diff --git a/src/codegen/extensions/langchain/tools.py b/src/codegen/extensions/langchain/tools.py
index 86f3cc3dc..933cb628d 100644
--- a/src/codegen/extensions/langchain/tools.py
+++ b/src/codegen/extensions/langchain/tools.py
@@ -45,21 +45,41 @@ class ViewFileInput(BaseModel):
     """Input for viewing a file."""
 
     filepath: str = Field(..., description="Path to the file relative to workspace root")
+    start_line: Optional[int] = Field(None, description="Starting line number to view (1-indexed, inclusive)")
+    end_line: Optional[int] = Field(None, description="Ending line number to view (1-indexed, inclusive)")
+    max_lines: Optional[int] = Field(None, description="Maximum number of lines to view at once, defaults to 250")
+    line_numbers: Optional[bool] = Field(True, description="If True, add line numbers to the content (1-indexed)")
 
 
 class ViewFileTool(BaseTool):
     """Tool for viewing file contents and metadata."""
 
     name: ClassVar[str] = "view_file"
-    description: ClassVar[str] = "View the contents and metadata of a file in the codebase"
+    description: ClassVar[str] = """View the contents and metadata of a file in the codebase.
+For large files (>250 lines), content will be paginated. Use start_line and end_line to navigate through the file.
+The response will indicate if there are more lines available to view."""
     args_schema: ClassVar[type[BaseModel]] = ViewFileInput
     codebase: Codebase = Field(exclude=True)
 
     def __init__(self, codebase: Codebase) -> None:
         super().__init__(codebase=codebase)
 
-    def _run(self, filepath: str) -> str:
-        result = view_file(self.codebase, filepath)
+    def _run(
+        self,
+        filepath: str,
+        start_line: Optional[int] = None,
+        end_line: Optional[int] = None,
+        max_lines: Optional[int] = None,
+        line_numbers: Optional[bool] = True,
+    ) -> str:
+        result = view_file(
+            self.codebase,
+            filepath,
+            line_numbers=line_numbers if line_numbers is not None else True,
+            start_line=start_line,
+            end_line=end_line,
+            max_lines=max_lines if max_lines is not None else 250,
+        )
         return result.render()
 
 
diff --git a/src/codegen/extensions/tools/view_file.py b/src/codegen/extensions/tools/view_file.py
index a6e0e3c84..88bb4bc28 100644
--- a/src/codegen/extensions/tools/view_file.py
+++ b/src/codegen/extensions/tools/view_file.py
@@ -22,13 +22,40 @@ class ViewFileObservation(Observation):
         default=None,
         description="Number of lines in the file",
     )
+    start_line: Optional[int] = Field(
+        default=None,
+        description="Starting line number of the content (1-indexed)",
+    )
+    end_line: Optional[int] = Field(
+        default=None,
+        description="Ending line number of the content (1-indexed)",
+    )
+    has_more: Optional[bool] = Field(
+        default=None,
+        description="Whether there are more lines after end_line",
+    )
+    max_lines_per_page: Optional[int] = Field(
+        default=None,
+        description="Maximum number of lines that can be viewed at once",
+    )
 
-    str_template: ClassVar[str] = "File {filepath} ({line_count} lines)"
+    str_template: ClassVar[str] = "File {filepath} (showing lines {start_line}-{end_line} of {line_count})"
 
     def render(self) -> str:
-        return f"""[VIEW FILE]: {self.filepath} ({self.line_count} lines)
-{self.content}
-"""
+        """Render the file view with pagination information if applicable."""
+        header = f"[VIEW FILE]: {self.filepath}"
+        if self.line_count is not None:
+            header += f" ({self.line_count} lines total)"
+
+        if self.start_line is not None and self.end_line is not None:
+            header += f"\nShowing lines {self.start_line}-{self.end_line}"
+            if self.has_more:
+                header += f" (more lines available, max {self.max_lines_per_page} lines per page)"
+
+        if not self.content:
+            return f"{header}\n<empty content>"
+
+        return f"{header}\n\n{self.content}"
 
 
 def add_line_numbers(content: str) -> str:
@@ -45,13 +72,23 @@ def add_line_numbers(content: str) -> str:
     return "\n".join(f"{i + 1:>{width}}|{line}" for i, line in enumerate(lines))
 
 
-def view_file(codebase: Codebase, filepath: str, line_numbers: bool = True) -> ViewFileObservation:
+def view_file(
+    codebase: Codebase,
+    filepath: str,
+    line_numbers: bool = True,
+    start_line: Optional[int] = None,
+    end_line: Optional[int] = None,
+    max_lines: int = 250,
+) -> ViewFileObservation:
     """View the contents and metadata of a file.
 
