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
Be comprehensive with requirements
Share relevant context upfront
Point Cline to relevant files if he hasn't read them
Validate approach before implementation
Implementation Phase
Follow the established plan
Monitor progress against objectives
Track changes and their impact
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
Remember: The time invested in planning pays dividends in implementation quality and maintenance efficiency
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