diff --git a/src/fido.js b/src/fido.js
index d522599..54490e2 100644
--- a/src/fido.js
+++ b/src/fido.js
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ function buildSystemPrompt() {
     }
 
     return `You are Fido, a coding assistant.
-You can read files, list directories, and apply code patches within the workspace.
+You inspect files, list directories, and apply precise code changes within the workspace.
 
 ## Workspace
 Root directory: ${ROOT_DIR}
@@ -171,10 +171,24 @@ Total files: ${total}
 ## Workspace root (${total} entries):
 ${dirSection}
 
+## Available Tools & Guidelines
+- \`read_file(filename, seek, limit)\`: Inspect file contents and line numbers before modifying them.
+- \`list_files(dirname, recursive, seek, limit)\`: Explore workspace folders (respects .gitignore).
+- \`patch(operations)\`: Apply file updates or create files.
+  - Create or overwrite: \`{"file": "path", "search": null, "replace": "content"}\` (parent directories auto-created).
+  - Search & replace: \`{"file": "path", "search": "exact old text", "replace": "new text"}\`. Replaces the FIRST match.
+  - \`skiplines\`: (optional integer, 0-indexed) skips N lines from the top before matching. Use this if the search text appears multiple times.
+- \`mkdir(dirname)\`: Create directories (auto-recursive).
+- \`rmdir(dirname)\`: Remove a directory and all its contents.
+- \`rm(filename)\`: Delete an individual file.
+- \`ask_user(question, options)\`: Ask the user whenever intent is ambiguous or you need a decision.
+
 ## Rules
 - You may ONLY access files within the workspace root. Never use ".." or absolute paths.
-- Undo is handled externally by the user
-- When the user's intent is ambiguous or you need a decision to proceed, use the ask_user tool — don't guess.
+- Always inspect files with \`read_file\` before patching to ensure exact search string and indentation matches.
+- Prefer targeted SEARCH/REPLACE operations over rewriting entire files.
+- Multiple operations in a single \`patch\` call execute sequentially.
+- Undo is tracked automatically per operation and managed externally by the user.
 `;
 }
 
@@ -203,187 +217,152 @@ function pushUndo(entry) {
     saveUndoLog();
 }
 
-// ─── Patch parser ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
-/**
- * Parse a patch string into an array of operations.
- *
- * Supported operations:
- *   <<<<< CREATE path
- *   ...content...
- *   >>>>>
- *
- *   <<<<< CREATE_DIR path/
- *   >>>>>
- *
- *   <<<<< SEARCH path
- *   <<<<<<< SEARCH
- *   old
- *   =======
- *   new
- *   >>>>>>> REPLACE
- *   >>>>>
- *
- *   <<<<< DELETE path
- *   >>>>>
- *
- *   <<<<< DELETE_DIR path/
- *   >>>>>
- */
-function parsePatch(patchStr) {
-    const ops = [];
-    // Normalise line endings so the regex always works regardless of CRLF/LF/CR
-    const lines = patchStr.replace(/\r\n/g, '\n').replace(/\r/g, '\n').split('\n');
-    let i = 0;
-
-    while (i < lines.length) {
-        const line = lines[i].trimEnd();
-        const m = line.match(/^<<<<< (\w+) (.+)$/);
-        if (!m) { i++; continue; }
-
-        const opType = m[1].toUpperCase();
-        const opPath = m[2].trim();
-        i++;
-
-        // Collect body until ">>>>>" (5 right-angle brackets on its own line)
-        const bodyLines = [];
-        while (i < lines.length && lines[i].trimEnd() !== '>>>>>') {
-            bodyLines.push(lines[i]);
-            i++;
-        }
-        i++; // skip the ">>>>>"
-
-        const body = bodyLines.join('\n');
-
-        if (opType === 'CREATE') {
-            ops.push({ type: 'CREATE', path: opPath, content: body });
-        } else if (opType === 'CREATE_DIR') {
-            ops.push({ type: 'CREATE_DIR', path: opPath });
-        } else if (opType === 'DELETE') {
-            ops.push({ type: 'DELETE', path: opPath });
-        } else if (opType === 'DELETE_DIR') {
-            ops.push({ type: 'DELETE_DIR', path: opPath });
-        } else if (opType === 'SEARCH') {
-            // Parse inner <<<<<<< SEARCH / ======= / >>>>>>> REPLACE block
-            const searchMatch = body.match(/<<<<<<< SEARCH\r?\n([\s\S]*?)\r?\n=======\r?\n([\s\S]*?)\r?\n>>>>>>> REPLACE/);
-            if (!searchMatch) {
-                ops.push({ type: 'SEARCH', path: opPath, error: 'Malformed SEARCH block — expected <<<<<<< SEARCH / ======= / >>>>>>> REPLACE markers' });
-            } else {
-                ops.push({ type: 'SEARCH', path: opPath, search: searchMatch[1], replace: searchMatch[2] });
-            }
-        } else {
-            ops.push({ type: 'UNKNOWN', raw: line });
-        }
-    }
-    return ops;
-}
-
 // ─── Patch executor ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-function applyPatch(patchStr) {
-    const ops = parsePatch(patchStr);
-    if (ops.length === 0) {
-        return { success: false, error: 'No valid operations found in patch string. Check the patch format.' };
+/**
+ * Apply a list of file patch operations.
