diff --git a/lib/modules/file/clean.js b/lib/modules/file/clean.js
index f1083fd4..343de595 100644
--- a/lib/modules/file/clean.js
+++ b/lib/modules/file/clean.js
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ var _clean = function( config, options, next ) {
   // attempt to delete a folder that has a deletable folder inside of it
   var sortedDirectories = _.sortBy( directories, "length" ).reverse();
   for ( var i = 0; i < sortedDirectories.length; i++ ) {
-    var dirPath = path.join( config.watch.compiledDir, sortedDirectories[i]);
+    var dirPath = path.join( config.watch.compiledDir, sortedDirectories[i] );
     fs.exists( dirPath, _removeDirectoryIfExists( config, dirPath, done ) );
   }
 };
diff --git a/src/modules/file/beforeRead.coffee b/src/modules/file/beforeRead.coffee
index 624cfbbd..c8f93ca2 100644
--- a/src/modules/file/beforeRead.coffee
+++ b/src/modules/file/beforeRead.coffee
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ _notValidExtension = (file) ->
   ext = path.extname(file.inputFileName).replace(/\./,'')
   allExtensions.indexOf(ext) is -1
 
+# goal is to process files as they come in
+# and determine if the file needs to be processed
+# and if not, remove it from files array
 _fileNeedsCompiling = (config, options, next) ->
   hasFiles = options.files?.length > 0
   return next() unless hasFiles
@@ -20,7 +23,7 @@ _fileNeedsCompiling = (config, options, next) ->
       next()
 
   options.files.forEach (file) ->
-    # if using require verification, forcing compile to assemble require information
+    # if module has asked for recompile to rebuild cached assets
     # or if extension is for file that was placed here, not that originated the workflow
     # like with .css files and CSS proprocessors
     if (options.isJavascript and config.__forceJavaScriptRecompile) or _notValidExtension(file)
@@ -37,8 +40,8 @@ _fileNeedsCompiling = (config, options, next) ->
         done()
 
