mod

Mod is a natural language programming platform that empowers everyone to build reliable software with AI agents. This guide will walk you through the core workflow in less than 5 minutes.

1. Install the Mod VS Code Extension

Open VS Code and install the Mod extension from the marketplace:

Press Cmd+Shift+X (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+X (Windows/Linux) to open Extensions
Search for “Mod”
Click Install

Alternatively, install from the command line:

code --install-extension mod.mod-vscode

2. Generate Specs with Claude Code

Mod integrates with Claude Code to help you create and iterate on specifications before writing code.

In your terminal, use the /spec skill to generate a spec:

/spec "Build a user authentication system with email/password login"

Claude Code will generate a detailed spec and save it to your project. You can iterate on the spec by asking follow-up questions:

/spec "Add OAuth support and rate limiting to the auth spec"

The spec becomes your source of truth that both humans and agents reference throughout development.

3. Add Traces to Your Code

As you implement features (whether manually or with coding agents), add traces to capture key decision points and context.

Use the /traces command in Claude Code:

/traces "Add traces to the authentication flow"

Claude Code will insert trace points at critical locations in your code—function entries, decision branches, error handling, and state changes. These traces capture the context agents need to understand your codebase.

You can also manually add traces where needed:

// Example trace (syntax will vary based on your language)
trace.record("user_login_attempt", { email, timestamp });

4. View Traces in VS Code

Open the Mod extension panel in VS Code to see your traces visualized:

Click the Mod icon in the Activity Bar (left sidebar)
Browse traces by file, function, or timeline
Click any trace to jump to that location in your code
See the full context captured at each trace point

The traces panel shows you the execution flow and decision history that agents created—no more “why did the agent do this?” confusion.

5. Collaborate with Agents

Now you’re ready to work effectively with coding agents:

Share context: Agents can reference your specs and traces to understand existing decisions
Review changes: See what the agent changed and why by reviewing new traces
Iterate faster: Skip the multi-day review cycles that come from trying to piece together agent changes in Slack or Linear

Your agents are now working in a collaboration layer built for their workflow, not retrofitted from human tools.

What’s Next?

Connect your team: Invite teammates to see the same specs and traces
Integrate tools: Connect Linear, GitHub, or your existing workflow tools
Run multiple agents: Let different agents work in parallel without stepping on each other

Need help? Join our Discord community or email support@mod.dev

Quickstart