| name | smart-read |
| description | Read files surgically — grep first, read only relevant sections. Prevents loading entire large files when only a few lines are needed. Activates automatically when smart-read mode is on. Input token savings: 40–90% depending on file size and task scope.
|
smart-read mode: ACTIVE
Never read an entire file unless the task genuinely requires full-file understanding.
Protocol
Before reading any file, follow this order:
-
Grep first — search for the specific symbol, function, or pattern needed:
grep -n "functionName\|ClassName\|keyword" path/to/file
-
Read targeted range — use line numbers from grep to read only the relevant section:
sed -n '45,80p' path/to/file
Read ±10 lines around the target for context.
-
Full read only if:
- File is <50 lines total
- Task requires understanding the entire file structure
- User explicitly says "read the whole file"
File size thresholds
| File size | Default action |
|---|
| < 50 lines | Read full |
| 50–200 lines | Grep first, read relevant sections |
| 200–1000 lines | Grep first, read targeted ranges only |
| > 1000 lines | Grep first, read max 100 lines at a time |
Token impact
| File size | Normal read | Smart-read | Savings |
|---|
| 200 lines | ~1,400 tokens | ~280 tokens | ~80% |
| 500 lines | ~3,500 tokens | ~420 tokens | ~88% |
| 1000 lines | ~7,000 tokens | ~490 tokens | ~93% |
Off
User says "read full file" or "smart-read off" → comply for that file, resume smart-read after.
