Work Modes
LanMate provides Office, Coding, and Design modes. A mode changes the task emphasis, available tools, and shortcuts without deleting the existing conversation.
Entry point and scope
The mode switcher is at the top of the left sidebar. Select Office, Coding, or Design:
- On New Task or another feature page, the selection becomes the default for future new tasks.
- In a regular conversation, the selected mode is saved for that conversation and applies from your next message.
- When you reopen the conversation, LanMate restores its last selected mode.
Differences between modes
| Mode | Best for | Main emphasis | Right workspace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Writing, data organization, presentations, and document work | Document conventions, structured communication, and deliverable files | General tabs such as File Manager, outputs, and Side Chat |
| Coding | Code changes, bug fixes, refactoring, API documentation, and reviews | Code quality, project rules, and Git changes | Adds Git Review when the workspace is a Git project |
| Design | Prototypes, pages, posters, charts, and visual concepts | Visual hierarchy, layout, and interaction | Adds Design Canvas |
Choosing a mode
- Choose Office for Word, Excel, PPT, PDF, or general business documents.
- Choose Coding when you need LanMate to inspect a project, change code, or review changes.
- Choose Design when layout, styling, and an interactive prototype are the main outcome.
- For a mixed task, choose the mode that best matches the final deliverable, then state the other requirements in your message.
Switching an existing conversation
- Open the regular conversation you want to continue.
- Select the target mode at the top of the left sidebar.
- Wait for the switch to complete, then send your next message.
You can also enter /mode office, /mode coding, or /mode design in the message box. The command changes the mode and is not sent as a regular message.
Switching updates the tools and task approach used by LanMate. To avoid reusing processing state from the previous mode, the first response after a switch may take slightly longer.
Notes
- Work mode and AI model are separate settings. Choose the AI model in the model selector and the work mode in the left sidebar.
- A running turn does not change mode midway. The new mode applies from the next message.
- An Expert conversation follows that Expert’s configuration and is not overridden by the regular-conversation mode switcher.