Operation Modes

LogiCoal has three operation modes that control how much autonomy the AI has. The current mode is always visible in the bottom-left corner of the interface.

Normal Mode (Default)

The balanced mode. The AI can read files freely but asks permission before making changes.

Requires approval:

Writing or creating files (write_file)
Editing existing files (edit_file)
Running shell commands (bash)
Reading files outside your working directory

No approval needed:

Reading files in your working directory
Searching files and directories (glob, grep, list_dir)
Web searches and HTTP requests
Updating the task list

Auto Mode

Full autonomy. The AI executes all operations immediately without asking permission.

Use this when you trust the task and want speed — for example, when the AI is implementing a feature you've described in detail, or when you're running a well-defined agent workflow.

Everything runs without prompts, including file writes, shell commands, and agent checkpoints.

Plan Mode

Strict read-only. The AI can explore your codebase but cannot modify anything.

Blocked entirely:

Writing files
Editing files
Running shell commands

Allowed:

Reading files
Searching and listing directories
Web searches

Use this when you want the AI to analyze or plan without any risk of changes. Good for code reviews, architecture discussions, and understanding unfamiliar codebases.

Switching Modes

Keyboard: Press Shift+Tab to cycle through modes: Normal → Auto → Plan → Normal

Command: Type /mode followed by the mode name:

/mode normal
/mode auto
/mode plan

Type /mode with no arguments to see the current mode.

The Approval Dialog

In Normal mode, when the AI requests a write operation, you'll see:

Write file: src/utils/validate.ts
  ▸ Approve
    Deny

Controls:

Up/Down arrows — Toggle between Approve and Deny
Enter — Confirm your selection
Y — Approve directly
N — Deny directly

If you deny an operation, the AI is informed and will try an alternative approach or ask for clarification.

When to Use Each Mode

Situation	Recommended Mode
General coding tasks	Normal
You've described exactly what you want built	Auto
Running agent teams or `/execute`	Auto
Exploring or reviewing code	Plan
Understanding a new codebase	Plan
Debugging — want to inspect without changes	Plan
Quick iterative edits where approval slows you down	Auto

Modes are per-session. LogiCoal always starts in Normal mode.