Plan Mode & Ask Mode
Think Before You Build
The agent input has a mode picker - press Shift+Tab to rotate between Agent, Plan, and Ask, or use the dropdown / Ctrl+. menu. Choosing the right mode is the difference between a surgical change and an expensive wrong turn.
Plan Mode
In Plan Mode, the agent doesn't write code. Instead it:
- Researches your codebase - reads the relevant files and understands the architecture
- Asks clarifying questions when the requirements are ambiguous
- Generates a structured plan you can review and edit before anything runs
Plans are saved to your home directory by default, with a "Save to workspace" option to keep them in the repo. Once you approve the plan, the agent executes it step by step.
Ask Mode
Ask Mode is read-only: the agent can search and read your codebase but cannot modify files or run state-changing commands. It's the safe mode for onboarding onto an unfamiliar codebase, architecture discussions, and code archaeology.
Choosing a Mode
| Situation | Mode | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small, well-defined change | Agent | Just do it - checkpoints have your back |
| Large feature or refactor | Plan | Align on approach before spending compute |
| "How does X work?" | Ask | Zero risk of accidental modifications |
Before letting Agent Mode edit files, Plan Mode analyzes requirements and outputs a structured execution plan. Scaffold a plan document.