When you send a message in the chat panel, Caffeine can either build immediately or ask you clarifying questions first. This behavior is controlled by the build mode selector, which appears at the bottom-left of the chat input box.
There are two modes: Instant and Guided. Your selection persists across sessions and applies to all projects on your account.
Instant
Caffeine builds immediately without asking questions.
This is the default mode. Use it when your request is clear enough that you don't need the AI to check its understanding first — or when you prefer to iterate quickly and course-correct after seeing the result.
The only exception is if your request is unsafe or genuinely impossible to build without clarification. In those cases, the AI will ask regardless of mode.
Guided
Caffeine asks clarifying questions before building, then confirms it's ready before starting.
After you send your message, the AI responds with questions about anything that's ambiguous in your request — up to three rounds. Once it has enough context, it confirms with you before proceeding. Even if your request is clear, Guided mode always checks in before building.
Use Guided when your request has real design decisions buried in it: which user can do what, how should conflicts be handled, what should happen in edge cases. Surfacing those questions before the build tends to produce a more accurate first result.
Overriding the mode mid-conversation
In any mode, if you tell the AI to skip the questions — "just build it", "stop asking and build", or similar — it will proceed to build immediately regardless of the current mode setting. The mode selector is a default behavior, not a hard constraint.
Switching modes
Click the mode label at the bottom-left of the chat input (it shows the current mode: Instant or Guided). A small menu opens showing both options with a short description of each. Select a different mode — it takes effect immediately for your next message.
Your selection is saved in your browser and persists between sessions. It applies across all your projects.
Frequently asked questions
Does the build mode affect credit usage?
No. Both modes use the same amount of credits per build. The difference is only in how many question rounds happen before building.
Does build mode affect build quality?
The same AI generates the code regardless of mode. Guided gives the AI more information to work with before building, which can improve accuracy for complex or ambiguous requests. Instant is just as capable — it simply skips the question step.
What if I'm in Instant mode but my request is genuinely unclear?
The AI uses judgment. Even in Instant mode, it will ask if your request is unsafe or impossible to build without knowing more. For most clear requests, it builds directly.
Can I switch modes mid-conversation?
Yes. You can change the mode between any two messages. The mode you select applies only to the next message you send and all subsequent messages until you change it again.