PLAN mode

Why We Need 🔵 PLAN Mode

The PLAN mode is a strategic safeguard.

Before the AI dives into executing a complex or ambiguous task, this mode forces it to first present a high-level, step-by-step plan of its intended actions.

This is incredibly useful for ensuring the AI's approach aligns with your own before any code is written or modified.

🎯 Use PLAN mode to:

• Validate the AI's Logic: Ensure the AI understands the requirements correctly for a complex feature.
• Get a Strategic Outline: Ask the AI to map out the steps for a task you're not sure how to begin.
• Prevent Errors: Catch misunderstandings or incorrect assumptions in the AI's logic early, saving you from having to undo incorrect changes later.
• Break Down Large Tasks: See a large feature request broken down into manageable, logical steps.

⚙️ How It Works

1️⃣ Prompt:
You activate PLAN mode and give the AI a complex task.

2️⃣ Response (The Plan):
Instead of generating code or making changes, the AI responds with a checklist or a numbered list outlining its proposed actions.

3️⃣ Review & Approve:
You review the plan. You can ask for modifications, clarify steps, or, if it looks correct, give the AI the green light to proceed.

4️⃣ Execution:
Once you approve the plan, the AI will execute the steps, typically using its AGENT capabilities to modify the necessary files.

💻 Example: Setting Up a New Database Schema

1. Activate PLAN mode.
2. The AI will respond with a plan, not code:

Prompt:

"I need to add support for user comments in my Prisma schema. This should include a new Comment model linked to the User and Post models."

• Step 1: Open the prisma/schema.prisma file.
• Step 2: Define a new model named Comment.
• Step 3: Add fields to the Comment model: id, content, createdAt.
• Step 4: Establish a one-to-many relationship from User to Comment (one user can have many comments).
• Step 5: Establish a one-to-many relationship from Post to Comment (one post can have many comments).
• Step 6: Suggest running npx prisma migrate dev after the changes are applied.

4. After you approve, the AI will modify the schema.prisma file accordingly.

🎥 Working with PLAN Mode example

Plan-mode-1.mp4 - Meeting recording by Fireflies.ai

The meeting aimed to discuss strategies for the upcoming project launch scheduled for Q2 2026, with all teams reportedly on track.

Fireflies.ai

🎬 Video from the cursor themselves: