# Steer a run

At the end, you know every way to change a run while it runs, and what each one does.

## At a glance

**Time:** 10 minutes, with a run open.

## How it works

**One box, at the foot of every run.** What you type goes to the step at work, or to the one waiting for you. Start with `@` to pick a step by name, or `@copilot` to ask the copilot about the run; ⌘J puts the cursor there.

**A pace.** A step on **Auto** hands off and moves on. A step on **Interactive** waits for you after each reply; your reply resumes the same session with only your message, so you can talk a step through its work.

**Decisions.** An **Approve** gate asks yes or no; a **Choice** offers options; a **Lock** holds a document for you to edit and lock, and a planning step asked to write it talks first and writes the document when you say so; a step may ask you a question, or ask permission for a tool when its access does not already allow it.

**Setup, while it runs.** The run's Setup opens each step's engine, access, pace, persona and instructions, each loop's rounds, the cost and time ceilings and the approval mode. Every change says when it lands: `now`, `next turn` or `next round`, with `new conversation` when the harness changes. A note you write reaches the step verbatim at its next turn. The copilot, asked in words, proposes the same changes as a card; you press Apply, or Discard.

**Stops.** **Stop** ends the run. A run that reaches its spending limit stops and offers **Raise and resume** with the amount. A failed step offers **Retry** as it was, and **Adjust and retry** with the task, engine, access, pace, instructions or approval changed.

**After the end.** A message to a step that had a session resumes it as a follow-up: nothing is committed, checked or routed, and its reply is recorded beside the run.

## Try it

1. **Start Plan, build, review on a task and, while the planner works, type `@build keep the change under 50 lines`.**

   You should see: your message in the conversation, `You → build · note`, and the note in the builder's message when its turn comes.

2. **Open Setup and raise the loop's rounds by one.**

   You should see: `next round` under the control, then one line in the conversation when it lands.

3. **Ask the copilot in the box: `put the reviewer on high thinking`.**

   You should see: a card under its reply with the change, where it lands and your quote; press **Apply**.

4. **When the reviewer asks for changes, read the builder's next message.**

   You should see: the reviewer's reply quoted in it, the round line, and only what changed since its last round.

## Next

The same run from Slack: [Slack as the workbench](slack-workbench.md).