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Sova docs
Sova is where you run the pi coding agent. These pages explain how a chat's modes shape what the agent does, and how to use the features around them.
Modes, in one paragraph
Every chat has one major mode and any set of minor modes. The major mode decides how the agent works: normal is pi as usual, and delegate has the agent route its work to subagents (workers) instead of doing it all itself. Minor modes add one thing each on top of that, such as agreeing on a plan before building (align) or working from the project’s spec (spec). You switch them per chat from the mode menu in the composer, and a switch applies from that chat’s next message. How modes work covers the menu, the default for new chats, and the terminal commands.
The modes
| Mode | Kind | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| normal | Major | Pi as usual. The agent does the work itself, and can still start workers and teams. |
| delegate | Major | The agent plans and routes 4 kinds of work to workers, each on the model your subagent profile names. |
| align | Minor | The agent agrees with you on what to build first, and records each agreement as an alignment you answer in chat. |
| spec | Minor | The agent reads the project’s spec before coding, and proposes changes to it in drafts before promoting them. |
| vis | Minor | The agent can draw small diagrams and charts in its replies, which Sova renders itself. |
| codemode | Minor | The agent can run a short script that calls its other tools, several at once, and filters their output. |
Subagent profiles hold the models every subagent uses: Delegate’s workers, team members, the spec writer and the reviewer. Each chat picks one in its mode menu.
Around the modes
- Worktrees and changes: work in a separate worktree, and read every change as steps before it lands.
- Needs you and phone notifications: the sessions waiting on you, in the sidebar and on your lock screen.
- The Overseer: one chat that watches every session and acts for you.
- Check in from your phone: pair a phone, and pick up a terminal session in the browser.
- Change direction: rewind, regenerate, fork from a reply, steer and switch models.
Set up
- Install Sova: what it needs, and how to start it.