> This PR was authored by Mux on behalf of Mike.
## Summary
- add persistent plan mode for chats and the chat-specific plan file
flow
- add structured planning tools such as `ask_user_question` and
`propose_plan`
- keep `write_file` and `edit_files` constrained to the chat-specific
plan file during plan turns
- allow shell exploration in plan mode, including subagents, via
`execute` and `process_output`
- block implementation-oriented, provider-native, MCP, dynamic, and
computer-use tools during plan turns
- update the chat UI, tests, and docs for the new planning flow
Renames the "Security implications" section to "Security posture" and
reframes the intro paragraph. "Implications" reads as a caveat or
warning; the section actually describes built-in structural guarantees
of the control plane architecture.
> PR generated with Coder Agents
Fixes several documentation gaps and inaccuracies in the Coder Agents
docs identified during a deep review against the current product state.
## BYOK (User API Keys)
`models.md` stated *"Developers cannot add their own providers, models,
or API keys"* — this has been incorrect since the provider key policy
system shipped (Apr 2, #23751/#23781).
- Added **Key policy** section documenting the three admin toggles
(`central_api_key_enabled`, `allow_user_api_key`,
`allow_central_api_key_fallback`) with a truth table showing all
resolution outcomes
- Added **User API keys (BYOK)** section covering the developer-facing
key management page, status indicators, selection priority, and key
removal
- Updated `platform-controls/index.md` to reference BYOK instead of
claiming keys are admin-only
## Reasoning effort enum fixes
- **OpenAI**: removed `none` — code accepts `minimal, low, medium, high,
xhigh`
- **OpenRouter**: narrowed to `low, medium, high` per
`ReasoningEffortFromChat` in `chatprovider.go`
## Tool table completeness
- Added `spawn_computer_use_agent`, `read_skill`, `read_skill_file` to
`index.md` tool table
- Added "Workspace extension tools" section to `architecture.md` for
`read_skill`/`read_skill_file`
- Fixed orchestration restriction note to list all 5 gated tools instead
of just `spawn_agent`
- Added conditional availability notes for desktop and skills tools
## Platform controls
Three admin-only settings existed in the Behavior tab with no
documentation:
- **Virtual desktop** — admin toggle, Anthropic + portabledesktop
requirements
- **Workspace autostop fallback** — default TTL for agent workspaces
without template-defined autostop
- **Data retention** — moved `chat-retention.md` into
`platform-controls/` since it's admin-only, fixed nav path
---
> PR generated with Coder Agents
Fixes factual errors found during a review of all pages under
`/docs/ai-coder/agents/`.
## Tool tables (`index.md`, `architecture.md`)
Both pages had incomplete tool tables. Added:
- `process_output`, `process_list`, `process_signal` — core workspace
tools always registered alongside `execute`, missing from both pages
- `propose_plan` — platform tool (root chats only), missing from both
pages
- `spawn_computer_use_agent` — orchestration tool (conditional), missing
from architecture.md
Also fixed the architecture.md claim that the agent is "restricted to
the tool set defined in this section" — it now mentions skills and MCP
tools with links to the relevant pages.
## Model options (`models.md`)
- **OpenAI / OpenRouter Reasoning Effort**: docs listed `low`, `medium`,
`high` — code has `none`, `minimal`, `low`, `medium`, `high`, `xhigh`.
Fixed both.
- **Removed hidden fields** that never appear in the admin UI:
- Google: Safety Settings (`hidden:"true"`)
- OpenRouter: Provider Order, Allow Fallbacks (parent struct
`hidden:"true"`)
- Vercel: Provider Options (`hidden:"true"`)
---
*PR generated with Coder Agents*
The tool descriptions pushed agents toward backgrounding anything over
5 seconds, including builds, tests, and installs where you actually
want to wait for the result. This led to unnecessary process_output
round-trips and missed the foreground timeout-to-reattach workflow
entirely.
Reframe background mode as the exception (persistent processes with
no natural exit) and foreground with an appropriate timeout as the
default. Replace "background process" with "tracked process" in
process_output, process_list, and process_signal since they work on
all tracked processes regardless of how they were started.
Addresses five documentation gaps identified from an internal agents
briefing Q&A, specifically around what permissions an agent inherits
from the user:
1. **No privilege escalation** — Added explicit statement that the agent
has the exact same permissions as the user. No escalation, no shared
service account.
2. **Cross-user workspace isolation** — Added statement that agents
cannot access workspaces belonging to other users.
3. **Default-state warning** — Added WARNING callouts that agent
workspaces inherit the user's full network access unless templates
explicitly restrict it.
4. **Tool boundary statement** — Added explicit statement that the agent
cannot act outside its defined tool set and has no direct access to the
Coder API.
5. **Template visibility scoped to user RBAC** — Clarified that template
selection respects the user's role and permissions.
Changes across 3 files:
- `docs/ai-coder/agents/index.md`
- `docs/ai-coder/agents/architecture.md`
- `docs/ai-coder/agents/platform-controls/template-optimization.md`
---
PR generated with Coder Agents
Michael Suchacz