     Args:
         codebase: The codebase to operate on
         filepath: Path to the file relative to workspace root
         line_numbers: If True, add line numbers to the content (1-indexed)
+        start_line: Starting line number to view (1-indexed, inclusive)
+        end_line: Ending line number to view (1-indexed, inclusive)
+        max_lines: Maximum number of lines to view at once, defaults to 250
     """
     try:
         file = codebase.get_file(filepath)
@@ -62,15 +99,56 @@ def view_file(codebase: Codebase, filepath: str, line_numbers: bool = True) -> V
             filepath=filepath,
             content="",
             line_count=0,
+            start_line=start_line,
+            end_line=end_line,
+            has_more=False,
+            max_lines_per_page=max_lines,
         )
 
-    content = file.content
-    if line_numbers:
-        content = add_line_numbers(content)
+    # Split content into lines and get total line count
+    lines = file.content.splitlines()
+    total_lines = len(lines)
+
+    # If no start_line specified, start from beginning
+    if start_line is None:
+        start_line = 1
+
+    # Ensure start_line is within bounds
+    start_line = max(1, min(start_line, total_lines))
+
+    # If no end_line specified, show up to max_lines from start
+    if end_line is None:
+        end_line = min(start_line + max_lines - 1, total_lines)
+    else:
+        # Ensure end_line is within bounds and doesn't exceed max_lines from start
+        end_line = min(end_line, total_lines, start_line + max_lines - 1)
 
