Think first, code later Think first, code later TL;DR: Set your AI code assistant to read-only state before it touches your files. TL;DR: Set your AI code assistant to read-only state before it touches your files. Common Mistake ❌ You paste your failing call stack to your AI assistant without further instructions. The copilot immediately begins modifying multiple source files. It creates new issues because it doesn't understand your full architecture yet. issues You spend the next hour undoing its messy changes. Problems Addressed 😔 The AI modifies code that doesn't need changing. The copilot starts typing before it reads the relevant functions. The AI hallucinates when assuming a library exists without checking your package.json. package.json Large changes make code reviews and diffs a nightmare. How to Do It 🛠️ Enter Plan Mode: Use "Plan Mode/Ask Mode" if your tool has it. If your tool doesn't have such a mode, you can add a meta-prompt Read this and wait for instructions / Do not change any files yet. Read this and wait for instructions / Do not change any files yet. Ask the AI to read specific files and explain the logic there. After that, ask for a step-by-step implementation plan for you to approve. step-by-step When you like the plan, tell the AI: "Now apply step 1." Benefits 🎯 Better Accuracy: The AI reasons better when focusing only on the "why." Full Control: You catch logic errors before they enter your codebase. Lower Costs: You use fewer tokens when you avoid "trial and error" coding loops. Clearer Mental Model: You understand the fix as well as the AI does. Context 🧠 AI models prefer "doing" over "thinking" to feel helpful. This is called impulsive coding. impulsive coding When you force it into a read-only phase, you are simulating a Senior Developer's workflow. You deal with the Artificial Intelligence first as a consultant and later as a developer. Prompt Reference 📝 Bad prompt 🚫 Fix the probabilistic predictor
in the Kessler Syndrome Monitor component 
using this stack dump. Fix the probabilistic predictor
in the Kessler Syndrome Monitor component 
using this stack dump. Good prompt 👉 Read @Dashboard.tsx and @api.ts. Do not write code yet.

Analyze the stack dump.

When you find the problem, explain it to me.

Then, write a Markdown plan to fix it, restricted to the REST API..

[Activate Code Mode]

Create a failing test representing the error.

Apply the fix and run the tests until all are green Read @Dashboard.tsx and @api.ts. Do not write code yet.

Analyze the stack dump.

When you find the problem, explain it to me.

Then, write a Markdown plan to fix it, restricted to the REST API..

[Activate Code Mode]

Create a failing test representing the error.

Apply the fix and run the tests until all are green Considerations ⚠️ Some simple tasks do not need a plan. You must actively read the plan the AI provides. The AI might still hallucinate the plan, so verify it. Type 📝 [X] Semi-Automatic Limitations ⚠️ You can use this for refactoring and complex features. You might find it too slow for simple CSS tweaks or typos. Some AIs go the other way around, being too confirmative before changing anything. Be patient with them. too confirmative Tags 🏷️ Complexity Complexity Level 🔋 [X] Intermediate Related Tips 🔗 Request small, atomic commits. Conclusion 🏁 You save time when you think. You must force the AI to be your architect before letting it be your builder. This simple strategy prevents hours of debugging later. 🧠 More Information ℹ️ https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/github-copilot/copilot-ask-edit-and-agent-modes-what-they-do-and-when-to-use-them/?embedable=true https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/github-copilot/copilot-ask-edit-and-agent-modes-what-they-do-and-when-to-use-them/?embedable=true https://www.thepromptwarrior.com/p/windsurf-vs-cursor-which-ai-coding-app-is-better?embedable=true https://www.thepromptwarrior.com/p/windsurf-vs-cursor-which-ai-coding-app-is-better?embedable=true https://aider.chat/docs/usage/modes.html?embedable=true https://aider.chat/docs/usage/modes.html?embedable=true https://opencode.ai/docs/modes/?embedable=true https://opencode.ai/docs/modes/?embedable=true Also Known As 🎭 Read-Only Prompting Consultant Mode Tools 🧰 Tool

Read-Only Mode

Write Mode

Mode Switching

Open Source

Link



Windsurf

Chat Mode

Write Mode

Toggle

No

https://windsurf.com/



Cursor

Normal/Ask

Agent/Composer

Context-dependent

No

https://www.cursor.com/



Aider

Ask/Help Modes

Code/Architect

/chat-mode

Yes

https://aider.chat/



GitHub Copilot

Ask Mode

Edit/Agent Modes

Mode selector

No

https://github.com/features/copilot



Cline

Plan Mode

Act Mode

Built-in

Yes (extension)

