Skip to lesson
Exit
Choose Ask, Agent, Plan, Debug, Browser, Cloud or CLI1 / 2

2 min lesson

Ask to understand, Agent to edit, Plan when scope is unclear

Say what this means in practice: "Route each task to Ask, Agent, or Plan using the smallest surface that closes the loop."

Step 1 of 2

The case: you can route work to the right mode instead of defaulting to Agent for everything. Start with this check: The selected mode matches the risk and scope. Walk it once against a real situation so you can defend the call, not just assert it.

Smallest mode that closes the loop

0:32 · narrated
Read this demo as text
  1. You only need to understand search filtering. No edit. Pick Ask. It reads and explains without touching anything.
  2. A clear two-file rename with an obvious path? Pick Agent. The change is bounded, so Agent just executes it.
  3. A vague multi-file 'improve search'? Pick Plan. Research first when scope is unclear or wide, then build.
Ask to understand, Agent to edit, Plan when scope is unclear — smallest surface that closes the loop.

Practice next: Now run the walkthrough: route each task to Ask, Agent, or Plan using the smallest surface that closes the loop.

Simulated Cursor 3.12 (macOS, light) — beta educational reconstruction, not the real product.