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Plan Mode Steering

docs/cli/tutorials/plan-mode-steering.md

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Use Plan Mode with model steering for complex tasks

Architecting a complex solution requires precision. By combining Plan Mode's structured environment with model steering's real-time feedback, you can guide Gemini CLI through the research and design phases to ensure the final implementation plan is exactly what you need.

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[!NOTE] This is an experimental feature currently under active development and may need to be enabled under /settings.

Prerequisites

  • Gemini CLI installed and authenticated.
  • Plan Mode enabled in your settings.
  • Model steering enabled in your settings.

Why combine Plan Mode and model steering?

Plan Mode typically follows a linear path: research, propose, and draft. Adding model steering lets you:

  1. Direct the research: Correct the agent if it's looking in the wrong directory or missing a key dependency.
  2. Iterate mid-draft: Suggest a different architectural pattern while the agent is still writing the plan.
  3. Speed up the loop: Avoid waiting for a full research turn to finish before providing critical context.

Step 1: Start a complex task

Enter Plan Mode and start a task that requires research.

Prompt: /plan I want to implement a new notification service using Redis.

Gemini CLI enters Plan Mode and starts researching your existing codebase to identify where the new service should live.

Step 2: Steer the research phase

As you see the agent calling tools like list_directory or grep_search, you might realize it's missing the relevant context.

Action: While the spinner is active, type your hint: "Don't forget to check packages/common/queues for the existing Redis config."

Result: Gemini CLI acknowledges your hint and immediately incorporates it into its research. You'll see it start exploring the directory you suggested in its very next turn.

Step 3: Refine the design mid-turn

After research, the agent starts drafting the implementation plan. If you notice it's proposing a design that doesn't align with your goals, steer it.

Action: Type: "Actually, let's use a Publisher/Subscriber pattern instead of a simple queue for this service."

Result: The agent stops drafting the current version of the plan, re-evaluates the design based on your feedback, and starts a new draft that uses the Pub/Sub pattern.

Step 4: Approve and implement

Once the agent has used your hints to craft the perfect plan, review the final .md file.

Action: Type: "Looks perfect. Let's start the implementation."

Gemini CLI exits Plan Mode and transitions to the implementation phase. Because the plan was refined in real-time with your feedback, the agent can now execute each step with higher confidence and fewer errors.

Tips for effective steering

  • Be specific: Instead of "do it differently," try "use the existing Logger class in src/utils."
  • Steer early: Providing feedback during the research phase is more efficient than waiting for the final plan to be drafted.
  • Use for context: Steering is a great way to provide knowledge that might not be obvious from reading the code (for example, "We are planning to deprecate this module next month").

Next steps