https://cline.bot/



Continue.dev

Chat/Ask

Edit/Agent Modes

Config-based

Yes

https://continue.dev/



OpenCode

Plan Mode

Build Mode

Tab key

Yes

https://opencode.ai/



Claude Code

Review Plans

Auto-execute

Settings

No

https://code.claude.com/



Replit Agent

Plan Mode

Build/Fast/Full

Mode selection

No

https://replit.com/agent3 Tool

Read-Only Mode

Write Mode

Mode Switching

Open Source

Link



Windsurf

Chat Mode

Write Mode

Toggle

No

https://windsurf.com/



Cursor

Normal/Ask

Agent/Composer

Context-dependent

No

https://www.cursor.com/



Aider

Ask/Help Modes

Code/Architect

/chat-mode

Yes

https://aider.chat/



GitHub Copilot

Ask Mode

Edit/Agent Modes

Mode selector

No

https://github.com/features/copilot



Cline

Plan Mode

Act Mode

Built-in

Yes (extension)

https://cline.bot/



Continue.dev

Chat/Ask

Edit/Agent Modes

Config-based

Yes

https://continue.dev/



OpenCode

Plan Mode

Build Mode

Tab key

Yes

https://opencode.ai/



Claude Code

Review Plans

Auto-execute

Settings

No

https://code.claude.com/



Replit Agent

Plan Mode

Build/Fast/Full

Mode selection

No

https://replit.com/agent3 Tool

Read-Only Mode

Write Mode

Mode Switching

Open Source

Link Tool Tool Read-Only Mode Read-Only Mode Write Mode Write Mode Mode Switching Mode Switching Open Source Open Source Link Link Windsurf

Chat Mode

Write Mode

Toggle

No

https://windsurf.com/ Windsurf Windsurf Windsurf Chat Mode Chat Mode Write Mode Write Mode Toggle Toggle No No https://windsurf.com/ https://windsurf.com/ https://windsurf.com/ Cursor

Normal/Ask

Agent/Composer

Context-dependent

No

https://www.cursor.com/ Cursor Cursor Cursor Normal/Ask Normal/Ask Agent/Composer Agent/Composer Context-dependent Context-dependent No No https://www.cursor.com/ https://www.cursor.com/ https://www.cursor.com/ Aider

Ask/Help Modes

Code/Architect

/chat-mode

Yes

https://aider.chat/ Aider Aider Aider Ask/Help Modes Ask/Help Modes Code/Architect Code/Architect /chat-mode /chat-mode /chat-mode Yes Yes https://aider.chat/ https://aider.chat/ https://aider.chat/ GitHub Copilot

Ask Mode

Edit/Agent Modes

Mode selector

No

https://github.com/features/copilot GitHub Copilot GitHub Copilot GitHub Copilot Ask Mode Ask Mode Edit/Agent Modes Edit/Agent Modes Mode selector Mode selector No No https://github.com/features/copilot https://github.com/features/copilot https://github.com/features/copilot Cline

Plan Mode

Act Mode

Built-in

Yes (extension)

https://cline.bot/ Cline Cline Cline Plan Mode Plan Mode Act Mode Act Mode Built-in Built-in Yes (extension) Yes (extension) https://cline.bot/ https://cline.bot/ https://cline.bot/ Continue.dev

Chat/Ask

Edit/Agent Modes

Config-based

Yes

https://continue.dev/ Continue.dev Continue.dev Continue.dev Chat/Ask Chat/Ask Edit/Agent Modes Edit/Agent Modes Config-based Config-based Yes Yes https://continue.dev/ https://continue.dev/ https://continue.dev/ OpenCode

Plan Mode

Build Mode

Tab key

Yes

https://opencode.ai/ OpenCode OpenCode OpenCode Plan Mode Plan Mode Build Mode Build Mode Tab key Tab key Yes Yes https://opencode.ai/ https://opencode.ai/ https://opencode.ai/ Claude Code

Review Plans

Auto-execute

Settings

No

https://code.claude.com/ Claude Code Claude Code Claude Code Review Plans Review Plans Auto-execute Auto-execute Settings Settings No No https://code.claude.com/ https://code.claude.com/ https://code.claude.com/ Replit Agent

Plan Mode

Build/Fast/Full

Mode selection

No

https://replit.com/agent3 Replit Agent Replit Agent Replit Agent Plan Mode Plan Mode Build/Fast/Full Build/Fast/Full Mode selection Mode selection No No https://replit.com/agent3 https://replit.com/agent3 https://replit.com/agent3 Disclaimer 📢 The views expressed here are my own. I am a human who writes as best as possible for other humans. I used AI proofreading tools to improve some texts. I welcome constructive criticism and dialogue. I shape these insights through 30 years in the software industry, 25 years of teaching, and writing over 500 articles and a book. This article is part of the AI Coding Tip series. AI Coding Tip

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AI Coding Tip 003 - Force Read-Only Planning

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