PreCoding

PreCoding is a command-line tool for aggregating and exporting the contents of source files in a directory tree into a single Markdown-formatted text file, ideal for context sharing with LLMs or for code review/prep. It supports both pattern-based and explicit file-list selection, skips common build/ignored folders, and can copy the output to your clipboard (if small enough).

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Features

• Recursively collects source files by pattern or explicit list, skipping ignored folders and hidden files.
• Aggregates all files into AllSourceFiles.txt with proper Markdown code fencing and file headers.
• Customizable search:
  • Default patterns: .cs, .tsx, .ts, package.json, .csproj
  • Or list files explicitly: -files file1.cs file2.json ...
• Skips folders like node_modules, obj, Migrations, and dot-prefixed or hidden directories.
• UTF-8 safe: Reads files as UTF-8, warns if files can’t be read.
• Clipboard integration: If the output is ≤1MB, it’s automatically copied to your clipboard.

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Usage

precoding.exe [<targetDir>]
precoding.exe -files file1*.cs file?.ts file3.json ...
precoding.exe -help

Examples

1. Aggregate all source files in current directory recursively

   precoding.exe
   

2. Aggregate all source files in a specific directory recursively:

   precoding.exe C:\MyProject
   

3. Aggregate only specific files recursively:

   precoding.exe -files src/main.cs README.md app/app.tsx
   

4. Show help:

   precoding.exe -help
   

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Output

• All matched files are aggregated into AllSourceFiles.txt in the target directory.

• Each file is included as:

  ### --- FILENAME: relative/path/to/file ---
  
  ```<language>
  <file contents>
  ```

• If output is ≤1MB, it is also copied to clipboard automatically.

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What’s Ignored

• Folders: node_modules, Migrations, obj, app-example, staticdata, docs, any folders or files starting with ., any hidden folders.
• Files starting with . (dotfiles).
• Non-UTF8-encoded files may fail to be read.

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Dependencies

• .NET 8 or newer
• TextCopy NuGet package

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License

GPLv3

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Advanced

• Custom prompt header:
  If a prompt_header.md file exists in the executable’s directory, its contents will be prepended to the output.

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Development

Main entry:
Program.cs

• File aggregation and filtering is implemented in GetFilesSkippingFolders.
• File type code fencing is determined in GetFileType.
• Clipboard integration is via TextCopy.ClipboardService.

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Contributing

PRs welcome!

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Troubleshooting

• Nothing happens: Check you’re in the right directory and have matching files.
• Clipboard doesn’t work: Output may be >1MB, or clipboard access may be restricted.
• Errors reading files: Check file permissions and encoding.

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Happy code aggregation!