The Problem
Copilot’s eagerness to generate code can backfire. You describe a feature, and before you’ve finished explaining, it’s already written 200 lines that miss the point.
The Solution: Plan Mode
GitHub introduced Plan Mode specifically to address this. Here’s how to use it:
Activating Plan Mode
Press Shift+Tab before describing your task. This signals to Copilot that you want to discuss before implementing.
What Happens in Plan Mode
- Clarifying Questions: Copilot asks about your requirements instead of assuming
- Structured Planning: It outlines the implementation approach
- Your Review: You can modify the plan before any code is written
- Controlled Execution: Code generation only starts when you approve
Example Conversation
Without Plan Mode:
“Add user authentication” [Copilot immediately generates 300 lines of JWT-based auth]
With Plan Mode:
“Add user authentication” “I have some questions before we start:
- Should this use session-based auth or JWT?
- Do you need OAuth providers?
- What’s the current user model structure?”
When to Use Plan Mode
- New features with unclear requirements
- Refactoring that affects multiple files
- Any task where “just start coding” has burned you before
When to Skip It
- Quick bug fixes with obvious solutions
- Adding a single function with clear parameters
- Tasks you’ve done many times before
Pro Tip
Even after planning, you can say “wait, let’s reconsider” at any point. Copilot will pause and let you redirect.