Plan mode is now obtainable in Gemini CLI

We’re excited to convey plan mode to Gemini CLI. With plan mode, Gemini CLI focuses first on analyzing your request, planning complicated modifications, understanding the code base or dependencies, and all this occurs in a read-only mode secure from unintended modifications or executions. Plan mode may also ask you inquiries to make clear your objectives earlier than proposing a technique so that you can assessment.

What’s plan mode?

Plan mode is a read-only mode that restricts Gemini CLI to a subset of its instruments. When lively, the agent can navigate your codebase, seek for patterns, and skim documentation, however it can’t modify any recordsdata apart from its personal inside plans.

You’ll be able to ask Gemini CLI to “analysis easy methods to migrate this database” or “plan a brand new function,” and it’ll map out the dependencies and suggest an answer with out danger of keen code modifications.

Protected exploration: Use read-only instruments like read_file, grep_search, and glob to validate assumptions.
Architectural mapping: The agent can use specialised sub-agents like codebase_investigator or Agent Abilities to know complicated system dependencies and workflows.
Iterative design: Refine your technique by way of dialog earlier than switching to an edit-capable mode for implementation.
Totally extensible: Lengthen plan mode to your private wants with customized insurance policies or construct workflows on prime of it utilizing the enter_plan_mode and exit_plan_mode instruments.

A plan is simply pretty much as good as its necessities. To make plan mode really efficient, we have launched the ask_user device. This enables the agent to pause its analysis and ask you focused inquiries to make clear your objectives or collect lacking info.

As a substitute of creating assumptions or guessing your intent, Gemini CLI can now current you with choices, request clarification on a selected architectural selection, or ask for the placement of a hidden configuration file. This bi-directional communication ensures that the ultimate plan aligns completely along with your imaginative and prescient earlier than you decide to the implementation.

Plan mode is not restricted to your native filesystem. It helps read-only MCP instruments, permitting Gemini CLI to drag in context out of your total developer stack. Whether or not that you must learn a problem from GitHub, examine a schema from Postgres, or comb by way of Google Docs, you are able to do so safely inside plan mode. This ensures your plan is knowledgeable by all related exterior information whereas sustaining the integrity of your codebase.

Powering complicated workflows with Conductor

For extra complicated initiatives, Conductor could also be match. The Conductor extension for Gemini CLI will take full benefit of each plan mode and the ask_user device. Conductor allows Context-Pushed Growth, performing as an orchestrator for multi-step growth tracks, guiding you thru complicated migrations or function implementations.

By leveraging plan mode, Conductor can carry out exhaustive pre-flight checks and analysis steps with zero danger. It makes use of the ask_user device to verify essential selections at every milestone, making certain you stay accountable for the high-level course whereas the agent handles the heavy lifting of gathering context and drafting sub-tasks.

Conductor is a superb instance of how plan mode was constructed with extensibility in thoughts, meant to offer the constructing blocks for customers to construct their very own customized planning workflows.

The staff is engaged on bringing Conductor into Gemini CLI as a built-in mode within the close to future… keep tuned!

Getting began with plan mode

Plan mode is now enabled by default for all customers! You’ll be able to enter plan mode at any time by typing /plan within the enter field, urgent Shift+Tab to cycle by way of approval modes, or just asking the agent to “begin a plan for…”

The mannequin routing capabilities of Gemini CLI lengthen to plan mode. With larger reasoning Professional fashions like the brand new Gemini 3.1 Professional mannequin getting used throughout planning to make sure strong architectural selections and high-quality plans.

When you want to at all times begin your periods in a research-first mindset, you should utilize the /settings command to set “Default Approval Mode” to Plan.

Maintaining it easy

We all know a few of you wish to maintain your terminal lean or maybe you might have your personal battle-tested planning course of. If plan mode is not your cup of tea, disabling it’s simple!

Simply kind /settings and seek for “Plan” to toggle it off. This may:

Take away plan mode from the Shift+Tab rotation.
Unregister the enter_plan_modeand exit_plan_mode instruments.

We wish Gemini CLI to suit your workflow, not the opposite manner round. Whether or not you’re keen on the structured security of a pre-coded plan or want to reside on the sting with Auto-Edit mode, the selection is yours!

We’re at all times seeking to enhance the planning workflow. Give it a spin in your subsequent huge function and tell us what you suppose.

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