diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/default_config.yaml b/plugins/text_editor/default_config.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c3064d4eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/text_editor/default_config.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+max_line_tokens: 500
+default_line_count: 100
+max_total_read_tokens: 4000
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/extensions/.gitkeep b/plugins/text_editor/extensions/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/extensions/python/system_prompt/_15_text_editor_prompt.py b/plugins/text_editor/extensions/python/system_prompt/_15_text_editor_prompt.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..96ea55582
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/text_editor/extensions/python/system_prompt/_15_text_editor_prompt.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+from python.helpers.extension import Extension
+from python.helpers import plugins
+from agent import Agent, LoopData
+
+
+class TextEditorPrompt(Extension):
+
+    async def execute(
+        self,
+        system_prompt: list[str] = [],
+        loop_data: LoopData = LoopData(),
+        **kwargs,
+    ):
+        config = plugins.get_plugin_config("text_editor", agent=self.agent) or {}
+        default_line_count = config.get("default_line_count", 100)
+        prompt = self.agent.read_prompt(
+            "agent.system.tool.text_editor.md",
+            default_line_count=default_line_count,
+        )
+        system_prompt.append(prompt)
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/helpers/__init__.py b/plugins/text_editor/helpers/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/helpers/file_ops.py b/plugins/text_editor/helpers/file_ops.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c71b3221e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/text_editor/helpers/file_ops.py
@@ -0,0 +1,321 @@
+"""
+Pure file operations for the text_editor plugin.
+
+No agent/tool dependencies — only stdlib + tokens helper.
+"""
+
+import os
+import shutil
+import tempfile
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+from python.helpers import plugins, tokens
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from agent import Agent
+
+_BINARY_PEEK = 8192
+
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Config
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def get_config(agent: "Agent") -> dict:
+    config = plugins.get_plugin_config("text_editor", agent=agent) or {}
+    return {
+        "max_line_tokens": int(config.get("max_line_tokens", 500)),
+        "default_line_count": int(config.get("default_line_count", 100)),
+        "max_total_read_tokens": int(config.get("max_total_read_tokens", 4000)),
+    }
+
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Binary detection
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def is_binary(path: str) -> bool:
+    """Detect binary file by checking for null bytes."""
+    try:
+        with open(path, "rb") as f:
+            chunk = f.read(_BINARY_PEEK)
+        return b"\x00" in chunk
+    except OSError:
+        return False
+
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Read
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+@dataclass
+class ReadResult:
+    content: str = ""
+    total_lines: int = 0
+    warnings: str = ""
+    error: str = ""
+
+
+def read_file(
+    path: str,
+    line_from: int = 0,
+    line_to: int = 0,
+    max_line_tokens: int = 500,
+    default_line_count: int = 100,
+    max_total_read_tokens: int = 4000,
+) -> ReadResult:
+    """Read a text file and return numbered lines with token budgeting."""
+    path = os.path.expanduser(path)
+
+    if not os.path.isfile(path):
+        return ReadResult(error="file not found")
+
+    if is_binary(path):
+        return ReadResult(error="file appears binary, use terminal instead")
+
+    try:
+        with open(path, "r", encoding="utf-8", errors="replace") as f:
+            all_lines = f.readlines()
+    except OSError as exc:
+        return ReadResult(error=str(exc))
+
+    total_lines = len(all_lines)
+    line_from = max(line_from, 0)
+    if not line_to:
+        line_to = min(line_from + default_line_count, total_lines)
+    line_to = min(line_to, total_lines)
+
+    selected = all_lines[line_from:line_to]
+
+    warn_parts: list[str] = []
+    cropped_lines: list[int] = []
+    output_lines: list[str] = []
+    running_tokens = 0
+    trimmed_by_total = False
+
+    for i, raw_line in enumerate(selected):
+        line_no = line_from + i
+        stripped = raw_line.rstrip("\n").rstrip("\r")
+        line_tok = tokens.count_tokens(stripped)
+
+        if line_tok > max_line_tokens:
+            chars_per_tok = max(len(stripped) / line_tok, 1)
+            keep_chars = int(max_line_tokens * chars_per_tok * tokens.TRIM_BUFFER)
+            stripped = stripped[:keep_chars] + "..."
