refactor: remove read-many-files tool from agent (#12796)

docs/cli/gemini-ignore.md

@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ Git).
 
 When you add a path to your `.geminiignore` file, tools that respect this file
 will exclude matching files and directories from their operations. For example,
-when you use the [`read_many_files`](../tools/multi-file.md) command, any paths
-in your `.geminiignore` file will be automatically excluded.
+when you use the `@` command to share files, any paths in your `.geminiignore`
+file will be automatically excluded.
 
 For the most part, `.geminiignore` follows the conventions of `.gitignore`
 files:

docs/index.md

@@ -60,8 +60,6 @@ This documentation is organized into the following sections:
 - **[File System Tools](./tools/file-system.md):** Documentation for the
   `read_file` and `write_file` tools.
 - **[MCP servers](./tools/mcp-server.md):** Using MCP servers with Gemini CLI.
-- **[Multi-File Read Tool](./tools/multi-file.md):** Documentation for the
-  `read_many_files` tool.
 - **[Shell Tool](./tools/shell.md):** Documentation for the `run_shell_command`
   tool.
 - **[Web Fetch Tool](./tools/web-fetch.md):** Documentation for the `web_fetch`

docs/sidebar.json

@@ -138,10 +138,6 @@
         "label": "File System",
         "slug": "docs/tools/file-system"
       },
-      {
-        "label": "Multi-File Read",
-        "slug": "docs/tools/multi-file"
-      },
       {
         "label": "Shell",
         "slug": "docs/tools/shell"

docs/tools/index.md

@@ -82,9 +82,6 @@ Gemini CLI's built-in tools can be broadly categorized as follows:
   from URLs.
 - **[Web Search Tool](./web-search.md) (`google_web_search`):** For searching
   the web.
-- **[Multi-File Read Tool](./multi-file.md) (`read_many_files`):** (Deprecated,
-  will be removed in v0.16.0) A specialized tool for reading content from
-  multiple files or directories.
 - **[Memory Tool](./memory.md) (`save_memory`):** For saving and recalling
   information across sessions.
 - **[Todo Tool](./todos.md) (`write_todos`):** For managing subtasks of complex