-    return ViewFileObservation(
+    # Extract the requested lines (convert to 0-based indexing)
+    content_lines = lines[start_line - 1 : end_line]
+    content = "\n".join(content_lines)
+
+    # Add line numbers if requested
+    if line_numbers:
+        # Pass the actual line numbers for proper numbering
+        numbered_lines = []
+        width = len(str(total_lines))  # Use total_lines for consistent width
+        for i, line in enumerate(content_lines, start=start_line):
+            numbered_lines.append(f"{i:>{width}}|{line}")
+        content = "\n".join(numbered_lines)
+
+    # Create base observation with common fields
+    observation = ViewFileObservation(
         status="success",
         filepath=file.filepath,
         content=content,
-        line_count=len(content.splitlines()),
+        line_count=total_lines,
     )
+
+    # Only include pagination fields if file exceeds max_lines
+    if total_lines > max_lines:
+        observation.start_line = start_line
+        observation.end_line = end_line
+        observation.has_more = end_line < total_lines
+        observation.max_lines_per_page = max_lines
+
+    return observation
diff --git a/tests/unit/codegen/extensions/test_tools.py b/tests/unit/codegen/extensions/test_tools.py
index fd0fafb31..9d2b6fdb5 100644
--- a/tests/unit/codegen/extensions/test_tools.py
+++ b/tests/unit/codegen/extensions/test_tools.py
@@ -40,12 +40,160 @@ def greet(self):
         yield codebase
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def large_codebase(tmpdir):
+    """Create a codebase with a large file for pagination testing."""
+    # Create a large file with predictable content
+    large_file_lines = []
+    # Add imports at the top
+    large_file_lines.extend(
+        [
+            "from __future__ import annotations",
+            "import sys",
+            "import os",
+            "from typing import List, Optional, Dict",
+            "",
+            "# Constants",
+            "MAX_ITEMS = 100",
+            "DEBUG = False",
+            "",
+            "# Main class definition",
+            "class LargeClass:",
+        ]
+    )
+
+    # Add methods with incrementing numbers
+    for i in range(1, 401):  # This will create a 400+ line file
+        if i % 20 == 0:
+            # Add some class methods periodically
+            large_file_lines.extend(["    @classmethod", f"    def class_method_{i}(cls) -> None:", f"        print('Class method {i}')", "        return None", ""])
+        else:
+            # Add regular methods
+            large_file_lines.extend(
+                [
+                    f"    def method_{i}(self, param_{i}: int) -> str:",
+                    f"        # Method {i} does something interesting",
+                    f"        value = param_{i} * {i}",
+                    f"        return f'Method {i} computed: {{value}}'",
+                    "",
+                ]
+            )
+
+    large_file_content = "\n".join(large_file_lines)
+
+    files = {
+        "src/main.py": """
+def hello():
+    print("Hello, world!")
+""",
+        "src/large_file.py": large_file_content,
+    }
+
+    with get_codebase_session(tmpdir=tmpdir, files=files) as codebase:
+        yield codebase
+
+
 def test_view_file(codebase):
     """Test viewing a file."""
+    # Test basic file viewing
     result = view_file(codebase, "src/main.py")
     assert result.status == "success"
     assert result.filepath == "src/main.py"
     assert "hello()" in result.content
+    # For small files, pagination fields should not be present
+    assert result.start_line is None
+    assert result.end_line is None
+    assert result.has_more is None
+    assert result.max_lines_per_page is None
+
+
+def test_view_file_pagination(large_codebase):
+    """Test viewing a file with pagination."""
+    # Test default pagination (should show first max_lines lines)
+    result = view_file(large_codebase, "src/large_file.py")
+    assert result.status == "success"
+    assert result.start_line == 1
+    assert result.end_line == 250  # Default max_lines
+    assert result.has_more is True
+    assert result.max_lines_per_page == 250
+    assert "from __future__ import annotations" in result.content  # First line
+    assert "def method_1" in result.content  # Early method
+    assert "def method_251" not in result.content  # Method after page 1
+
+    # Test custom pagination range
+    result = view_file(large_codebase, "src/large_file.py", start_line=200, end_line=250)
+    assert result.status == "success"
+    assert result.start_line == 200
+    assert result.end_line == 250
+    assert result.has_more is True
+    assert "def method_39" in result.content  # Regular method before class method
+    assert "def class_method_40" in result.content  # Class method at 40
+    assert "def method_41" in result.content  # Regular method after class method
+    assert "from __future__ import annotations" not in result.content  # Before range
+    assert "def method_251" not in result.content  # After range
+
+    # Test viewing end of file
+    result = view_file(large_codebase, "src/large_file.py", start_line=350)
+    assert result.status == "success"
+    assert result.start_line == 350
+    assert result.has_more is True  # File has 2010 lines, so there should be more content
+    assert "def method_69" in result.content  # Regular method
+    assert "def class_method_80" in result.content  # Class method at 80
+    assert result.end_line == 599  # Should show 250 lines from start (350 to 599)
+
+    # Test custom max_lines
+    result = view_file(large_codebase, "src/large_file.py", max_lines=100)
+    assert result.status == "success"
+    assert result.start_line == 1
+    assert result.end_line == 100
+    assert result.has_more is True
+    assert result.max_lines_per_page == 100
+    assert "from __future__ import annotations" in result.content
+    assert len(result.content.splitlines()) <= 100
+
+    # Test line numbers display
+    result = view_file(large_codebase, "src/large_file.py", start_line=198, end_line=202, line_numbers=True)
+    assert result.status == "success"
+    assert "198|" in result.content
+    assert "199|" in result.content
+    assert "200|" in result.content
+    assert "201|" in result.content
+    assert "202|" in result.content
+
+    # Test without line numbers
+    result = view_file(large_codebase, "src/large_file.py", start_line=198, end_line=202, line_numbers=False)
+    assert result.status == "success"
+    assert "198|" not in result.content
+    assert "199|" not in result.content
+
+
+def test_view_file_pagination_edge_cases(large_codebase):
+    """Test edge cases for file pagination."""
+    # Test start_line > end_line (should respect provided end_line)
+    result = view_file(large_codebase, "src/large_file.py", start_line=200, end_line=100)
+    assert result.status == "success"
+    assert result.start_line == 200
+    assert result.end_line == 100  # Should respect provided end_line
+    assert result.content == ""  # No content since end_line < start_line
+
+    # Test start_line > file length (should adjust to valid range)
+    result = view_file(large_codebase, "src/large_file.py", start_line=2000)
+    assert result.status == "success"
+    assert result.start_line == 2000  # Should use provided start_line
+    assert result.end_line == 2010  # Should adjust to total lines
+    assert result.has_more is False
+
+    # Test end_line > file length (should truncate to file length)
+    result = view_file(large_codebase, "src/large_file.py", start_line=200, end_line=2000)
+    assert result.status == "success"
+    assert result.start_line == 200
+    assert result.end_line == min(200 + 250 - 1, 2010)  # Should respect max_lines and file length
+
+    # Test negative start_line (should default to 1)
+    result = view_file(large_codebase, "src/large_file.py", start_line=-10)
+    assert result.status == "success"
+    assert result.start_line == 1
+    assert result.end_line == 250
 
 
 def test_list_directory(codebase):