+            cropped_lines.append(line_no)
+            line_tok = max_line_tokens
+
+        if running_tokens + line_tok > max_total_read_tokens:
+            trimmed_by_total = True
+            break
+
+        running_tokens += line_tok
+        output_lines.append(f"{line_no} {stripped}")
+
+    if cropped_lines:
+        nums = " ".join(str(n) for n in cropped_lines)
+        warn_parts.append(
+            f"long lines {nums} cropped - use terminal for precise manipulation"
+        )
+    if trimmed_by_total:
+        actual_end = line_from + len(output_lines)
+        warn_parts.append(
+            f"output trimmed at line {actual_end} due to token limit"
+            " - use line_from/line_to for remaining"
+        )
+
+    warn_str = ""
+    if warn_parts:
+        warn_str = "\nwarning: " + "; ".join(warn_parts)
+
+    return ReadResult(
+        content="\n".join(output_lines),
+        total_lines=total_lines,
+        warnings=warn_str,
+    )
+
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Write
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+@dataclass
+class WriteResult:
+    total_lines: int = 0
+    error: str = ""
+
+
+def write_file(path: str, content: str) -> WriteResult:
+    """Create or overwrite a file."""
+    path = os.path.expanduser(path)
+    try:
+        os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(path) or ".", exist_ok=True)
+        with open(path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+            f.write(content)
+    except OSError as exc:
+        return WriteResult(error=str(exc))
+
+    total = content.count("\n") + (
+        1 if content and not content.endswith("\n") else 0
+    )
+    return WriteResult(total_lines=total)
+
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Patch
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+@dataclass
+class PatchResult:
+    total_lines: int = 0
+    edit_count: int = 0
+    error: str = ""
+
+
+def validate_edits(edits: list) -> tuple[list[dict], str]:
+    """
+    Normalise and validate an edits array.
+
+    Semantics (to is inclusive):
+      {from:2, to:2, content:"x\\n"} - replace line 2
+      {from:1, to:3, content:"x\\n"} - replace lines 1-3
+      {from:2, to:2}                 - delete line 2
+      {from:5}  or {from:5, to:-1}   - insert before line 5 (no deletion)
+
+    Returns (parsed_edits, error_string). error_string is empty on success.
+    """
+    if not edits or not isinstance(edits, list):
+        return [], "edits array is required"
+
+    parsed: list[dict] = []
+    for e in edits:
+        if not isinstance(e, dict):
+            return [], f"invalid edit entry: {e}"
+        frm = int(e.get("from", -1))
+        if frm < 0:
+            return [], f"edit missing from: {e}"
+        # to == -1 or absent means pure insert (no lines removed)
+        to = int(e.get("to", -1))
+        is_insert = to < 0 or to < frm
+        if is_insert:
+            to = frm - 1  # normalise: marks zero-width range
+        parsed.append({
+            "from": frm,
+            "to": to,
+            "content": e.get("content", ""),
+            "insert": is_insert,
+        })
+
+    parsed.sort(key=lambda x: (x["from"], 0 if x["insert"] else 1))
+    for i in range(1, len(parsed)):
+        prev, cur = parsed[i - 1], parsed[i]
+        # Inserts at the same line don't overlap with each other or
+        # with a replace that starts at the same line.
+        if prev["insert"]:
+            continue
+        # prev is a replace/delete: its range is [from..to] inclusive
+        if cur["from"] <= prev["to"]:
+            return [], (
+                f"overlapping edits: edit at {prev['from']}"
+                f" (to {prev['to']}) and {cur['from']}"
+                f" (to {cur['to']})"
+            )
+
+    return parsed, ""
+
+
+def apply_patch(path: str, edits: list[dict]) -> int:
+    """
+    Apply sorted, validated edits by streaming to a temp file.
