The Plan Mode

Why this matters

Plan mode is the governance layer of agentic AI. Before Claude Code touches a single file, you see exactly what it intends to do. You can approve, modify, or abort. This is not about distrust — it is about professional practice. A surgeon reviews the procedure before the incision. A pilot runs the preflight checklist. A commander reviews the battle plan before sending troops. Plan mode is your preflight checklist.

How to do it

1. 1

   Choose a complex, multi-file task

   Pick something that will touch at least 3 files: "Add a dark mode toggle to the app", "Add form validation to the contact form", "Refactor the navigation component to support mobile".

2. 2

   Run the task in plan mode first

   claude --plan "YOUR TASK" — read the entire plan before approving. Note: which files will be changed? What is the order of operations?

3. 3

   Identify one thing in the plan you would change

   If the plan looks perfect and you cannot suggest any improvement, the task may be too simple. Modify the plan once before executing.

4. 4

   Execute and verify

   claude "YOUR TASK" — verify each change matches what the plan said.

The prompt

Add a dark mode toggle to this application.

Requirements:
- The toggle should be in the navigation bar
- Use the existing design system (check CLAUDE.md for conventions)
- Persist the user's preference in localStorage
- The toggle should work across all pages
- Do not break any existing functionality

Before making any changes, show me the complete plan: which files you will touch, what you will add to each, and the order of operations.

Success criteria

• ✓You ran plan mode before executing a complex task
• ✓You reviewed the plan and identified one improvement
• ✓The execution matched the approved plan
• ✓Plan mode is now a habit you will use for all complex tasks

Common mistakes