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Plandex Setup and First Run

1. What the first setup should prove​

A good first Plandex run should prove:

  1. the terminal tool works,
  2. the model path is connected,
  3. project context is loaded correctly,
  4. the tool can handle a multi-file task without losing the thread.

2. Why the first task should still be small​

Plandex is designed for bigger work, but that does not mean your first test should be huge. Start with:

  • one small refactor,
  • one isolated feature slice,
  • or one test-plus-fix cycle.

That shows whether the core workflow is healthy before you trust it with a large change.

3. Practical first-run flow​

  1. complete the official install path,
  2. connect one model backend,
  3. open a small repository or safe branch,
  4. assign one focused multi-file task,
  5. inspect the proposed result carefully.

4. Why safe branches matter​

Because Plandex is meant for larger tasks, it can touch more files than lightweight assistants. That makes branch discipline and diff review especially important from day one.

5. What to inspect​

Look for:

  • whether the tool keeps context coherently,
  • whether edits stay on task,
  • and whether the final diff is still understandable to a human reviewer.