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Docs: Update plan mode docs (#19682)
Co-authored-by: gemini-code-assist[bot] <176961590+gemini-code-assist[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Jerop Kipruto <jerop@google.com>
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Jenna Inouye
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
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# Plan Mode (experimental)
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Plan Mode is a read-only environment for architecting robust solutions before
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implementation. It allows you to:
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implementation. With Plan Mode, you can:
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- **Research:** Explore the project in a read-only state to prevent accidental
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changes.
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@@ -16,59 +16,45 @@ implementation. It allows you to:
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> GitHub.
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> - Use the **/bug** command within Gemini CLI to file an issue.
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- [Enabling Plan Mode](#enabling-plan-mode)
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- [How to use Plan Mode](#how-to-use-plan-mode)
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- [Entering Plan Mode](#entering-plan-mode)
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- [Planning Workflow](#planning-workflow)
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- [Exiting Plan Mode](#exiting-plan-mode)
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- [Commands](#commands)
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- [Tool Restrictions](#tool-restrictions)
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- [Customizing Planning with Skills](#customizing-planning-with-skills)
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- [Customizing Policies](#customizing-policies)
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- [Example: Allow git commands in Plan Mode](#example-allow-git-commands-in-plan-mode)
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- [Example: Enable custom subagents in Plan Mode](#example-enable-custom-subagents-in-plan-mode)
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- [Custom Plan Directory and Policies](#custom-plan-directory-and-policies)
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- [Automatic Model Routing](#automatic-model-routing)
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- [Cleanup](#cleanup)
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## How to enable Plan Mode
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## Enabling Plan Mode
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Enable Plan Mode in **Settings** or by editing your configuration file.
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To use Plan Mode, enable it via **/settings** (search for **Plan**) or add the
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following to your `settings.json`:
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```json
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{
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"experimental": {
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"plan": true
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}
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}
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```
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## How to use Plan Mode
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### Entering Plan Mode
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You can configure Gemini CLI to start in Plan Mode by default or enter it
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manually during a session.
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- **Configuration:** Configure Gemini CLI to start directly in Plan Mode by
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default:
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1. Type `/settings` in the CLI.
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2. Search for **Default Approval Mode**.
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3. Set the value to **Plan**.
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Alternatively, use the `gemini --approval-mode=plan` CLI flag or manually
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update:
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- **Settings:** Use the `/settings` command and set **Plan** to `true`.
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- **Configuration:** Add the following to your `settings.json`:
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```json
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{
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"general": {
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"defaultApprovalMode": "plan"
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"experimental": {
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"plan": true
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}
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}
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```
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- **Keyboard Shortcut:** Press `Shift+Tab` to cycle through approval modes
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## How to enter Plan Mode
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Plan Mode integrates seamlessly into your workflow, letting you switch between
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planning and execution as needed.
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You can either configure Gemini CLI to start in Plan Mode by default or enter
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Plan Mode manually during a session.
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### Launch in Plan Mode
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To start Gemini CLI directly in Plan Mode by default:
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1. Use the `/settings` command.
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2. Set **Default Approval Mode** to `Plan`.
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To launch Gemini CLI in Plan Mode once:
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1. Use `gemini --approval-mode=plan` when launching Gemini CLI.
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### Enter Plan Mode manually
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To start Plan Mode while using Gemini CLI:
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- **Keyboard shortcut:** Press `Shift+Tab` to cycle through approval modes
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(`Default` -> `Auto-Edit` -> `Plan`).
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> **Note:** Plan Mode is automatically removed from the rotation when Gemini
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@@ -76,58 +62,52 @@ manually during a session.
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- **Command:** Type `/plan` in the input box.
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- **Natural Language:** Ask Gemini CLI to "start a plan for...". Gemini CLI then
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- **Natural Language:** Ask Gemini CLI to "start a plan for...". Gemini CLI
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calls the [`enter_plan_mode`] tool to switch modes.
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> **Note:** This tool is not available when Gemini CLI is in [YOLO mode].
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### Planning Workflow
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## How to use Plan Mode
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Plan Mode uses an adaptive planning workflow where the research depth, plan
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structure, and consultation level are proportional to the task's complexity:
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Plan Mode lets you collaborate with Gemini CLI to design a solution before
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Gemini CLI takes action.
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1. **Explore & Analyze:** Analyze requirements and use read-only tools to map
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affected modules and identify dependencies.
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2. **Consult:** The depth of consultation is proportional to the task's
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complexity:
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- **Simple Tasks:** Proceed directly to drafting.
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- **Standard Tasks:** Present a summary of viable approaches via
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[`ask_user`] for selection.
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- **Complex Tasks:** Present detailed trade-offs for at least two viable
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approaches via [`ask_user`] and obtain approval before drafting.
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3. **Draft:** Write a detailed implementation plan to the
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[plans directory](#custom-plan-directory-and-policies). The plan's structure
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adapts to the task:
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- **Simple Tasks:** Focused on specific **Changes** and **Verification**
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steps.
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- **Standard Tasks:** Includes an **Objective**, **Key Files & Context**,
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**Implementation Steps**, and **Verification & Testing**.
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- **Complex Tasks:** Comprehensive plans including **Background &
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Motivation**, **Scope & Impact**, **Proposed Solution**, **Alternatives
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Considered**, a phased **Implementation Plan**, **Verification**, and
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**Migration & Rollback** strategies.
