Ask Mode

Ask Mode is read-only. The AI answers questions, explains code, traces logic, and gives architectural context, but it won't touch any files. Use it when you want to understand something before deciding what to change.

What Ask Mode does

In Ask Mode, the AI:

Answers questions about your codebase, architecture, and dependencies
Explains code by reading files and referencing specific functions and line numbers
Traces data flow through components, APIs, and state management
Describes patterns in the project and why they exist
Suggests approaches without implementing them

No files are written, edited, or deleted.

How to access Ask Mode

From the mode toggle

Click the mode selector in the bottom-left of the chat input area and select Ask.

With a slash command

Type /ask followed by your question.

Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+A (or Cmd+Shift+A on Mac)

What to ask about

Understanding code

"How does the authentication flow work in this project?"
"What does this component do and how is it used?"
"Walk me through what happens when a user clicks the publish button."

Architecture decisions

"Why is this state management approach used here?"
"What is the relationship between these two modules?"
"How are styles applied across different breakpoints?"

Debugging context

"I am seeing a race condition in this component. What could cause that?"
"Why might the preview not update after a style change?"
"What error handling exists for this API route?"

Planning

"What files would I need to change to add a new panel tab?"
"How much work would it be to add keyboard shortcuts here?"
"What is the best way to implement this feature?"

How context works in Ask Mode

Ask Mode has the same context capabilities as Build Mode:

Selected elements on the canvas tell the AI which part of the UI you're asking about
File references attached to your message point the AI to the right code
Error context from the console helps with diagnostics
Project knowledge (rules and custom instructions) gives the AI background for its answers

More context means more accurate answers.

Switching from Ask to Build

A common workflow: start in Ask Mode to understand what's going on, then switch to Build Mode to make changes.

Click the mode toggle and select Build
Type /build before your next message
Tell the AI "go ahead and implement that"

Conversation history carries over, so the AI keeps context from your Ask Mode questions.

Tips for asking effective questions

Be specific: "How does the style panel update CSS?" beats "How does styling work?"
Reference file paths: A precise starting point leads to better answers.
Ask follow-ups: Drill deeper. If the AI explains a function, ask about its callers or edge cases.
Use it before refactoring: Before touching unfamiliar code, ask about the design, invariants, and pitfalls.

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