 _fileNeedsCompilingStartup = (config, options, next) ->
-  # force compiling on startup to build require dependency tree
-  # but not for vendor javascript
+  # modules have the ability to force recompile on startup
+  # often because they have cached data that isn't up to date
   if config.__forceJavaScriptRecompile and options.isJSNotVendor
     if config.log.isDebug()
       config.log.debug "File [[ #{options.inputFile} ]] NEEDS compiling/copying"
diff --git a/src/modules/file/clean.js b/src/modules/file/clean.js
index f1083fd4..343de595 100644
--- a/src/modules/file/clean.js
+++ b/src/modules/file/clean.js
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ var _clean = function( config, options, next ) {
   // attempt to delete a folder that has a deletable folder inside of it
   var sortedDirectories = _.sortBy( directories, "length" ).reverse();
   for ( var i = 0; i < sortedDirectories.length; i++ ) {
-    var dirPath = path.join( config.watch.compiledDir, sortedDirectories[i]);
+    var dirPath = path.join( config.watch.compiledDir, sortedDirectories[i] );
     fs.exists( dirPath, _removeDirectoryIfExists( config, dirPath, done ) );
   }
 };
diff --git a/test/unit-test.js b/test/unit-test.js
index ee2024c1..bf27ba91 100644
--- a/test/unit-test.js
+++ b/test/unit-test.js
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@ require("./units/modules/file/write-test");
 require("./units/modules/file/read-test");
 require("./units/modules/file/init-test");
 require("./units/modules/file/delete-test");
-require("./units/modules/file/clean-test");
\ No newline at end of file
+require("./units/modules/file/clean-test");
+require("./units/modules/file/beforeRead-test");
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/units/modules/file/beforeRead-test.js b/test/units/modules/file/beforeRead-test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..61214d73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/units/modules/file/beforeRead-test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+var path = require( "path" )
+  , sinon = require( "sinon" )
+  , utils = require( path.join(process.cwd(), "test", "utils") )
+  , beforeReadModule = require( path.join(process.cwd(), "lib", "modules", "file", "beforeRead") )
+  , fileUtils = require( path.join(process.cwd(), "lib", "util", "file" ) )
+  , fakeMimosaConfig = utils.fakeMimosaConfig();
+  ;
+
+describe( "Mimosa beforeRead workflow module", function(){
+  var startupFunction
+    , postStartupFunction
+    , spy
+    ;
+
+  before(function(done) {
+    var i = 0;
+    utils.testRegistration( beforeReadModule, function( func ) {
+      if (i++) {
+        postStartupFunction = func;
+        done();
+      } else {
+        startupFunction = func;
+      }
+    });
+
+    spy = sinon.spy();
+
+  });
+
+  afterEach(function() {
+    spy.reset();
+  });
+
+  describe( "when invoked during startup", function() {
+
+    it( "will invoke the lifecycle callback immediately when forced", function(){
+      var postStartupFuncSpy = sinon.spy(postStartupFunction);
+      fakeMimosaConfig.__forceJavaScriptRecompile = true;
+      var opts = {
+        isJSNotVendor:true,
+        files:[]
+      };
+      startupFunction( fakeMimosaConfig, opts, spy );
+      expect( spy.calledOnce ).to.be.true;
+      expect( postStartupFuncSpy.callCount ).to.eql(0);
+      postStartupFuncSpy.reset();
+      delete fakeMimosaConfig.__forceJavaScriptRecompile;
+    });
+
+    it( "will not invoke the lifecycle callback immediately if forced and vendor file", function(){
+      fakeMimosaConfig.__forceJavaScriptRecompile = true;
+      var opts = {
+        isJSNotVendor:false,
+        files:["foo"]
+      };
+      var forEachSpy = sinon.spy(opts.files, "forEach", function(){});
+      startupFunction( fakeMimosaConfig, opts, spy );
+      expect( spy.calledOnce ).to.be.true;
+      expect( forEachSpy.calledOnce ).to.be.true;
+      forEachSpy.reset();
+      delete fakeMimosaConfig.__forceJavaScriptRecompile;
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe( "when invoked after startup", function() {
+
+    it("with no files the lifecycle callback will be immediately executed", function(){
+      postStartupFunction( fakeMimosaConfig, {files:[]}, spy );
+      expect( spy.calledOnce ).to.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it("with many files with invalid extension will let file through untouched", function() {
+      var options = {
+        files:["foo.css", "bar.bar"]
+      };
+      postStartupFunction( fakeMimosaConfig, options, spy );
+      expect( spy.calledOnce ).to.be.true;
+      expect(options.files[0]).to.eql("foo.css");
+      expect(options.files[1]).to.eql("bar.bar");
+    });
+
+    it("with many javascript files and recompile forced, will let files through untouched", function() {
+      var options = {
+        files:["foo.js", "bar.js"],
+        isJavascript: true
+      };
+      fakeMimosaConfig.__forceJavaScriptRecompile = true;
+      postStartupFunction( fakeMimosaConfig, options, spy );
+      expect( spy.calledOnce ).to.be.true;
+      expect(options.files[0]).to.eql("foo.js");
+      expect(options.files[1]).to.eql("bar.js");
+      delete fakeMimosaConfig.__forceJavaScriptRecompile;
+    });
+
+
+    it("with will remove files that do not need compilation", function() {
+      var options = {
+        files:[{
+          inputFileName:"foo.js",
+          outputFileName:"notnull"
+        },{
+          inputFileName:"bar.js",
+          outputFileName:"notnull"
+        },{
+          inputFileName:"baz.js",
+          outputFileName:"notnull"
+        }]
+      };
+
+      sinon.stub(fileUtils, "isFirstFileNewer", function(inputName, outputName, cb){
+        if (inputName === "foo.js") {
+          cb(false);
+        } else {
+          cb(true);
+        }
+      });
+
+      postStartupFunction( fakeMimosaConfig, options, spy );
+      expect( spy.calledOnce ).to.be.true;
+      expect(options.files.length).to.eql(2);
+      expect(options.files[0].inputFileName).to.eql("bar.js");
+      expect(options.files[1].inputFileName).to.eql("baz.js");
+      fileUtils.isFirstFileNewer.restore();
+    });
+  });
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/utils.js b/test/utils.js
index 1f651478..86e3eb5e 100644
--- a/test/utils.js
+++ b/test/utils.js
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ var crypto = require( "crypto" )
     log: {
       success: function(msg, opts){},
       warn: function(msg, opts){},
-      error: function(msg, opts){}
+      error: function(msg, opts){},
+      isDebug: function(){return false;}
     },
     vendor: {
       javascripts: "javascripts/vendor",