The 5 tool functions every coding agent needs, from file access to search
Al_Grigor · x · 2026-09-15
The author argues that any coding agent can be built around just five tool functions:
- readfile — inspect existing code; without it the agent is blind to the current state of the project
- writefile — create or modify files, the agent's way of making actual changes
- seefiletree — view project structure to decide where new files go
- executebashcommand — run shell commands (tests, migrations, package installs) to verify changes
- searchinfiles — find code and references across files to understand how parts connect
The core claim: with these five tools, an agent can perceive, modify, and self-verify against a codebase.
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