---
title: Start work
description: From a sentence to a running agent in its own worktree.
url: https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/start-work
---

# Start work
`o` opens Start work. Describe the task; Heed picks the repo, names the branch, makes the worktree, opens a session and
starts the agent on your words.
![The Start work dialog: the prompt, the guessed repo, the worktree name, the agent, options and the command it will run](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/images/shots/start-work/dialog.png)
The dialog has its own small modes, like Heed itself:
- **Typing** (INSERT, the default): keys go into the prompt or the worktree name. `⇥` moves to the next field.
- **Moving** (NORMAL, after `⎋`): `j` `k` or `⇥` move between fields, `h` `l` choose within one, `space` toggles,
  `i` or `↩` edits again.


| Key         |                                                       |
|-------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| `⌘↩`        | Start                                                 |
| `⌃n` / `⌃p` | Cycle the repo guess (or the agent, on the agent row) |
| `⌘V`        | Paste into the prompt                                 |
| `⎋`         | Stop typing; again to cancel                          |


| Field        |                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Prompt**   | What you want done. It grows with what you type, up to a third of the window, then scrolls.                                            |
| **Repo**     | The guessed repo, and any others for a cross-repo session. See [Choosing repos](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/start-work/repos). |
| **Worktree** | The branch and folder name, from your first word. See [Branch names](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/start-work/branch-names).     |
| **Agent**    | Which agent starts, or a shell only. See [Agent and options](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/start-work/agent-and-options).        |
| **Options**  | Autostart, plan first, shell split.                                                                                                    |

The bottom of the dialog shows the exact command the agent pane will run.

## Other ways in

- [From anywhere](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/start-work/from-anywhere): `⌃⌥Space` opens it over any app.
- [From GitHub](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/start-work/from-github): `s` on issues or inbox items starts a session from them.
- [Starting again](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/start-work/again): `O` starts from a previous session's prompt.