---
title: Plan Mode
description: "Transform ideas into robust implementation plans with intelligent requirement clarification"
---

In Plan Mode, Verdent transforms informal ideas into implementation plans through structured requirement clarification. Collaborative dialogue and iterative refinement ensure alignment before implementation begins.

## What You'll Learn

- When to use Plan Mode
- The collaborative planning workflow
- Intelligent requirement clarification
- Plan generation

---

## When Plan Mode is Useful

Plan Mode is especially valuable in these scenarios:

| Scenario | Situation | How Verdent Helps |
|----------|-----------|-------------------|
| **Incomplete Ideas** | You have an idea but haven't figured out the path yet. You're unsure how long it will take or where to start. | You don't need to think everything through before starting. Turn a vague idea into an executable plan. Even a single sentence or incomplete thought is enough to begin. |
| **Plan Validation** | You have a plan in mind but aren't sure it covers everything. You have experience and a rough approach, but you're unsure whether you've covered all cases. | Verdent checks for gaps and stabilizes the plan. Turns "this should probably work" into a reliable outcome. Proactively fills missing pieces and validates risks. |

---

## Plan Mode Workflow

<Steps>
  <Step title="Switch to Plan Mode">
    Press `Shift+Tab` (macOS: `Cmd+.`; Windows: `Ctrl+.`) to switch. Describe your idea. Incomplete is totally fine.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Proactive Clarification">
    Brainstorm together, clarify goals, surface gaps and risks. Verdent helps articulate the problem clearly.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Stay in Control">
    Accept, modify, or skip suggestions without being blocked by rigid workflows.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Generate Executable Plan">
    Scattered ideas are organized into clear, structured steps with workflow charts.
  </Step>
  <Step title="One-Click Execution">
    Every step is visible, pausable, and editable. Full transparency throughout.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Clear Delivery">
    Complete summary plus clear explanation of code changes when finished.
  </Step>
</Steps>

---

## Key Features

| Feature | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| **Mode Selection** | Plan Mode collaborates with you to define the plan, then executes once aligned |
| **Interactive Clarification** | Verdent actively asks questions to remove ambiguity from the task |
| **Structured Planning** | Fragmented thoughts are organized into clear plans with workflow charts |

---

## Intelligent Requirement Clarification

Verdent engages as a technical partner:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Exploratory Dialogue">
    Multi-turn conversations to uncover implicit requirements:

    - Edge case identification and technical constraint discovery
    - Proactive ambiguity resolution before implementation
    - Iterative refinement through collaborative discussion
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Domain Expertise">
    Applies software engineering best practices:

    - Suggests optimal approaches, design patterns, and technology choices
    - Presents trade-off analysis with pros/cons for informed decision-making
    - Recommends industry-standard solutions and frameworks
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Convenient Interaction">
    Supports convenient clarification interactions:

    - Modifying clarification options
    - Additional information and context
    - Skipping clarifications
    - Rolling back changes and resubmitting
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

---

## Clarification Loop

In Plan Mode, Verdent asks clarifying questions through an interactive questionnaire, allowing collaborative requirement confirmation before implementation.

- **Multiple choice** - Select from predefined answer options
- **Custom answers** - Craft your own answer when choices don't fit
- **Mixed approach** - Select an option and add custom clarification

### Refinement Controls

Available interactions during the clarification loop:

- **Modify Options** - Adjust the multiple choice options presented to better match your context
- **Skip Clarifications** - Proceed with Verdent's best judgment when requirements are clear enough
- **Rollback Changes** - Revert to previous clarification state and resubmit different answers

---

## Plan Generation

Verdent generates developer-ready plans that include:

- High-level summary of goals, scope, and success criteria
- Component structure and relationships
- Data models and API contracts
- Technology stack considerations

---

## FAQs

<AccordionGroup>
<Accordion title="How do I switch to Plan Mode?">
Press `Shift+Tab` (macOS: `Cmd+.`; Windows: `Ctrl+.`) to toggle between Plan Mode and Agent Mode. You can also click the Switch Mode button in the input box.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="When should I use Plan Mode instead of Agent Mode?">
Use Plan Mode for complex features, architectural decisions, or when you want to review the approach before implementation. Use Agent Mode for straightforward tasks.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Can I skip the clarification questions?">
Yes. Use the Skip Clarifications option to proceed with Verdent's best judgment when requirements are clear enough.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Will my plan be saved?">
Ask Verdent to save the plan as a markdown file for future reference.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Can I modify a plan before executing?">
You can ask Verdent to revise the plan in Plan Mode. Once satisfied, switch to Agent Mode to execute.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Does Plan Mode use credits?">
Yes. Plan Mode operations consume credits based on the model used and tokens processed, similar to Agent Mode.
</Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>