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4. **Review & Approval:** Use the [`exit_plan_mode`] tool to present the plan
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and formally request approval.
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- **Approve:** Exit Plan Mode and start implementation.
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- **Iterate:** Provide feedback to refine the plan.
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- **Refine manually:** Press **Ctrl + X** to open the plan file in your
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[preferred external editor]. This allows you to manually refine the plan
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steps before approval. If you make any changes and save the file, the CLI
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will automatically send the updated plan back to the agent for review and
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iteration.
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1. **Provide a goal:** Start by describing what you want to achieve. Gemini CLI
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will then enter Plan Mode (if it's not already) to research the task.
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2. **Review research and provide input:** As Gemini CLI analyzes your codebase,
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it may ask you questions or present different implementation options using
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[`ask_user`]. Provide your preferences to help guide the design.
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3. **Review the plan:** Once Gemini CLI has a proposed strategy, it creates a
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detailed implementation plan as a Markdown file in your plans directory. You
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can open and read this file to understand the proposed changes.
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4. **Approve or iterate:** Gemini CLI will present the finalized plan for your
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approval.
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- **Approve:** If you're satisfied with the plan, approve it to start the
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implementation immediately: **Yes, automatically accept edits** or **Yes,
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manually accept edits**.
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- **Iterate:** If the plan needs adjustments, provide feedback. Gemini CLI
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will refine the strategy and update the plan.
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- **Cancel:** You can cancel your plan with `Esc`.
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For more complex or specialized planning tasks, you can
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[customize the planning workflow with skills](#customizing-planning-with-skills).
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[customize the planning workflow with skills](#custom-planning-with-skills).
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### Exiting Plan Mode
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## How to exit Plan Mode
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To exit Plan Mode, you can:
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You can exit Plan Mode at any time, whether you have finalized a plan or want to
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switch back to another mode.
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- **Keyboard Shortcut:** Press `Shift+Tab` to cycle to the desired mode.
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- **Approve a plan:** When Gemini CLI presents a finalized plan, approving it
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automatically exits Plan Mode and starts the implementation.
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- **Keyboard shortcut:** Press `Shift+Tab` to cycle to the desired mode.
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- **Natural language:** Ask Gemini CLI to "exit plan mode" or "stop planning."
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- **Tool:** Gemini CLI calls the [`exit_plan_mode`] tool to present the
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finalized plan for your approval.
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## Customization and best practices
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### Commands
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Plan Mode is secure by default, but you can adapt it to fit your specific
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workflows. You can customize how Gemini CLI plans by using skills, adjusting
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safety policies, or changing where plans are stored.
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## Commands
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- **`/plan copy`**: Copy the currently approved plan to your clipboard.
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@@ -141,7 +121,7 @@ These are the only allowed tools:
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- **Search:** [`grep_search`], [`google_web_search`]
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- **Research Subagents:** [`codebase_investigator`], [`cli_help`]
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- **Interaction:** [`ask_user`]
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- **MCP Tools (Read):** Read-only [MCP tools] (e.g., `github_read_issue`,
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- **MCP tools (Read):** Read-only [MCP tools] (for example, `github_read_issue`,
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`postgres_read_schema`) are allowed.
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- **Planning (Write):** [`write_file`] and [`replace`] only allowed for `.md`
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files in the `~/.gemini/tmp/<project>/<session-id>/plans/` directory or your
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@@ -150,12 +130,12 @@ These are the only allowed tools:
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- **Skills:** [`activate_skill`] (allows loading specialized instructions and
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resources in a read-only manner)
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### Customizing Planning with Skills
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### Custom planning with skills
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You can use [Agent Skills](./skills.md) to customize how Gemini CLI approaches
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planning for specific types of tasks. When a skill is activated during Plan
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Mode, its specialized instructions and procedural workflows will guide the
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research, design and planning phases.
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research, design, and planning phases.
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For example:
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@@ -170,7 +150,7 @@ To use a skill in Plan Mode, you can explicitly ask Gemini CLI to "use the
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`<skill-name>` skill to plan..." or Gemini CLI may autonomously activate it
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based on the task description.
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### Customizing Policies
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### Custom policies
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Plan Mode's default tool restrictions are managed by the [policy engine] and
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defined in the built-in [`plan.toml`] file. The built-in policy (Tier 1)
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@@ -194,10 +174,13 @@ priority = 100
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modes = ["plan"]
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```
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For more information on how the policy engine works, see the [policy engine]
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docs.
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#### Example: Allow git commands in Plan Mode
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This rule allows you to check the repository status and see changes while in
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Plan Mode.
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This rule lets you check the repository status and see changes while in Plan
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Mode.
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`~/.gemini/policies/git-research.toml`
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@@ -229,10 +212,7 @@ modes = ["plan"]
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Tell Gemini CLI it can use these tools in your prompt, for example: _"You can
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check ongoing changes in git."_
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For more information on how the policy engine works, see the [policy engine]
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docs.
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### Custom Plan Directory and Policies
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### Custom plan directory and policies
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By default, planning artifacts are stored in a managed temporary directory
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outside your project: `~/.gemini/tmp/<project>/<session-id>/plans/`.
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