VS Code Insiders Podcast Behind the Scenes of VS Code’s Planning Agent with Bhavya U
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Nov 3, 2025 Bhavya U, a software engineer on the VS Code team, shares her insights on the innovative planning agent. She differentiates between ToDos and planning mode, explaining when to use each for effective task management. Listeners will learn how the planning agent enhances continuity with real-time feedback and why follow-up questions matter. Bhavya also discusses best practices for prompting and customizing agents, highlighting the benefits of saving plans and regularly engaging in team planning for improved outcomes.
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Bhavya's Background On Chat And Scaffolding
- Bhavya previously worked on the VS Code chat participant and scaffold tooling like hash new.
- She also contributed to the handoff feature used in planning mode.
Host's Real-World Usage Examples
- James used the hash new tool and was impressed by how it scaffolds projects and opens a ready workspace.
- He also uses to-dos frequently to monitor progress while on calls.
To-Dos Keep Agents Focused
- To-dos keep the agent focused on immediate multi-step execution and provide live visibility into progress.
- They preserve continuity after interruptions by reinjecting context back into the agent.