Add a command line option to specify the mode to run in

cte · cte · commit d60e906f7dd2 · 2026-01-04T13:19:51.000-08:00
diff --git a/apps/cli/README.md b/apps/cli/README.md
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ In non-interactive mode:
 | `-k, --api-key <key>`       | API key for the LLM provider                                | From env var      |
 | `-p, --provider <provider>` | API provider (anthropic, openai, openrouter, etc.)          | `anthropic`       |
 | `-m, --model <model>`       | Model to use                                                | Provider default  |
+| `-M, --mode <mode>`         | Mode to start in (code, architect, ask, debug, etc.)        | Default mode      |
 
 ## Environment Variables
 
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/extension-host.ts b/apps/cli/src/extension-host.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ export interface ExtensionHostOptions {
 	apiKey?: string
 	apiProvider?: string
 	model?: string
+	mode?: string
 }
 
 interface ExtensionModule {
@@ -493,38 +494,48 @@ export class ExtensionHost extends EventEmitter {
 		// In interactive mode (default), we'll prompt the user for each action
 		if (this.options.nonInteractive) {
 			this.log("Non-interactive mode: enabling auto-approval settings...")
+			const settings: Record<string, unknown> = {
+				autoApprovalEnabled: true,
+				alwaysAllowReadOnly: true,
+				alwaysAllowReadOnlyOutsideWorkspace: true,
+				alwaysAllowWrite: true,
+				alwaysAllowWriteOutsideWorkspace: true,
+				alwaysAllowWriteProtected: false, // Keep protected files safe.
+				alwaysAllowBrowser: true,
+				alwaysAllowMcp: true,
+				alwaysAllowModeSwitch: true,
+				alwaysAllowSubtasks: true,
+				alwaysAllowExecute: true,
+				alwaysAllowFollowupQuestions: true,
+				// Enable reasoning/thinking tokens for models that support it.
+				enableReasoningEffort: true,
+				reasoningEffort: "medium",
+				// Allow all commands with wildcard (required for command auto-approval).
+				allowedCommands: ["*"],
+			}
+			// Include mode if specified
+			if (this.options.mode) {
+				settings.mode = this.options.mode
+			}
 			this.sendToExtension({
 				type: "updateSettings",
-				updatedSettings: {
-					autoApprovalEnabled: true,
-					alwaysAllowReadOnly: true,
-					alwaysAllowReadOnlyOutsideWorkspace: true,
-					alwaysAllowWrite: true,
-					alwaysAllowWriteOutsideWorkspace: true,
-					alwaysAllowWriteProtected: false, // Keep protected files safe.
-					alwaysAllowBrowser: true,
-					alwaysAllowMcp: true,
-					alwaysAllowModeSwitch: true,
-					alwaysAllowSubtasks: true,
-					alwaysAllowExecute: true,
-					alwaysAllowFollowupQuestions: true,
-					// Enable reasoning/thinking tokens for models that support it.
-					enableReasoningEffort: true,
-					reasoningEffort: "medium",
-					// Allow all commands with wildcard (required for command auto-approval).
-					allowedCommands: ["*"],
-				},
+				updatedSettings: settings,
 			})
 		} else {
 			this.log("Interactive mode: user will be prompted for approvals...")
+			const settings: Record<string, unknown> = {
+				autoApprovalEnabled: false,
+				// Enable reasoning/thinking tokens for models that support it
+				enableReasoningEffort: true,
+				reasoningEffort: "medium",
+			}
+			// Include mode if specified
+			if (this.options.mode) {
+				settings.mode = this.options.mode
+			}
 			this.sendToExtension({
 				type: "updateSettings",
-				updatedSettings: {
-					autoApprovalEnabled: false,
-					// Enable reasoning/thinking tokens for models that support it
-					enableReasoningEffort: true,
-					reasoningEffort: "medium",
-				},
+				updatedSettings: settings,
 			})
 		}
 
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/index.ts b/apps/cli/src/index.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ program
 	.option("-k, --api-key <key>", "API key for the LLM provider (defaults to ANTHROPIC_API_KEY env var)")
 	.option("-p, --provider <provider>", "API provider (anthropic, openai, openrouter, etc.)", "anthropic")
 	.option("-m, --model <model>", "Model to use")
+	.option("-M, --mode <mode>", "Mode to start in (code, architect, ask, debug, etc.)")
 	.action(
 		async (
 			prompt: string,
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ program
 				apiKey?: string
 				provider: string
 				model?: string
+				mode?: string
 			},
 		) => {
 			// Set up quiet mode - suppress VSCode shim logs
@@ -92,6 +94,7 @@ program
 				apiKey,
 				apiProvider: options.provider,
 				model: options.model,
+				mode: options.mode,
 			})
 
 			// Handle SIGINT (Ctrl+C)