docs/tools/multi-file.md

@@ -1,113 +0,0 @@
-# Multi File Read Tool (`read_many_files`)
-
-> **Deprecated:** This tool is deprecated and will be removed in v0.16.0. Please
-> use `read_file` instead. If you need to read multiple files, you can make
-> multiple parallel calls to `read_file`.
-
-This document describes the `read_many_files` tool for the Gemini CLI.
-
-## Description
-
-Use `read_many_files` to read content from multiple files specified by paths or
-glob patterns. The behavior of this tool depends on the provided files:
-
-- For text files, this tool concatenates their content into a single string.
-- For image (e.g., PNG, JPEG), PDF, audio (MP3, WAV), and video (MP4, MOV)
-  files, it reads and returns them as base64-encoded data, provided they are
-  explicitly requested by name or extension.
-
-`read_many_files` can be used to perform tasks such as getting an overview of a
-codebase, finding where specific functionality is implemented, reviewing
-documentation, or gathering context from multiple configuration files.
-
-**Note:** `read_many_files` looks for files following the provided paths or glob
-patterns. A directory path such as `"/docs"` will return an empty result; the
-tool requires a pattern such as `"/docs/*"` or `"/docs/*.md"` to identify the
-relevant files.
-
-### Arguments
-
-`read_many_files` takes the following arguments:
-
-- `paths` (list[string], required): An array of glob patterns or paths relative
-  to the tool's target directory (e.g., `["src/**/*.ts"]`,
-  `["README.md", "docs/*", "assets/logo.png"]`).
-- `exclude` (list[string], optional): Glob patterns for files/directories to
-  exclude (e.g., `["**/*.log", "temp/"]`). These are added to default excludes
-  if `useDefaultExcludes` is true.
-- `include` (list[string], optional): Additional glob patterns to include. These
-  are merged with `paths` (e.g., `["*.test.ts"]` to specifically add test files
-  if they were broadly excluded, or `["images/*.jpg"]` to include specific image
-  types).
-- `recursive` (boolean, optional): Whether to search recursively. This is
-  primarily controlled by `**` in glob patterns. Defaults to `true`.
-- `useDefaultExcludes` (boolean, optional): Whether to apply a list of default
-  exclusion patterns (e.g., `node_modules`, `.git`, non image/pdf binary files).
-  Defaults to `true`.
-- `respect_git_ignore` (boolean, optional): Whether to respect .gitignore
-  patterns when finding files. Defaults to true.
-
-## How to use `read_many_files` with the Gemini CLI
-
-`read_many_files` searches for files matching the provided `paths` and `include`
-patterns, while respecting `exclude` patterns and default excludes (if enabled).
-
-- For text files: it reads the content of each matched file (attempting to skip
-  binary files not explicitly requested as image/PDF) and concatenates it into a
-  single string, with a separator `--- {filePath} ---` between the content of
-  each file. Uses UTF-8 encoding by default.
-- The tool inserts a `--- End of content ---` after the last file.
-- For image and PDF files: if explicitly requested by name or extension (e.g.,
-  `paths: ["logo.png"]` or `include: ["*.pdf"]`), the tool reads the file and
-  returns its content as a base64 encoded string.
-- The tool attempts to detect and skip other binary files (those not matching
-  common image/PDF types or not explicitly requested) by checking for null bytes
-  in their initial content.
-
-Usage:
-
-```
-read_many_files(paths=["Your files or paths here."], include=["Additional files to include."], exclude=["Files to exclude."], recursive=False, useDefaultExcludes=false, respect_git_ignore=true)
-```
-
-## `read_many_files` examples
-
-Read all TypeScript files in the `src` directory:
-
-```
-read_many_files(paths=["src/**/*.ts"])
-```
-
-Read the main README, all Markdown files in the `docs` directory, and a specific
-logo image, excluding a specific file:
-
-```
-read_many_files(paths=["README.md", "docs/**/*.md", "assets/logo.png"], exclude=["docs/OLD_README.md"])
-```
-
-Read all JavaScript files but explicitly include test files and all JPEGs in an
-`images` folder:
-
-```
-read_many_files(paths=["**/*.js"], include=["**/*.test.js", "images/**/*.jpg"], useDefaultExcludes=False)
-```
-
-## Important notes
-
-- **Binary file handling:**
-  - **Image/PDF/Audio/Video files:** The tool can read common image types (PNG,
-    JPEG, etc.), PDF, audio (mp3, wav), and video (mp4, mov) files, returning
-    them as base64 encoded data. These files _must_ be explicitly targeted by
-    the `paths` or `include` patterns (e.g., by specifying the exact filename
-    like `video.mp4` or a pattern like `*.mov`).
-  - **Other binary files:** The tool attempts to detect and skip other types of
-    binary files by examining their initial content for null bytes. The tool
-    excludes these files from its output.
-- **Performance:** Reading a very large number of files or very large individual
-  files can be resource-intensive.
-- **Path specificity:** Ensure paths and glob patterns are correctly specified
-  relative to the tool's target directory. For image/PDF files, ensure the
-  patterns are specific enough to include them.
-- **Default excludes:** Be aware of the default exclusion patterns (like
-  `node_modules`, `.git`) and use `useDefaultExcludes=False` if you need to
-  override them, but do so cautiously.

packages/cli/src/ui/commands/toolsCommand.ts

@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import {
   CommandKind,
 } from './types.js';
 import { MessageType, type HistoryItemToolsList } from '../types.js';
-import { READ_MANY_FILES_TOOL_NAME } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 
 export const toolsCommand: SlashCommand = {
   name: 'tools',
@@ -45,10 +44,7 @@ export const toolsCommand: SlashCommand = {
       type: MessageType.TOOLS_LIST,
       tools: geminiTools.map((tool) => ({
         name: tool.name,
-        displayName:
-          tool.name === READ_MANY_FILES_TOOL_NAME
-            ? `${tool.displayName} (Deprecated)`
-            : tool.displayName,
+        displayName: tool.displayName,
         description: tool.description,
       })),
       showDescriptions: useShowDescriptions,

packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/atCommandProcessor.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   getErrorMessage,
   isNodeError,
   unescapePath,
+  ReadManyFilesTool,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import type { HistoryItem, IndividualToolCallDisplay } from '../types.js';
 import { ToolCallStatus } from '../types.js';
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ export async function handleAtCommand({
   };
 
   const toolRegistry = config.getToolRegistry();
-  const readManyFilesTool = toolRegistry.getTool('read_many_files');
+  const readManyFilesTool = new ReadManyFilesTool(config);
   const globTool = toolRegistry.getTool('glob');
 
