Plan & Act Modes: A Guide to Effective AI Development

Overview

Plan & Act modes represent Cline's approach to structured AI development, emphasizing thoughtful planning before implementation. This dual-mode system helps developers create more maintainable, accurate code while reducing iteration time.

Use Plan to gather context before using Act to implement the plan

Understanding the Modes

Plan Mode

• Optimized for context gathering and strategy

• Cannot make changes to your codebase

• Focused on understanding requirements and creating implementation plans

• Enables full file reading for comprehensive project understanding

Act Mode

• Streamlined for implementation based on established plans

• Has access to all of Cline's building capabilities

• Maintains context from the planning phase

• Can execute changes to your codebase

Workflow Guide

1. Start with Plan Mode

Begin every significant development task in Plan mode:

In this mode:

• Share your requirements

• Let Cline analyze relevant files

• Engage in dialogue to clarify objectives

• Develop implementation strategy

2. Switch to Act Mode

Once you have a clear plan, switch to Act mode:

Act mode allows Cline to:

• Execute against the agreed plan

• Make changes to your codebase

• Maintain context from planning phase

3. Iterate as Needed

Complex projects often require multiple plan-act cycles:

• Return to Plan mode when encountering unexpected complexity

• Use Act mode for implementing solutions

• Maintain development momentum while ensuring quality

Best Practices

Planning Phase

1. Be comprehensive with requirements

2. Share relevant context upfront

3. Point Cline to relevant files if he hasn't read them

4. Validate approach before implementation

Implementation Phase

1. Follow the established plan

2. Monitor progress against objectives

3. Track changes and their impact

4. Document significant decisions

Power User Tips

Enhancing Planning

• Use Plan mode to explore edge cases before implementation

• Switch back to Plan when encountering unexpected complexity

• Leverage file reading to validate assumptions early

• Have Cline write markdown files of the plan for future reference

Common Patterns

When to Use Plan Mode

• Starting new features

• Debugging complex issues

• Architectural decisions

• Requirements analysis

When to Use Act Mode

• Implementing agreed solutions

• Making routine changes

• Following established patterns

• Executing test cases

Contributing

Share your experiences and improvements:

• Join our Discord community
• Participate in discussions

• Submit feature requests

• Report issues

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Remember: The time invested in planning pays dividends in implementation quality and maintenance efficiency