+ * Each operation is an object:
+ *   - file: string (relative path)
+ *   - search: string | null (string to be replaced; null or empty means create/overwrite file)
+ *   - replace: string (string to write)
+ *   - skiplines: number | null (optional: line number offset to start searching from, or lines to skip before matching)
+ */
+function applyOperations(operations) {
+    if (!Array.isArray(operations) || operations.length === 0) {
+        return { success: false, error: 'operations must be a non-empty array of objects.' };
     }
 
-    // Validate all paths first (fast-fail before any writes)
-    for (const op of ops) {
-        if (op.error) {
-            return { success: false, error: op.error, failedOp: op };
+    // Validate all operations first (fast-fail)
+    for (let idx = 0; idx < operations.length; idx++) {
+        const op = operations[idx];
+        if (!op || typeof op !== 'object') {
+            return { success: false, error: `Operation at index ${idx} is not an object.` };
         }
-        if (op.type === 'UNKNOWN') {
-            return { success: false, error: `Unrecognised operation: "${op.raw}"`, failedOp: op };
+        if (!op.file || typeof op.file !== 'string') {
+            return { success: false, error: `Operation at index ${idx} missing valid 'file' property.` };
+        }
+        if (op.replace === undefined || op.replace === null || typeof op.replace !== 'string') {
+            return { success: false, error: `Operation at index ${idx} ('${op.file}') missing valid 'replace' string.` };
         }
         try {
-            resolveSafe(op.path);
+            resolveSafe(op.file);
         } catch (err) {
             return { success: false, error: err.message, failedOp: op };
         }
     }
 
     const applied = [];
-    for (const op of ops) {
-        const absPath = resolveSafe(op.path);
+    for (const op of operations) {
+        const absPath = resolveSafe(op.file);
         try {
-            if (op.type === 'CREATE') {
-                // Build undo: delete the file (or restore if it existed)
+            if (op.search === null || op.search === undefined || op.search === '') {
+                // Create or overwrite file (with autodirectory creation)
                 let undoEntry;
                 if (fs.existsSync(absPath)) {
                     const existing = fs.readFileSync(absPath, 'utf8');
-                    undoEntry = { op: 'RESTORE', path: op.path, content: existing };
+                    undoEntry = { op: 'RESTORE', path: op.file, content: existing };
                 } else {
-                    undoEntry = { op: 'DELETE', path: op.path };
+                    undoEntry = { op: 'DELETE', path: op.file };
                 }
                 fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(absPath), { recursive: true });
-                fs.writeFileSync(absPath, op.content, 'utf8');
+                fs.writeFileSync(absPath, op.replace, 'utf8');
                 pushUndo(undoEntry);
-                applied.push(`CREATE ${op.path}`);
-
-            } else if (op.type === 'CREATE_DIR') {
-                if (!fs.existsSync(absPath)) {
-                    fs.mkdirSync(absPath, { recursive: true });
-                    pushUndo({ op: 'DELETE_DIR', path: op.path });
-                }
-                applied.push(`CREATE_DIR ${op.path}`);
-
-            } else if (op.type === 'DELETE') {
+                applied.push(`CREATE/WRITE ${op.file}`);
+            } else {
+                // Search and replace (replace first hit, optionally respecting skiplines)
                 if (!fs.existsSync(absPath)) {
                     return {
                         success: false,
-                        error: `DELETE failed: file not found: "${op.path}"`,
-                        failedOp: op,
-                        appliedSoFar: applied,
-                    };
-                }
-                const content = fs.readFileSync(absPath, 'utf8');
-                fs.unlinkSync(absPath);
-                pushUndo({ op: 'CREATE', path: op.path, content });
-                applied.push(`DELETE ${op.path}`);
-
-            } else if (op.type === 'DELETE_DIR') {
-                if (!fs.existsSync(absPath)) {
-                    return {
-                        success: false,
-                        error: `DELETE_DIR failed: directory not found: "${op.path}"`,
