Overview
Plan mode gives you strategic oversight by having Sphinx create a detailed execution plan before writing any code. This mode performs extensive exploratory data analysis upfront, allowing you to review, modify, and approve the approach before implementation begins.Plan mode is perfect for complex analyses where you want to ensure Sphinx’s approach aligns with your goals before any code is executed.
How It Works
When you submit a prompt in Plan mode:- Analysis phase — Sphinx examines your data, notebook state, and request, performing exploratory data analysis
- Plan generation — A detailed multi-step plan is created
- Review — You see the plan and can edit it directly
- Approval — Approve, reject, or modify the plan
- Execution — Once approved, Sphinx executes the plan step by step
The Planning Process
Sphinx’s plans typically include:- Task breakdown — Complex goals split into manageable steps
- Methodology — Specific techniques and approaches to be used
- Expected outputs — What each step should produce
- Dependencies — How steps relate to each other
Reviewing and Editing Plans
When Sphinx presents a plan, you have full control:- Approve as-is — Accept the plan and begin execution
- Edit the plan — Modify steps, reorder them, or add constraints
- Reject with feedback — Decline and provide guidance for a new plan
When to Use Plan Mode
Plan mode is ideal for:- Complex multi-step analyses — Machine learning pipelines, statistical modeling
- Unfamiliar domains — When you want to understand the approach first
- High-stakes work — Analyses where methodology matters
- Team collaboration — Sharing and reviewing approaches before execution
- Learning — Understanding how Sphinx approaches problems
Plan Mode vs Agent Mode
| Aspect | Plan Mode | Agent Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Medium — review before execution | Low — Sphinx iterates autonomously |
| Speed | Slower — planning phase required | Faster — immediate execution |
| Visibility | See full strategy upfront | See decisions as they happen |
| Best for | Complex, strategic tasks | Routine, well-defined tasks |