Modes

Modes are a system for managing tool permissions in the CLI. They can be set via command-line flags at startup or switched dynamically during chat sessions. The following modes are available:

Available Modes

normal (default)

The default mode that follows configured permission policies from permissions.yaml and command-line overrides without any additional restrictions or mode-specific policies.

• UI Indicator: No indicator shown (clean interface for default behavior)
• Current directory: Visible in status bar for context
• Permission behavior: Uses existing permission policies as configured
• Backward compatibility: Existing configurations work unchanged

plan

Planning mode that completely overrides all user permissions to enforce read-only access with command execution. This mode prevents file modifications but allows command execution for analysis, regardless of user configuration.

• Command-line flag: --readonly (for backward compatibility)
• UI Indicator: [plan] shown in blue
• Current directory: Hidden to save space and focus on analysis
• Permission override: Absolute - excludes write tools (Write, Edit, etc.) and allows read tools (Read, Grep, LS, etc.) and Bash for command execution
• User config ignored: Any user --allow flags for write tools are overridden

auto

Auto mode that completely overrides all user permissions to allow everything without asking. This mode provides maximum automation by bypassing all permission policies and restrictions, regardless of user configuration.

• Command-line flag: --auto (starts in auto mode)
• UI Indicator: [auto] shown in green
• Current directory: Hidden to save space and focus on automation
• Permission override: Absolute - allows all tools with *: allow policy
• User config ignored: Any user --exclude flags are overridden - everything is allowed

Usage

Command-Line Initialization

Modes can be set when starting the CLI:

cn --readonly "Help me analyze this code"  # Starts in plan mode
cn --auto "Fix all the linting errors"     # Starts in auto mode
cn "Let me implement this feature"         # Starts in normal mode (default)

Dynamic Mode Switching

Users can switch modes during chat sessions using:

Keyboard Shortcut:

• Shift+Tab - Cycle through modes: normal → plan → auto → (repeat)

Implementation

Modes are implemented through the permission system:

• ToolPermissionService: Rectifies current mode and tool policies
• ModeIndicator: UI component showing current mode (hidden for normal mode)
• Keyboard shortcuts: Shift+Tab cycles through modes instantly
• Backward compatibility: Existing --readonly flag maps to plan mode

Mode Policy Priority

Mode policies completely override all other configurations when in plan or auto mode:

Plan and Auto modes:

1. Mode policies (absolute override - ignores everything else)

Normal mode only:

1. Command-line overrides (--allow, --ask, --exclude)
2. Permission configuration from permissions.yaml
3. Default tool policies

Mode-Specific Behaviors

• normal: No mode policies applied, uses existing user configuration; shows current directory
• plan: Absolute override - excludes write tools (Write, Edit), allows read tools (Read, Grep, LS) and Bash; hides current directory
• auto: Absolute override - allows all tools with *: allow policy; hides current directory