The biggest AI-editing upgrade since launch. Other tools blindly replace entire files. Operator X02 reads your code first, then applies surgical line-level patches that change only what's needed. Touch 8 lines, leave 200 untouched.
Every edit runs through the same read-first sequence — so the AI changes the lines you asked for and nothing else.
When an AI regenerates a whole file from context, it's guessing at everything it didn't quote back — and silently dropping methods, comments, and edge cases you'd already gotten right.
Auto Mode never does that. It operates on the real file through structured ide_patch commands, so a small request stays a small change.
Auto Mode is the default and recommended for most work. Classic Mode stays available with the Surgical Edit Engine as its guardian layer. Manual Mode is always there when you want full control.
| Capability | 🔄 Auto Mode | 📄 Classic Mode | 🔒 Manual Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI sees your code? | ✓ Reads actual files | ✗ Guesses from context | ✗ No |
| Edit method | Surgical ide_patch commands | Full file replacement | Copy & paste |
| Risk of breaking code | Low — only target lines | Higher — replaces everything | None |
| Backup & rollback | ✓ Automatic per command | ✓ Surgical Engine guard | N/A |
| Multi-file edits | ✓ Atomic batch patches | One at a time | Manual |
| File management | ✓ Create, rename, delete | ✗ | ✗ |
| Code review | ✓ Quality analysis | ✗ | ✗ |
Auto Mode gives the AI twelve precise operations — every one executed through Tauri's Rust backend, fast and safe, with automatic .bak backups.
ide_analyseRead file structure, imports, complexityide_reviewCode-quality review with suggestionside_searchSearch across the entire projectide_read_fileRead full file contentide_patchSurgical find & replace on specific lineside_patch_batchAtomic multi-file patches in one operationide_insertInsert code at an anchor pointide_rollbackUndo the last changeide_create_fileCreate a new file with contentide_create_folderCreate a new directoryide_deleteDelete a file or folderide_renameRename or move a file.bak backups.Prefer full-file edits? Classic Mode stays available — now wrapped in the 8-stage Surgical Edit Engine that makes every change accountable and recoverable.
.bak backup automatically.Mode-aware system prompts mean the assistant adapts its behavior to the editing mode you've chosen — and suggests switching when it would help.
The AI uses ide_script commands and never returns full-file code blocks.
The AI returns full-file code blocks for the Surgical Engine to process safely.
"Tip: switch to Auto Mode for safer, surgical edits" — surfaced exactly when it matters.
Click ? anytime to see the full mode-comparison table in context.
| Area | Improvement |
|---|---|
| AI Editing | Auto Mode with surgical line-level patches — now the default |
| File Management | Create, rename, and delete files from natural language |
| Multi-file Edits | Atomic batch operations — all-or-nothing safety |
| Backup System | Automatic .bak per command, with rollback support |
| Mode Switching | Seamless toggle with a help dialog and comparison table |
| AI Context | Mode-aware system prompts — the AI adapts to the active mode |
| Safety | Classic Mode now guarded by the Surgical Engine pipeline |
| Backend | Rust / Tauri v2 |
| AI Commands | 12 ide_script commands via Tauri invoke() |
| Patch Engine | Line-level surgical patches with find & replace |
| Backup Format | {filename}_{unix_timestamp_ms}.bak |
| Backup Location | ~/OperatorX02/backups/surgical_edits/ |
| Pipeline Speed | ~36 ms per edit (8-stage) |
| Safety Guard | Blocks >50% line deletion, <40% size ratio |
| Modes | Auto (default), Classic (Surgical Engine), Manual |
| RAM Usage | ~95 MB |
Download the .exe, run it, and start editing with an AI that reads before it writes. Upgrading from V1.3? Just install — your projects, settings, and conversations are preserved.