From 19aaa63c3426c7cba069662d82ce870e15811878 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: amypoolside Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2026 19:40:44 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 1/2] docs: clarify CLI modes and context length --- README.md | 28 ++++++++++++++++++---------- 1 file changed, 18 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 8d1b910..30fd912 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ pool is [Poolside](https://poolside.ai)’s coding agent. It can run in several - [Install](#install) - [Quick start](#quick-start) -- [Modes](#modes) +- [Approval modes](#approval-modes) +- [Agent modes](#agent-modes) - [Spec support](#spec-support) - [Run as an ACP server (`pool acp`)](#run-as-an-acp-server-pool-acp) - [Run as an ACP client (`pool --agent-server`)](#run-as-an-acp-client-pool---agent-server) @@ -61,18 +62,23 @@ Run `pool -h` to see all available options. Enter `?` or `/help` during a session to see all available commands and shortcuts. -## Modes +## Approval modes By default, pool asks for approval before each tool call. Switch to Accept edits or Allow all when you want it to take actions without prompting. -| Mode | ID | What it does | -| ------------- | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | -| Always ask | `default` | Prompts for approval on first use of each tool type | -| Accept edits | `accept-edits` | Auto-approves workspace file reads and writes | -| Allow all | `always-allow` | Approves tool calls automatically | -| Plan | `plan` | Plans changes without modifying your codebase | +| Approval mode | ID | What it does | +| ------------- | -------------- | --------------------------------------------- | +| Always ask | `default` | Prompts for approval on first use of each tool type | +| Accept edits | `accept-edits` | Auto-approves workspace file reads and writes | +| Allow all | `always-allow` | Approves tool calls automatically | -Press `Shift+Tab` to cycle through modes, or use `/mode ` to switch directly. +Press `Shift+Tab` to cycle through approval modes, or use `/mode ` to switch directly. + +## Agent modes + +Build and Plan control how pool works without changing approval behavior. In Plan mode, pool can inspect your codebase and prepare a plan without modifying source files. + +After starting pool, use `/plan` or `/agent-mode plan` to enter Plan mode. Use `/agent-mode build` to return to Build mode. There is no Plan-mode startup flag. ## Spec support @@ -205,7 +211,7 @@ POOLSIDE_STANDALONE_BASE_URL="http://127.0.0.1:8080" POOLSIDE_API_KEY="EMPTY" po Optional environment variables you can pass: - `POOLSIDE_STANDALONE_MODEL` to set the model -- `POOLSIDE_STANDALONE_CONTEXT_LENGTH` to set the context length +- `POOLSIDE_STANDALONE_CONTEXT_LENGTH` to override, in tokens, the context length `pool` uses to calculate automatic compaction thresholds ```bash POOLSIDE_STANDALONE_BASE_URL="http://127.0.0.1:8080" \ @@ -215,6 +221,8 @@ POOLSIDE_STANDALONE_CONTEXT_LENGTH=200000 \ pool ``` +Use a positive `POOLSIDE_STANDALONE_CONTEXT_LENGTH` value no greater than the model server's context window. The override does not change that window and applies only when the selected model appears in the provider's `/v1/models` response. + ## MCP servers `pool` can connect to [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) servers to expose extra tools to the agent. Manage them with `pool mcp`: From 7aa9b4687ba1fc2f9e2e49aa27cf6418466d7284 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: amypoolside Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2026 19:48:48 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 2/2] copilot edits --- README.md | 6 +++--- 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 30fd912..d0f0805 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -64,11 +64,11 @@ Enter `?` or `/help` during a session to see all available commands and shortcut ## Approval modes -By default, pool asks for approval before each tool call. Switch to Accept edits or Allow all when you want it to take actions without prompting. +By default, pool asks for approval before tool actions that are not already allowed. Switch to Accept edits or Allow all when you want it to take actions without prompting. | Approval mode | ID | What it does | | ------------- | -------------- | --------------------------------------------- | -| Always ask | `default` | Prompts for approval on first use of each tool type | +| Always ask | `default` | Prompts for tool actions that are not already allowed | | Accept edits | `accept-edits` | Auto-approves workspace file reads and writes | | Allow all | `always-allow` | Approves tool calls automatically | @@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ To pass flags to the ACP server, add them to the args array, for example `["acp" ### ACP features - Session persistence: `session/list` and `session/load` -- Session config options: mode, model, and thought level when supported. These can be persisted in `settings.yaml` +- Session config options: approval mode, agent mode, model, and thought level when supported. These can be persisted in `settings.yaml` and are sent on startup using `session/set_config_option` - Slash commands advertised to the client