Authored by Cobuter_Man, this article details a strategy for enhancing planning and brainstorming workflows in AI IDEs like VS Code with Copilot by applying Chain-of-Thought techniques to non-thinking models using the APM Agent Mode.

Overview

Cobuter_Man investigates methods to enhance planning and brainstorming in AI-enabled IDEs, specifically focusing on environments like Visual Studio Code integrated with GitHub Copilot or alternatives such as Cursor. The article describes experiments forcing Chain-of-Thought (CoT) reasoning capabilities onto non-thinking AI models, notably using the Sonnet 4 model.

Technique: Forcing CoT in Non-Thinking Models

Instead of relying on expensive, advanced “thinking” models, the article demonstrates that by cleverly structuring prompts—particularly through the Agentic Project Management (APM) v0.4 Setup Agent—users can turn the chat interface into the model’s ‘thinking’ area. Subsequently, all well-formed planning decisions are documented in a separate Implementation Plan.

Process

  • Prompting within Agent Mode: Specific APM prompts guide the model to use chat as a reasoning process, externalizing planning decisions that are typically handled internally by ‘thinking’ models.
  • Single-Request Efficiency: All planning and implementation are handled in one cohesive request, delivering a streamlined workflow.
  • Cost Efficiency: This method makes it possible to get near-“thinking model” capability at a lower cost by cleverly utilizing non-thinking models.

Results and Considerations

  • Substantial Performance Improvement: The improved process enhances project management and ideation speed without requiring higher-cost AI models.
  • Compliance: The article notes that this approach aligns with usage Terms & Conditions since it simply leverages prompt engineering and APM’s structured workflow.

Tools and Technologies Covered

  • GitHub Copilot (with Agent Mode)
  • VS Code and Cursor IDEs
  • Sonnet 4 non-thinking model
  • Agentic Project Management (APM) repository

Further Resources

This article provides a practical approach for developers and technical consultants seeking to enhance AI-assisted project planning in IDE environments while managing costs.

This post appeared first on Reddit Github Copilot. Read the entire article here