---
title: Agent and options
description: Choosing the agent, and the options that change how a session starts.
url: https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/start-work/agent-and-options
---

# Agent and options
The agent row lists every agent Heed knows, plus **none, shell only**. `default_agent` under `[sessions]` picks the
one selected first.
![The agent row and options, and the command the agent pane will run](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/images/shots/start-work/agent-options.png)

| Option                          |                                                                                                         |
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Autostart agent with prompt** | Type the command into the agent pane and run it. Off opens the pane with the command typed but not run. |
| **Plan first**                  | Start the agent in its planning mode where it has one (claude's `--permission-mode plan`).              |
| **Open shell split**            | A shell beside the agent. Defaults to `shell_split` under `[sessions]`.                                 |


## The command preview

**Will run in pane 1** shows the exact command line: the agent, the hook wiring Heed passes for this run (see
[Hooks](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/agents/hooks)), the session id it will resume by, and your prompt.