Work Modes & Steering
Pick the mode that fits the job, add guidance to a turn that is already running, and free up room in a long conversation.
Choose a work mode
The mode belongs to the conversation, so every client that opens it uses the same one. In web chat, open Options in the composer and choose Build, Plan or Workflow under Work mode.
In the CLI, use /build, /plan or /workflow. Shift+Tab or Ctrl+Tab cycles from Build to Plan, from Plan to Workflow and back to Build; configure the key in /keybinds. A new conversation starts in Build.
For headless chat, pass a mode: --mode build, --mode plan or --mode workflow. --plan is shorthand for --mode plan. You cannot switch modes while viewing a delegated child, because a child has no mode of its own.
What each mode does
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| Build | Works with tools and makes changes, within the account's permissions. |
| Plan | Investigates and proposes an approach before anything is edited. |
| Workflow | Organizes the work as a graph of sub-agents. |
Plan keeps investigation separate from change; read What Plan mode allows for its rules and Plan, work, and approve the next step for the flow from plan to implementation. Workflow adds no permissions; read Dependent work in a workflow.
Steer a running turn
Send another message while a turn is running and Chetty takes it up after its current tool round, without starting a parallel turn in the same conversation. You can also open a running child, return to the parent, or stop work. Read Steer a running turn.
A change of mode is shown as a row in the conversation, and the agent sees the same row. See Chat overview.
Shorten the conversation with /compact
/compact summarizes older context to make room for new work. Add a note about what the summary should keep:
/compact Keep the API decisions and the failing test detailsCompaction removes older context from the active prompt; your note guides the summary but does not restore removed files or grant access. Read When a chat grows long or is interrupted for automatic compaction and its settings.