[Feature]: Runtime Permission Mode Toggle (like Claude Code's Shift+Tab)

[LEON-gittech]

Feature Request: Runtime Permission Mode Toggle

Problem

Currently, OpenCode defaults to auto-edit mode where all file edits execute immediately without confirmation. This is too aggressive for many workflows and can lead to unintended changes.

While permissions can be configured statically in opencode.json, there is no way to toggle between permission modes at runtime without switching agents.

Claude Code solves this elegantly with Shift+Tab cycling through three modes:

1. Normal - Edits require confirmation
2. Plan - Read-only analysis, no edits allowed
3. Auto - Edits execute automatically

Proposed Solution

Add a dedicated keybind (suggest Shift+Tab or configurable) that cycles through permission modes within the current agent:

[Normal Mode] ──Shift+Tab──▶ [Plan Mode] ──Shift+Tab──▶ [Auto Mode]
      ▲                                                      │
      └──────────────────────Shift+Tab───────────────────────┘

Mode behaviors:

Mode	edit	write	bash
Normal	ask	ask	ask (except safe commands)
Plan	deny	deny	deny (read-only commands allowed)
Auto	allow	allow	allow

Current Workaround

Users can create multiple agents with different permissions and use Tab to switch between them:

{
  "agent": {
    "build": {
      "permission": { "edit": "ask" }
    }
  }
}

<!-- ~/.config/opencode/agent/auto.md -->
---
permission:
  edit: allow
  write: allow
---

Problems with this workaround:

1. Agents have separate conversation contexts
2. Switching agents feels like starting over
3. Not intuitive for new users expecting Claude Code behavior
4. Requires manual configuration

Why This Matters

1. Safety by Default - New users should not accidentally overwrite files
2. Workflow Flexibility - Sometimes you want to review changes, sometimes you trust the AI
3. User Expectations - Claude Code has set the standard for this interaction pattern
4. Reduced Anxiety - Users can confidently explore knowing they have control

Implementation Suggestion

1. Add a session-level permission override state
2. Add keybind permission_mode_cycle (default: shift+tab if not conflicting)
3. Show current mode in status bar or input area (e.g., [Normal], [Plan], [Auto])
4. Persist mode preference per session or globally

Visual Indicator

Show the current mode near the input area:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [Normal] │ Type your message...         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Or in a status line:

build │ claude-sonnet │ Normal Mode

Configuration

Allow users to customize the default mode:

{
  "permission": {
    "defaultMode": "normal"  // "normal" | "plan" | "auto"
  }
}

Related

• Current workaround uses agent switching via Tab / Shift+Tab (agent_cycle keybinds)
• Permission system: packages/opencode/src/permission/
• Claude Code reference: https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code

Note

This is different from the existing agent-switching mechanism. The goal is to change permission behavior within the same agent/session without losing conversation context.

[github-actions]

This issue might be a duplicate of existing issues. Please check:

• [FEATURE]: switch mode tool #7627: [FEATURE]: switch mode tool - Similar request for ability to switch modes (plan/build) on-the-fly
• [FEATURE]: Enabling dynamically changing agents and permissions while running prompt #5963: [FEATURE]: Enabling dynamically changing agents and permissions while running prompt - Request to dynamically change permissions without losing context
• Feature Request: Yolo and non-Yolo mode (auto-accept) #1813: Feature Request: Yolo and non-Yolo mode (auto-accept) - Directly references Claude Code's Shift+Tab mode cycling feature as desired behavior
• [FEATURE]: Full automation support #5891: [FEATURE]: Full automation support - Related request for automatic permission handling

Feel free to ignore if none of these address your specific case.

---

For keybind-related issues, please also check our pinned keybinds documentation: #4997

[mguttmann]

Partial implementation available in PR #9073!

Implemented:

• ✅ Runtime toggle for YOLO/auto-accept mode via Desktop UI
• ✅ Live switching without app restart
• ✅ API endpoints for programmatic control

Not implemented in this PR:

• ❌ Shift+Tab keybind cycling
• ❌ Plan mode (read-only)

The keybind cycling between Normal/Plan/Auto modes could be added as a follow-up enhancement. This PR focuses on the core YOLO mode functionality.