+
+    Edits use inclusive 'to'. Inserts have 'insert': True.
+    Returns total line count after patching.
+    """
+    dir_name = os.path.dirname(path) or "."
+    fd, tmp_path = tempfile.mkstemp(dir=dir_name, suffix=".tmp")
+    try:
+        with (
+            open(path, "r", encoding="utf-8", errors="replace") as src,
+            os.fdopen(fd, "w", encoding="utf-8") as dst,
+        ):
+            edit_idx = 0
+            line_no = 0
+            total_written = 0
+
+            for raw_line in src:
+                # Process all inserts targeting this line first
+                while (
+                    edit_idx < len(edits)
+                    and edits[edit_idx]["insert"]
+                    and edits[edit_idx]["from"] == line_no
+                ):
+                    edit = edits[edit_idx]
+                    if edit["content"]:
+                        dst.write(edit["content"])
+                        total_written += _count_content_lines(edit["content"])
+                    edit_idx += 1
+
+                # Check if current line falls in a replace/delete range
+                if edit_idx < len(edits) and not edits[edit_idx]["insert"]:
+                    edit = edits[edit_idx]
+                    if edit["from"] <= line_no <= edit["to"]:
+                        # Write replacement content once at range start
+                        if line_no == edit["from"] and edit["content"]:
+                            dst.write(edit["content"])
+                            total_written += _count_content_lines(
+                                edit["content"]
+                            )
+                        # Skip original line; advance edit at range end
+                        if line_no == edit["to"]:
+                            edit_idx += 1
+                        line_no += 1
+                        continue
+
+                dst.write(raw_line)
+                total_written += 1
+                line_no += 1
+
+            # Remaining edits past end of file
+            while edit_idx < len(edits):
+                edit = edits[edit_idx]
+                if edit["content"]:
+                    dst.write(edit["content"])
+                    total_written += _count_content_lines(edit["content"])
+                edit_idx += 1
+
+        shutil.move(tmp_path, path)
+        return total_written
+    except Exception:
+        if os.path.exists(tmp_path):
+            os.unlink(tmp_path)
+        raise
+
+
+def patch_file(path: str, edits: list) -> PatchResult:
+    """Validate and apply edits to a file."""
+    path = os.path.expanduser(path)
+    if not os.path.isfile(path):
+        return PatchResult(error="file not found")
+
+    parsed, err = validate_edits(edits)
+    if err:
+        return PatchResult(error=err)
+
+    try:
+        total = apply_patch(path, parsed)
+    except Exception as exc:
+        return PatchResult(error=str(exc))
+
+    return PatchResult(total_lines=total, edit_count=len(parsed))
+
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Internal
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def _count_content_lines(content: str) -> int:
+    return content.count("\n") + (
+        1 if content and not content.endswith("\n") else 0
+    )
+    
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/plugin.yaml b/plugins/text_editor/plugin.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..da84ddb77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/text_editor/plugin.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+name: Text Editor
+description: Native text file read, write and patch tools with line numbers.
+version: 1.0.0
+settings_sections:
+  - agent
+per_project_config: false
+per_agent_config: false
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/prompts/agent.system.tool.text_editor.md b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/agent.system.tool.text_editor.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..290df6d79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/agent.system.tool.text_editor.md
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+### text_editor
+native file read write patch with line numbers
+no code execution creating viewing editing text files
+terminal (grep find sed) search advanced replacements
+
+#### text_editor:read
+read file numbered lines
+args path line_from (inclusive) line_to (inclusive) both optional
+defaults first {{default_line_count}} lines if no range
+usage:
+~~~json
+{
+    "thoughts": [
+        "..."
+    ],
+    "headline": "...",
+    "tool_name": "text_editor:read",
+    "tool_args": {
+        "path": "/path/file.py",
+        "line_from": 1,
+        "line_to": 50
+    }
+}
+~~~
+
+#### text_editor:write
+create overwrite entire file
+args path content
+usage:
+~~~json
+{
+    "thoughts": [
+        "..."
