Plan mode is the first phase of every new 10x project. The AI acts as a product strategist and researcher: it studies your idea, looks at similar apps, asks you focused questions, and produces a structured project plan. No Swift code is written during this phase — the goal is to make sure the AI understands exactly what to build before it starts.
What happens in plan mode
When you submit a prompt, the AI immediately begins working in plan mode. It:
- Reviews your description and checks it against what 10x can build.
- Researches similar apps, relevant Apple Human Interface Guidelines, and any needed documentation.
- Asks you clarifying questions inline in the chat (see below).
- Produces a project plan that includes the app concept, target audience, core features, screen map, design direction, and technical architecture.
The plan appears in the Plan tab in the preview panel on the right side of the workspace. It updates as the AI refines its thinking.
Answering inline questions
When the AI needs your input during planning, it pauses and presents one to four questions directly in the chat panel. Questions typically cover things like:
- The app’s core purpose and target audience
- Which features belong in the first version
- Design preferences or references
- The app’s name
Questions often include suggested answers you can tap to select. Some questions allow multiple selections — for example, when choosing which features to include in v1.
Read the questions
When the AI asks questions, they appear as an inline card in the chat. Each question may have selectable options listed below it.
Answer each question
Click an option to select it, or type a freeform answer in the text field provided. For multi-select questions, you can pick more than one option.
Submit your answers
Click Submit (or press Enter) to send your answers back to the AI. It continues planning based on your responses.
The AI batches related questions into a single ask rather than asking one at a time. You’ll typically see two to four questions together covering product vision, features, and design direction.
Advancing to build mode
Once the AI finishes planning and you’re satisfied with the plan, it will transition to build mode automatically — or prompt you to confirm the direction and start building. You can also send a follow-up message like “looks good, start building” to move things forward if the AI is waiting for confirmation.
You can edit or refine the plan by sending messages in chat while still in plan mode. Ask the AI to change the feature scope, adjust the design direction, or reconsider the architecture before any code is written.
Tips for better results
Be specific in your initial prompt. The more detail you provide upfront — the core problem, target user, and any must-have features — the fewer clarifying questions the AI needs to ask. A prompt like “A habit tracker with daily streaks, weekly stats, and push reminders for busy professionals” gives the AI much more to work with than “habit app.”
Answer clarifying questions thoughtfully. The AI uses your answers to shape the entire project: screen layout, data model, design style, and more. Taking a moment to give considered answers leads to a first build that’s closer to what you actually want.
Keep the MVP scope tight. The AI will suggest a focused first version — usually three to five core screens. Resist the temptation to add everything at once. You can always send follow-up messages in build mode to add features later. 