   if (!readManyFilesTool) {

packages/core/src/config/config.test.ts

@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ import { logRipgrepFallback } from '../telemetry/loggers.js';
 import { RipgrepFallbackEvent } from '../telemetry/types.js';
 import { ToolRegistry } from '../tools/tool-registry.js';
 import { DEFAULT_MODEL_CONFIGS } from './defaultModelConfigs.js';
-import { READ_MANY_FILES_TOOL_NAME } from '../tools/tool-names.js';
 
 vi.mock('fs', async (importOriginal) => {
   const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import('fs')>();
@@ -1041,40 +1040,6 @@ describe('Server Config (config.ts)', () => {
       expect(mockCoreEvents.emitFeedback).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
   });
-
-  describe('checkDeprecatedTools', () => {
-    it('should emit a warning when a deprecated tool is in coreTools', async () => {
-      const params: ConfigParameters = {
-        ...baseParams,
-        coreTools: [READ_MANY_FILES_TOOL_NAME],
-      };
-      const config = new Config(params);
-      await config.initialize();
-
-      expect(mockCoreEvents.emitFeedback).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-        'warning',
-        expect.stringContaining(
-          `The tool '${READ_MANY_FILES_TOOL_NAME}' (or 'ReadManyFilesTool') specified in 'tools.core' is deprecated`,
-        ),
-      );
-    });
-
-    it('should emit a warning when a deprecated tool is in allowedTools', async () => {
-      const params: ConfigParameters = {
-        ...baseParams,
-        allowedTools: ['ReadManyFilesTool'],
-      };
-      const config = new Config(params);
-      await config.initialize();
-
-      expect(mockCoreEvents.emitFeedback).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-        'warning',
-        expect.stringContaining(
-          `The tool '${READ_MANY_FILES_TOOL_NAME}' (or 'ReadManyFilesTool') specified in 'tools.allowed' is deprecated`,
-        ),
-      );
-    });
-  });
 });
 
 describe('setApprovalMode with folder trust', () => {

packages/core/src/config/config.ts

@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import { SmartEditTool } from '../tools/smart-edit.js';
 import { ShellTool } from '../tools/shell.js';
 import { WriteFileTool } from '../tools/write-file.js';
 import { WebFetchTool } from '../tools/web-fetch.js';
-import { ReadManyFilesTool } from '../tools/read-many-files.js';
 import { MemoryTool, setGeminiMdFilename } from '../tools/memoryTool.js';
 import { WebSearchTool } from '../tools/web-search.js';
 import { GeminiClient } from '../core/client.js';
@@ -164,7 +163,6 @@ import {
   SimpleExtensionLoader,
 } from '../utils/extensionLoader.js';
 import { McpClientManager } from '../tools/mcp-client-manager.js';
-import { READ_MANY_FILES_TOOL_NAME } from '../tools/tool-names.js';
 
 export type { FileFilteringOptions };
 export {
@@ -632,32 +630,6 @@ export class Config {
     ]);
 
     await this.geminiClient.initialize();
-
-    this.checkDeprecatedTools();
-  }
-
-  private checkDeprecatedTools(): void {
-    const deprecatedTools = [
-      {
-        name: READ_MANY_FILES_TOOL_NAME,
-        alternateName: 'ReadManyFilesTool',
-      },
-    ];
-
-    const checkList = (list: string[] | undefined, listName: string) => {
-      if (!list) return;
-      for (const tool of deprecatedTools) {
-        if (list.includes(tool.name) || list.includes(tool.alternateName)) {
-          coreEvents.emitFeedback(
-            'warning',
-            `The tool '${tool.name}' (or '${tool.alternateName}') specified in '${listName}' is deprecated and will be removed in v0.16.0.`,
-          );
-        }
-      }
-    };
-
-    checkList(this.coreTools, 'tools.core');
-    checkList(this.allowedTools, 'tools.allowed');
   }
 
   getContentGenerator(): ContentGenerator {
@@ -1396,7 +1368,6 @@ export class Config {
     }
     registerCoreTool(WriteFileTool, this);
     registerCoreTool(WebFetchTool, this);
-    registerCoreTool(ReadManyFilesTool, this);
     registerCoreTool(ShellTool, this);
     registerCoreTool(MemoryTool);
     registerCoreTool(WebSearchTool, this);