# Roo Code Modes — Architect, Code, Ask & Debug Agents

> Roo Code's Modes feature splits the agent into 4 specialists with their own prompts and tool whitelists. Boomerang task delegation between modes built in.

## Install

Save the content below to `.claude/skills/` or append to your `CLAUDE.md`:

## Quick Use

1. Install Roo Code from VS Code marketplace (search 'Roo Code')
2. Open the chat panel, click the mode dropdown — switch between Architect / Code / Ask / Debug
3. To add custom modes, save the `.roomodes` template below to your repo root

---

## Intro

Roo Code's Modes are scoped agent personalities — Architect (plans without editing), Code (edits files), Ask (read-only Q&A), Debug (root-cause investigation). Each mode has its own system prompt and tool whitelist, so you don't get an architect that touches files or a debugger that adds new dependencies. Best for: teams who want clean separation between planning and execution. Works with: Roo Code in VS Code, Cursor (via .roomodes config). Setup time: 30 seconds.

---

### The 4 default modes

| Mode | What it does | Tools allowed |
|---|---|---|
| **Architect** | Reads code, plans changes, writes design docs | read-only + create design files |
| **Code** | Edits code based on a plan | read + write + execute |
| **Ask** | Answers questions about the codebase | read-only |
| **Debug** | Investigates a bug systematically | read + selective execute (no edits) |

Switch with `Cmd+Shift+P → Roo Code: Switch Mode` or the dropdown in the chat panel.

### Custom modes

Create `.roomodes` in your repo to add project-specific modes:

```yaml
customModes:
  - slug: security-auditor
    name: Security Auditor
    roleDefinition: |
      You are a security auditor. Read code, identify OWASP Top 10
      vulnerabilities, and produce a severity-classified report.
      Never modify files.
    groups:
      - read
      - mcp
    customInstructions: |
      Output findings as a markdown table: severity | file:line | issue | fix.
      Cite the OWASP category for each finding.

  - slug: pr-reviewer
    name: PR Reviewer
    roleDefinition: |
      You are a senior reviewer. Read git diff, flag bugs and style issues,
      suggest improvements. Never modify files.
    groups:
      - read
    customInstructions: |
      Use git CLI to read the diff. Output a markdown review comment.
```

### Boomerang task delegation

Modes work together via Boomerang — Architect plans, then *delegates* to Code via the new_task tool. The Code mode finishes, then "boomerangs" results back to Architect for verification. One human prompt drives a multi-mode workflow.

---

### FAQ

**Q: Is Roo Code free?**
A: Yes. Roo Code is open-source under Apache-2.0 license. You bring your own LLM API key (Claude / OpenAI / Bedrock / OpenRouter / etc) and pay for inference.

**Q: How is this different from Cline?**
A: Roo Code forked from Cline in 2025 and added Modes, Boomerang task delegation, and custom mode definitions. Cline still works on a single-mode model. Both share the .clinerules / .roomodes format.

**Q: Can I use modes in Cursor?**
A: Roo Code is its own VS Code extension. Cursor has a similar feature called Custom Modes (Cursor v0.45+) that uses a different config format. The .roomodes file in this asset is Roo-specific.

---

## Source & Thanks

> Built by [Roo Code](https://github.com/RooCodeInc). Licensed under Apache-2.0.
>
> [RooCodeInc/Roo-Code](https://github.com/RooCodeInc/Roo-Code) — ⭐ 16,000+

---

<!-- ZH -->

## 快速使用

1. 从 VS Code 商店装 Roo Code（搜 'Roo Code'）
2. 打开聊天面板，点模式下拉切换 Architect / Code / Ask / Debug
3. 加自定义模式：把下面的 `.roomodes` 模板保存到仓库根目录

---

## 简介

Roo Code 的 Modes 是带作用域的 agent 人格 —— Architect（只规划不动文件）/ Code（改代码）/ Ask（只读问答）/ Debug（根因调查）。每个模式有独立的系统 prompt 和工具白名单，所以你不会遇到「架构师顺手改文件」或「调试员加新依赖」。适合需要清晰分离规划和执行的团队。兼容 Roo Code（VS Code）和 Cursor（通过 .roomodes 配置）。装机时间 30 秒。

---

### 4 个默认模式

| 模式 | 干什么 | 允许的工具 |
|---|---|---|
| **Architect** | 读代码、规划改动、写设计文档 | 只读 + 创建设计文档 |
| **Code** | 按规划改代码 | 读 + 写 + 执行 |
| **Ask** | 回答关于代码库的问题 | 只读 |
| **Debug** | 系统化调查 bug | 读 + 选择性执行（不改文件） |

切换：`Cmd+Shift+P → Roo Code: Switch Mode` 或聊天面板里的下拉菜单。

### 自定义模式

在仓库里建 `.roomodes` 加项目专属模式：

```yaml
customModes:
  - slug: security-auditor
    name: Security Auditor
    roleDefinition: |
      You are a security auditor. Read code, identify OWASP Top 10
      vulnerabilities, and produce a severity-classified report.
      Never modify files.
    groups:
      - read
      - mcp
    customInstructions: |
      Output findings as a markdown table: severity | file:line | issue | fix.
      Cite the OWASP category for each finding.

  - slug: pr-reviewer
    name: PR Reviewer
    roleDefinition: |
      You are a senior reviewer. Read git diff, flag bugs and style issues,
      suggest improvements. Never modify files.
    groups:
      - read
    customInstructions: |
      Use git CLI to read the diff. Output a markdown review comment.
```

### Boomerang 任务委派

模式之间通过 Boomerang 协作 —— Architect 规划完，用 new_task 工具 *委派* 给 Code。Code 跑完之后把结果 "回旋" 给 Architect 做验证。一个用户 prompt 驱动多模式工作流。

---

### FAQ

**Q: Roo Code 免费吗？**
A: 免费。Roo Code Apache-2.0 开源。你用自己的 LLM API key（Claude / OpenAI / Bedrock / OpenRouter 等），按推理量付费。

**Q: 跟 Cline 区别在哪？**
A: Roo Code 是 2025 年从 Cline fork 出来的，加了 Modes、Boomerang 任务委派、自定义模式定义。Cline 还停在单模式模型。两边都兼容 .clinerules / .roomodes 格式。

**Q: Cursor 能用 modes 吗？**
A: Roo Code 是独立的 VS Code 扩展。Cursor 有自己的 Custom Modes 特性（v0.45+），用不同的配置格式。这份资产里的 .roomodes 文件是 Roo 专用。

---

## 来源与感谢

> Built by [Roo Code](https://github.com/RooCodeInc). Licensed under Apache-2.0.
>
> [RooCodeInc/Roo-Code](https://github.com/RooCodeInc/Roo-Code) — ⭐ 16,000+


---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/roo-code-modes-architect-code-ask-debug-agents
Author: Roo Code