Changelog: v3.2.0...v3.3.0