-                        failedOp: op,
-                        appliedSoFar: applied,
-                    };
-                }
-                fs.rmSync(absPath, { recursive: true, force: true });
-                pushUndo({ op: 'DELETE_DIR_UNDO_NOTE', path: op.path, note: 'Directory was deleted; contents cannot be automatically restored.' });
-                applied.push(`DELETE_DIR ${op.path}`);
-
-            } else if (op.type === 'SEARCH') {
-                if (!fs.existsSync(absPath)) {
-                    return {
-                        success: false,
-                        error: `SEARCH/REPLACE failed: file not found: "${op.path}"`,
+                        error: `File not found: "${op.file}"`,
                         failedOp: op,
                         appliedSoFar: applied,
                     };
                 }
                 const original = fs.readFileSync(absPath, 'utf8');
-                if (!original.includes(op.search)) {
-                    // Provide context to help the LLM fix the search string
+                const isCrlf = original.includes('\r\n');
+                let matchIndex = -1;
+                let matchedLen = op.search.length;
+
+                // First try exact match
+                if (typeof op.skiplines === 'number' && op.skiplines > 0) {
+                    let currentLine = 0;
+                    let searchFromChar = 0;
+                    for (let i = 0; i < original.length; i++) {
+                        if (currentLine >= op.skiplines) {
+                            searchFromChar = i;
+                            break;
+                        }
+                        if (original[i] === '\n') {
+                            currentLine++;
+                            if (currentLine >= op.skiplines) {
+                                searchFromChar = i + 1;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                    matchIndex = original.indexOf(op.search, searchFromChar);
+                } else {
+                    matchIndex = original.indexOf(op.search);
+                }
+
+                // If not found and line endings differ, try line-ending normalized match
+                if (matchIndex === -1 && (op.search.includes('\n') || original.includes('\r\n'))) {
+                    const normSearch = op.search.replace(/\r\n/g, '\n');
+                    const normOriginal = original.replace(/\r\n/g, '\n');
+                    let normFromChar = 0;
+
+                    if (typeof op.skiplines === 'number' && op.skiplines > 0) {
+                        const linesBefore = normOriginal.split('\n').slice(0, op.skiplines);
+                        normFromChar = linesBefore.join('\n').length + (linesBefore.length > 0 ? 1 : 0);
+                    }
+
+                    const normMatchIndex = normOriginal.indexOf(normSearch, normFromChar);
+                    if (normMatchIndex !== -1) {
+                        // Map normalized index back to original offset
+                        const prefixNorm = normOriginal.slice(0, normMatchIndex);
+                        const numPrefixNewlines = (prefixNorm.match(/\n/g) || []).length;
+                        matchIndex = isCrlf ? normMatchIndex + numPrefixNewlines : normMatchIndex;
+
+                        const matchedNormText = normOriginal.slice(normMatchIndex, normMatchIndex + normSearch.length);
+                        const numMatchedNewlines = (matchedNormText.match(/\n/g) || []).length;
+                        matchedLen = isCrlf ? normSearch.length + numMatchedNewlines : normSearch.length;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                if (matchIndex === -1) {
+                    const skipMsg = (typeof op.skiplines === 'number' && op.skiplines > 0)
+                        ? ` (after skipping ${op.skiplines} lines)`
+                        : '';
                     return {
                         success: false,
                         error:
-                            `SEARCH/REPLACE failed in "${op.path}": search text not found.\n` +
+                            `SEARCH/REPLACE failed in "${op.file}": search string not found${skipMsg}.\n` +
                             `Search string was:\n${op.search}\n\n` +
-                            `Tip: use read_file to check the exact current content of "${op.path}" before retrying.`,