+    ],
+    "headline": "...",
+    "tool_name": "text_editor:write",
+    "tool_args": {
+        "path": "/path/file.py",
+        "content": "import os\nprint('hello')\n"
+    }
+}
+~~~
+
+#### text_editor:patch
+apply line edits existing file
+args path edits (array of {from, to, content})
+from and to are inclusive line numbers
+{from:2, to:2, content:"x\n"} replace line 2
+{from:1, to:3, content:"x\n"} replace lines 1-3
+{from:2, to:2} delete line 2 (no content = delete)
+{from:2, content:"x\n"} insert before line 2 (omit to = insert)
+always original line numbers from read output dont adjust shifts
+edits must not overlap
+usage:
+~~~json
+{
+    "thoughts": [
+        "..."
+    ],
+    "headline": "...",
+    "tool_name": "text_editor:patch",
+    "tool_args": {
+        "path": "/path/file.py",
+        "edits": [
+            {"from": 1, "content": "import sys\n"},
+            {"from": 5, "to": 5, "content": "    if x == 2:\n"}
+        ]
+    }
+}
+~~~
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.patch_error.md b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.patch_error.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..061afc03c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.patch_error.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+error patching {{path}}: {{error}}
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.patch_ok.md b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.patch_ok.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8d54e3d97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.patch_ok.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{{path}} patched {{edit_count}} edits applied, {{total_lines}} lines now
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.read_error.md b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.read_error.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..14f26397c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.read_error.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+error reading {{path}}: {{error}}
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.read_ok.md b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.read_ok.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a4659ae8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.read_ok.md
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{{path}} {{total_lines}} lines{{warnings}}
+>>>
+{{content}}
+<<<
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.write_error.md b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.write_error.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..abf972235
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.write_error.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+error writing {{path}}: {{error}}
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.write_ok.md b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.write_ok.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cb493f7f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/text_editor/prompts/fw.text_editor.write_ok.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{{path}} written {{total_lines}} lines
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/tools/text_editor.py b/plugins/text_editor/tools/text_editor.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1f3707265
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/text_editor/tools/text_editor.py
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+import os
+
+from python.helpers.tool import Tool, Response
+from python.helpers.extension import call_extensions
+from plugins.text_editor.helpers.file_ops import (
+    get_config,
+    read_file,
+    write_file,
+    validate_edits,
+    apply_patch,
+)
+
+
+class TextEditor(Tool):
+
+    async def execute(self, **kwargs):
+        if self.method == "read":
+            return await self._read(**kwargs)
+        elif self.method == "write":
+            return await self._write(**kwargs)
+        elif self.method == "patch":
+            return await self._patch(**kwargs)
+        return Response(
+            message=f"unknown method '{self.name}:{self.method}'",
+            break_loop=False,
+        )
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # READ
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    async def _read(self, path: str = "", **kwargs) -> Response:
+        if not path:
+            return self._error("read", path, "path is required")
+
+        cfg = get_config(self.agent)
+        line_from = int(kwargs.get("line_from", 0))
+        line_to = int(kwargs.get("line_to", 0))
+
+        result = read_file(
+            path,
+            line_from=line_from,
+            line_to=line_to,
+            max_line_tokens=cfg["max_line_tokens"],
+            default_line_count=cfg["default_line_count"],
+            max_total_read_tokens=cfg["max_total_read_tokens"],
+        )
+
+        if result.error:
+            return self._error("read", path, result.error)
+
+        # Extension point
+        ext_data = {"content": result.content, "warnings": result.warnings}
+        await call_extensions(
+            "text_editor_read_after", agent=self.agent, data=ext_data
+        )
+
+        msg = self.agent.read_prompt(
+            "fw.text_editor.read_ok.md",
+            path=os.path.expanduser(path),
+            total_lines=str(result.total_lines),
+            warnings=ext_data["warnings"],
+            content=ext_data["content"],
+        )
+        return Response(message=msg, break_loop=False)
