fallow explain
Learn what a fallow finding means and how to fix it, without running analysis. Fallow explain prints the rationale, an example, fix guidance, and a docs link for one issue type.
Get a short rule guide for one issue type before you decide to fix, suppress, or configure a finding. fallow explain does not run analysis. Agents and CI bots use it to read the rule before they act.
fallow explain unused-export
fallow explain fallow/code-duplication --format json --quietArguments
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
<issue-type> | Issue type token or rule id, for example unused-export, fallow/unused-dependency, high-complexity, or code-duplication. Fallow also accepts common plural aliases such as unused-exports, and issue labels such as unused exports or code duplication. |
Output
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
human | Rule id, summary, rationale, example, fix guidance, and docs URL. |
json | An object with kind: "explain" and the same fields. Use this format from agents. |
{
"kind": "explain",
"id": "fallow/unused-export",
"name": "Unused Exports",
"summary": "Export is never imported",
"rationale": "Named exports that are never imported by any other module in the project. Includes both direct exports and re-exports through barrel files. The export may still be used locally within the same file.",
"example": "export const formatPrice = ... exists in src/money.ts, but no module imports formatPrice.",
"how_to_fix": "Remove the export or make it file-local. If it is public API, import it from an entry point or add an intentional suppression with context.",
"docs": "https://docs.fallow.tools/explanations/dead-code#unused-exports"
}MCP tool
The fallow_explain MCP tool runs fallow explain <issue-type> --format json --quiet:
{
"tool": "fallow_explain",
"arguments": {
"issue_type": "unused-export"
}
}An agent can call it to read the rule before it applies a fix or a suppression.
An unknown issue type exits with code 2. The error message gives examples of valid values.