+                            `Tip: use read_file to check current contents and line numbering of "${op.file}".`,
                         failedOp: op,
                         appliedSoFar: applied,
                     };
                 }
-                const updated = original.replace(op.search, op.replace);
+
+                // If file uses CRLF, ensure replacement content uses CRLF as well
+                let replacementText = op.replace;
+                if (isCrlf && !replacementText.includes('\r\n') && replacementText.includes('\n')) {
+                    replacementText = replacementText.replace(/\n/g, '\r\n');
+                }
+
+                const updated =
+                    original.slice(0, matchIndex) +
+                    replacementText +
+                    original.slice(matchIndex + matchedLen);
+
                 fs.writeFileSync(absPath, updated, 'utf8');
-                pushUndo({ op: 'RESTORE', path: op.path, content: original });
-                applied.push(`SEARCH/REPLACE in ${op.path}`);
+                pushUndo({ op: 'RESTORE', path: op.file, content: original });
+                applied.push(`PATCH in ${op.file}`);
             }
         } catch (err) {
             return {
                 success: false,
-                error: `Operation "${op.type} ${op.path}" failed: ${err.message}`,
+                error: `Operation on "${op.file}" failed: ${err.message}`,
                 failedOp: op,
                 appliedSoFar: applied,
             };
@@ -581,55 +560,142 @@ const askUserTool = defineTool({
     },
 });
 
-const patchTool = defineTool({
-    name: 'patch',
-    description: `Apply file operations to the workspace. Supports CREATE, CREATE_DIR, SEARCH/REPLACE, DELETE, DELETE_DIR.
-
-Patch format (one or more operations):
-
-<<<<< CREATE path/to/new_file.py
-# New file contents here
-def hello():
-    return "world"
->>>>>
-
-<<<<< CREATE_DIR path/to/new_folder/
->>>>>
-
-<<<<< SEARCH path/to/existing_file.py
-<<<<<<< SEARCH
-    old_code_line_1()
-=======
-    new_code_line_1()
->>>>>>> REPLACE
->>>>>
-
-<<<<< DELETE path/to/old_file.txt
->>>>>
-
-<<<<< DELETE_DIR path/to/old_directory/
->>>>>
-
-Rules:
-- Paths must be relative to workspace root. No ".." or absolute paths.
-- SEARCH text must match the file exactly (including whitespace/indentation).
-- Multiple operations in one patch are applied in order; if one fails the rest are skipped.
-- On failure, a structured error is returned explaining what went wrong so you can fix and retry.`,
+const mkdirTool = defineTool({
+    name: 'mkdir',
+    description: 'Create a directory in the workspace (automatically recursive if parent directories do not exist).',
     parameters: {
         type: 'object',
         additionalProperties: false,
-        required: ['patch'],
+        required: ['dirname'],
         properties: {
-            patch: {
+            dirname: {
                 type: 'string',
-                description: 'The patch string containing one or more operations.',
+                description: 'Directory path relative to workspace root.',
             },
         },
     },
-    invoke: async ({ patch }) => {
-        const result = applyPatch(patch);
+    invoke: async ({ dirname }) => {
+        const absDir = resolveSafe(dirname);
+        if (fs.existsSync(absDir)) {
+            if (!fs.statSync(absDir).isDirectory()) {
+                throw new ToolError(`Path "${dirname}" already exists and is not a directory.`);
+            }
+            return { message: `Directory already exists: "${dirname}"`, created: false };
+        }
+        fs.mkdirSync(absDir, { recursive: true });
+        pushUndo({ op: 'DELETE_DIR', path: dirname });
+        return { message: `Directory created: "${dirname}"`, created: true };
+    },
+});
+
+const rmdirTool = defineTool({
+    name: 'rmdir',
+    description: 'Remove a directory and its contents from the workspace.',
+    parameters: {
+        type: 'object',
+        additionalProperties: false,
+        required: ['dirname'],
+        properties: {
+            dirname: {
+                type: 'string',
+                description: 'Directory path relative to workspace root.',
+            },
+        },
+    },
+    invoke: async ({ dirname }) => {
+        const absDir = resolveSafe(dirname);
+        if (!fs.existsSync(absDir)) {
+            throw new ToolError(`Directory not found: "${dirname}"`);
+        }