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # WRITE
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    async def _write(self, path: str = "", content: str = "", **kwargs) -> Response:
+        if not path:
+            return self._error("write", path, "path is required")
+
+        # Extension point
+        ext_data = {"path": path, "content": content}
+        await call_extensions(
+            "text_editor_write_before", agent=self.agent, data=ext_data
+        )
+
+        result = write_file(ext_data["path"], ext_data["content"])
+
+        if result.error:
+            return self._error("write", path, result.error)
+
+        # Extension point
+        await call_extensions(
+            "text_editor_write_after", agent=self.agent,
+            data={"path": path, "total_lines": result.total_lines},
+        )
+
+        msg = self.agent.read_prompt(
+            "fw.text_editor.write_ok.md",
+            path=os.path.expanduser(path),
+            total_lines=str(result.total_lines),
+        )
+        return Response(message=msg, break_loop=False)
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # PATCH
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    async def _patch(self, path: str = "", edits=None, **kwargs) -> Response:
+        if not path:
+            return self._error("patch", path, "path is required")
+
+        expanded = os.path.expanduser(path)
+        if not os.path.isfile(expanded):
+            return self._error("patch", path, "file not found")
+
+        parsed, err = validate_edits(edits)
+        if err:
+            return self._error("patch", path, err)
+
+        # Extension point
+        ext_data = {"path": expanded, "edits": parsed}
+        await call_extensions(
+            "text_editor_patch_before", agent=self.agent, data=ext_data
+        )
+
+        try:
+            total_lines = apply_patch(ext_data["path"], ext_data["edits"])
+        except Exception as exc:
+            return self._error("patch", path, str(exc))
+
+        # Extension point
+        await call_extensions(
+            "text_editor_patch_after", agent=self.agent,
+            data={"path": expanded, "total_lines": total_lines},
+        )
+
+        msg = self.agent.read_prompt(
+            "fw.text_editor.patch_ok.md",
+            path=expanded,
+            edit_count=str(len(ext_data["edits"])),
+            total_lines=str(total_lines),
+        )
+        return Response(message=msg, break_loop=False)
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Shared error helper
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    def _error(self, action: str, path: str, error: str) -> Response:
+        msg = self.agent.read_prompt(
+            f"fw.text_editor.{action}_error.md", path=path, error=error
+        )
+        return Response(message=msg, break_loop=False)
+        
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/text_editor/webui/config.html b/plugins/text_editor/webui/config.html
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0ee726298
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/text_editor/webui/config.html
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+<html>
+<head>
+    <title>Text Editor</title>
+</head>
+
+<body>
+    <div x-data>
+        <template x-if="$store.pluginSettings.settings">
+            <div>
+                <div class="section-title">Text Editor</div>
+                <div class="section-description">
+                    Settings for the native text file read/write/patch tools.
+                </div>
+
+                <div class="field">
+                    <div class="field-label">
+                        <div class="field-title">Max line tokens</div>
+                        <div class="field-description">
+                            Lines exceeding this token count are cropped in read output.
+                        </div>
+                    </div>
+                    <div class="field-control">
+                        <input type="number" min="50" max="5000"
+                            x-model.number="$store.pluginSettings.settings.max_line_tokens" />
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+
+                <div class="field">
+                    <div class="field-label">
+                        <div class="field-title">Default line count</div>
+                        <div class="field-description">
+                            Number of lines returned by read when no range is specified.
+                        </div>
+                    </div>
+                    <div class="field-control">
+                        <input type="number" min="10" max="1000"
+                            x-model.number="$store.pluginSettings.settings.default_line_count" />
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+
+                <div class="field">
+                    <div class="field-label">
+                        <div class="field-title">Max total read tokens</div>
+                        <div class="field-description">
+                            Total token budget for a single read operation output.
+                        </div>
+                    </div>
+                    <div class="field-control">
+                        <input type="number" min="500" max="50000"
+                            x-model.number="$store.pluginSettings.settings.max_total_read_tokens" />
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        </template>
+    </div>
+</body>
+
+</html>