Axiomate

Plan mode

Agents commonly use two classic working patterns: ReAct and Plan-and-Execute.

  • ReAct: observe, reason, and call tools step by step. This is useful for exploration, debugging, and incremental progress.
  • Plan-and-Execute: understand the context and produce a plan before implementation. This is useful when the task is high-impact or the path is uncertain.

Axiomate's Plan mode is closer to Plan-and-Execute: before changing code, Axiomate reads relevant files, understands existing structure, designs an approach, and asks you to approve the plan. You review the direction first, then decide whether implementation should proceed.

When to use Plan mode

Use Plan mode when:

  • You are adding a meaningful new feature.
  • The task may affect multiple files or existing behavior.
  • There are several reasonable implementation approaches.
  • The task requires architectural choices, such as state management, caching, authentication, or API design.
  • Requirements are unclear and the codebase needs exploration first.
  • You want the team to review the plan before the AI edits code.

You usually do not need Plan mode when:

  • Fixing a typo or a clear one-line issue.
  • The user already gave exact implementation steps.
  • You only want research, file lookup, or code explanation.
  • The bug and its fix are already obvious.

Enter Plan mode

Inside a conversation, run:

/plan

You can also include the task description:

/plan design the navigation structure for plugin documentation

After entering Plan mode, Axiomate focuses on research and design instead of editing files immediately. It usually:

  1. Searches and reads relevant files.
  2. Understands existing patterns, constraints, and risks.
  3. Writes implementation steps.
  4. Presents the plan for your approval.
  5. Proceeds to implementation only after approval.

Plans can be edited or rejected

The point of Plan mode is to align before acting. If the plan is wrong, ask Axiomate to revise it. If you want to edit the plan yourself, run:

/plan open

This opens the current plan file in your external editor. After editing, continue the approval flow.

How it differs from normal chat

Normal chat is closer to ReAct: Axiomate can act and adjust step by step, which is good for small tasks or exploratory work.

Plan mode separates understanding, planning, and execution. It is better when you want stronger control before code changes. It helps you see:

  • What sources were used.
  • What assumptions matter.
  • Which files or areas may change.
  • Why each step is proposed.
  • What risks need attention.

This is the capability shown by the homepage “Everything stays under your control” demo: review the plan first, then decide whether to proceed.