AI Coding Tip: Force Read-Only Planning for Better Results

AI coding assistants often default to action mode – they want to immediately modify code when presented with a problem. While helpful, this impulsiveness frequently leads to misguided changes, architectural misunderstandings, and cleanup nightmares. The solution? Force read-only planning: Make your AI assistant analyze and plan before writing a single line of code.

The Impulsive Coding Problem

When you paste a stack trace into your AI tool without explicit constraints, it typically:

1. Modifies unrelated files
2. Assumes dependencies without checking package.json
3. Creates cascading errors
4. Generates unreadable diffs

These issues stem from the AI's "doing over thinking" bias – what we call impulsive coding. Unlike senior developers who analyze before acting, most AI models prioritize perceived helpfulness through immediate action.

Implementing Read-Only Planning

Follow this workflow:

1. Activate plan mode: Use built-in modes like /plan or /ask. If unavailable, start with:

   "Read [file1] and [file2]. Do NOT modify anything yet. Analyze this stack dump and explain the core problem."

2. Request a blueprint:

   *"Create a step-by-step Markdown plan to resolve this, referencing only these components:

   • REST API endpoints\
   • Dashboard.tsx\
   • KesslerMonitor module"*

3. Review and approve: Scrutinize the plan for hallucinations or incorrect assumptions.

4. Execute incrementally:

   "Implement STEP 1 from your plan. Show changes in unified diff format."

Key Benefits

• Accuracy: Focused analysis reduces logical errors
• Control: Catch flawed approaches before code generation
• Efficiency: 30-50% fewer tokens by avoiding trial-and-error cycles
• Knowledge transfer: Understand the solution alongside the AI

Tool Comparison

Tool	Read-Only Mode	Write Mode	Open Source
Aider	/ask	/code	Yes
GitHub Copilot	Ask mode	Edit mode	No
Continue.dev	/chat	/edit	Yes
Claude	Code review	Auto-execute	No

When to Use This Approach

Ideal for:

• Architectural changes
• Bug fixes in complex systems
• Refactoring cross-dependent modules

Less useful for:

• Typo corrections
• Simple CSS tweaks
• Single-file utilities

The Senior Developer Mindset

This technique forces AI to emulate expert behavior: consultant first, coder second. By separating planning from execution, you:

1. Reduce debugging time
2. Maintain cleaner git histories
3. Build shared mental models
4. Prevent "solution sprawl"

"You wouldn't let a junior developer rebuild your payment gateway without a design review – treat AI with the same scrutiny."

Final Recommendation

Always start complex tasks with:

"Explain before you modify. Plan before you code."

This simple discipline transforms AI from a reckless coder into a valuable thought partner. The 5 minutes spent planning often saves hours of backtracking.

Maxi C is a senior engineer with 30 years of experience in software architecture and AI-assisted development. This article is part of the AI Coding Tips series.