Overview
Agent mode is Sphinx’s default and most autonomous interaction mode. In this mode, Sphinx works step by step—explaining its thoughts and actions—and continues iterating until it determines the task is complete.Agent mode provides intelligent safeguards through guardrails that flag potentially risky operations for your approval, while allowing routine code to execute automatically.
How It Works
When you submit a prompt in Agent mode, Sphinx:- Analyzes your request and the current notebook state
- Generates code to accomplish the task
- Executes cells automatically (unless flagged by guardrails)
- Inspects results and iterates as needed
- Completes when the task objective is achieved
Capabilities
Sphinx can perform the following actions autonomously in Agent mode:- Add cells — Insert new code or markdown cells
- Edit cells — Modify existing cell content
- Execute cells — Run code and analyze outputs
- Delete cells — Remove unnecessary cells
- Ask questions — Request clarification when stuck
When to Use Agent Mode
Agent mode is ideal for:- Routine data science tasks — Loading data, cleaning, basic analysis
- Exploratory work — Quick investigations where speed matters
- Trusted workflows — Tasks where you’re confident in the approach
- Iterative development — Rapid prototyping and experimentation
Guardrails and Safety
Even in Agent mode, Sphinx doesn’t have unchecked autonomy. The guardrail system automatically:- Detects risky operations like file writes or system modifications
- Pauses for approval when potentially dangerous code is generated
- Respects your custom rules configured in Sphinx settings