+        if (!fs.statSync(absDir).isDirectory()) {
+            throw new ToolError(`"${dirname}" is not a directory. Use rm to delete files.`);
+        }
+        fs.rmSync(absDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+        pushUndo({ op: 'DELETE_DIR_UNDO_NOTE', path: dirname, note: 'Directory was deleted; contents cannot be automatically restored.' });
+        return { message: `Directory removed: "${dirname}"`, removed: true };
+    },
+});
+
+const rmTool = defineTool({
+    name: 'rm',
+    description: 'Delete a file from the workspace.',
+    parameters: {
+        type: 'object',
+        additionalProperties: false,
+        required: ['filename'],
+        properties: {
+            filename: {
+                type: 'string',
+                description: 'File path relative to workspace root.',
+            },
+        },
+    },
+    invoke: async ({ filename }) => {
+        const absPath = resolveSafe(filename);
+        if (!fs.existsSync(absPath)) {
+            throw new ToolError(`File not found: "${filename}"`);
+        }
+        if (!fs.statSync(absPath).isFile()) {
+            throw new ToolError(`"${filename}" is not a file. Use rmdir to delete directories.`);
+        }
+        const content = fs.readFileSync(absPath, 'utf8');
+        fs.unlinkSync(absPath);
+        pushUndo({ op: 'CREATE', path: filename, content });
+        return { message: `File deleted: "${filename}"`, deleted: true };
+    },
+});
+
+const patchTool = defineTool({
+    name: 'patch',
+    description: `Apply one or more patch operations to files in the workspace.
+Each operation has:
+- file: (required) relative path to target file
+- search: string to be replaced (exact match). If null, creating/overwriting the entire file (with automatic directory creation).
+- replace: string to write
+- skiplines: (optional) line number offset to skip before matching (0-indexed) if there are multiple occurrences, since patch replaces the first hit.
+
+Example create file:
+[{"file": "src/utils.js", "search": null, "replace": "export const x = 1;\\n", "skiplines": null}]
+
+Example search/replace:
+[{"file": "src/utils.js", "search": "export const x = 1;", "replace": "export const x = 2;", "skiplines": null}]`,
+    parameters: {
+        type: 'object',
+        additionalProperties: false,
+        required: ['operations'],
+        properties: {
+            operations: {
+                type: 'array',
+                description: 'List of patch operations to apply sequentially.',
+                items: {
+                    type: 'object',
+                    additionalProperties: false,
+                    required: ['file', 'replace'],
+                    properties: {
+                        file: {
+                            type: 'string',
+                            description: 'Relative path to file.',
+                        },
+                        search: {
+                            type: ['string', 'null'],
+                            description: 'String to be replaced (exact match). If null, writes/creates the entire file.',
+                        },
+                        replace: {
+                            type: 'string',
+                            description: 'String to write.',
+                        },
+                        skiplines: {
+                            type: ['number', 'null'],
+                            description: 'Optional line number offset to skip before searching for search text.',
+                        },
+                    },
+                },
+            },
+        },
+    },
+    invoke: async ({ operations }) => {
+        const result = applyOperations(operations);
         if (!result.success) {
-            // Return as a ToolError so LLMOrbiter feeds it back to the LLM
             throw new ToolError(
                 `Patch failed: ${result.error}` +
                 (result.appliedSoFar?.length ? `\nSuccessfully applied before failure: ${result.appliedSoFar.join(', ')}` : '')
@@ -767,7 +833,7 @@ async function main() {
                 prompt: userInput,
                 messages,
                 model: MODEL,
-                tools: [listFilesTool, readFileTool, patchTool, askUserTool],
+                tools: [listFilesTool, readFileTool, patchTool, mkdirTool, rmdirTool, rmTool, askUserTool],
                 maxIterations: 20,
             });