Read Multiple Files

read-multiple-files

Read multiple files sequentially to gather information from your codebase.

Read Multiple Files

This skill reads multiple files in sequence to understand the structure, content, and relationships across different parts of your project.

When to use this skill

• Understanding project structure - Read configuration files, package.json, and key source files
• Analyzing code dependencies - Read related modules or files that depend on each other
• Reviewing documentation - Read README, guides, and specification files
• Auditing codebase - Read critical files to ensure consistency or identify issues

How it works

1. Identify the files you need to read (typically 2-4 files)
2. Start with context-setting files (config, README, or entry points)
3. Read related files in dependency order
4. Use the information gathered to understand the complete picture

Tips

• Read in order of importance - Start with high-level files (README, config) before diving into code
• Read related files together - When files reference each other, read them in sequence to maintain context
• Check file types - This works well with configuration files, markdown documentation, source code, and manifests
• Build context progressively - Each read adds context for understanding subsequent files

Example workflow

Read package.json (understand project metadata)
→ Read .env.example (see required configuration)
→ Read src/index.ts (understand entry point)
→ Read src/config.ts (understand configuration handling)