# fix: list_files recursive mode now works for dot directories

[MuriloFP]

Related GitHub Issue

Closes: #2992
Closes: #5409
Closes: #4807

Description

Issue

The list_files tool with recursive: true was returning empty results when targeting directories that start with a dot (e.g., .roo-memory). This happened because the recursive mode was applying a blanket exclusion pattern !**/.*//** that excluded all files inside any hidden directory, even when the user explicitly requested to list that directory.

Files Changed

• src/services/glob/list-files.ts

Solution

• Modified buildRecursiveArgs(): Removed the problematic !**/.*//** exclusion pattern for hidden directories in recursive mode
• Enhanced listFilteredDirectories(): Added isTargetDir parameter to distinguish between explicitly targeted directories and discovered subdirectories
• Updated shouldIncludeDirectory(): Always include explicitly targeted directories (even if hidden), while still applying ignore rules to subdirectories found during traversal

Behavior Changes

• Before: list_files with path: ".roo-memory" and recursive: true → Empty results
• After: list_files with path: ".roo-memory" and recursive: true → Returns directory contents
• Preserved: Hidden subdirectories discovered during traversal are still filtered out

This maintains consistency with .gitignore and .rooignore mechanisms while ensuring explicitly targeted directories are always processed.

Test Procedure

• Create a .roo-memory (or .whatever) folder.
• Create random files inside the folder
• Ask Roo to list the contents of the folder recursively
• Before the changes, it did not show results. After the fix, it showed the files inside correctly.

Pre-Submission Checklist

• Issue Linked: This PR is linked to an approved GitHub Issue (see "Related GitHub Issue" above).
• Scope: My changes are focused on the linked issue (one major feature/fix per PR).
• Self-Review: I have performed a thorough self-review of my code.
• Testing: New and/or updated tests have been added to cover my changes (if applicable).
• Documentation Impact: I have considered if my changes require documentation updates (see "Documentation Updates" section below).
• Contribution Guidelines: I have read and agree to the Contributor Guidelines.

Screenshots / Videos

Documentation Updates

Additional Notes

Get in Touch

@MuriloFP

---

Important

Fixes list_files to include explicitly targeted hidden directories in recursive mode while excluding discovered hidden subdirectories.

• Behavior:
  • Fixes list_files to include explicitly targeted hidden directories in recursive mode.
  • Hidden subdirectories discovered during traversal remain excluded.
• Functions:
  • buildRecursiveArgs(): Removed exclusion pattern for hidden directories.
  • listFilteredDirectories(): Added isTargetDir parameter to differentiate targeted directories.
  • shouldIncludeDirectory(): Always includes explicitly targeted directories, applies ignore rules to subdirectories.

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[daniel-lxs]

Hey @MuriloFP, I was testing this implementation and noticed that directories like .git and .github are being included in the environment details and are visible to the model.

This could be problematic since those directories often contain a large number of files and subdirectories that aren’t usually relevant and can quickly fill up the context window.

One idea might be to only show the top-level hidden directory (like .git/) so the model is aware it exists, but avoid listing its full contents unless needed. That way, the model can still choose to navigate into it if necessary without overloading the initial context.

Let me know what you think!

[MuriloFP]

Hey @MuriloFP, I was testing this implementation and noticed that directories like .git and .github are being included in the environment details and are visible to the model.

This could be problematic since those directories often contain a large number of files and subdirectories that aren’t usually relevant and can quickly fill up the context window.

One idea might be to only show the top-level hidden directory (like .git/) so the model is aware it exists, but avoid listing its full contents unless needed. That way, the model can still choose to navigate into it if necessary without overloading the initial context.

Let me know what you think!

Should be fixed now!

The recursive won't list "." folder contents unless they are the specific target of the tool call, only showing the top directory as you suggested.

[MuriloFP]

@MuriloFP Can you take a look at the changes on the README.md files? They seem to be unrelated.

Seems like there was an issue with my branch. Fixed now, ready for review!

[delve-auditor]

✅ No security or compliance issues detected. Reviewed everything up to 8860be7.

Security Overview

• 🔎 Scanned files: 3 changed file(s)

Detected Code Changes

The diff is too large to display a summary of code changes.

Reply to this PR with @delve-auditor followed by a description of what change you want and we'll auto-submit a change to this PR to implement it.

[daniel-lxs]

LGTM

[VooDisss]

Need this implemented so maybe we finally won't have issues with files_list showing directories as empty, when they contain files like .xml format. Not exactly sure it will fix my issue of files_list displaying directories as empty when using absolute paths...