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What Ask Mode Does

Ask mode gives you an AI electronics expert that can analyze your design, answer questions, search for components, and explain circuits — all without ever touching your files. Nothing is modified. Nothing is written. It’s purely read and reason. This makes Ask mode:
  • Safe — impossible to accidentally break your design
  • Free — unlimited on all plans, including Free
  • Available everywhere — works in both the desktop app and the web dashboard

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What Ask Mode Can Do

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Explain and Analyze

  • Explain how a circuit works
  • Analyze your schematic for potential issues
  • Describe what a specific component does in context
  • Compare design approaches (LDO vs. buck, SPI vs. I2C, etc.)
  • Interpret DRC/ERC violations
  • Review signal integrity considerations

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Research Components

Ask mode has access to the same server-side research tools as Agent and Plan modes:
ToolWhat it does
search_webFind datasheets, reference designs, application notes, forum discussions
search_parts_nexarQuery DigiKey, Mouser, and Nexar for stock levels, pricing, and specs
parse_datasheetExtract pinouts, recommended circuits, and electrical specs from PDFs
search_symbols / search_footprintsFind library components by description using vector similarity
This means you can ask “Is the STM32F103C8T6 in stock at LCSC?” or “Find me a 3.3V LDO in SOT-23-5 with at least 500mA output” and get real-time answers.

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Read Your Design

In the desktop app, Ask mode can read your schematic and PCB files to provide context-aware answers. It uses read_file, grep, and list_dir to understand your design — but it will never write to or modify any file.
On the web dashboard, Ask mode doesn’t have access to your local design files (they’re on your machine). It can still do research, answer general questions, parse uploaded datasheets, and discuss design theory.

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What Ask Mode Cannot Do

  • Modify any file (schematic, PCB, or otherwise)
  • Add, remove, or change components
  • Route traces or move parts
  • Generate Gerbers or manufacturing files
  • Run ERC/DRC (these modify internal state)
  • Execute any write-based tool
If you ask for something that requires a file edit, the AI will explain what it would do and suggest switching to Agent Mode.

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Ask Mode on the Web Dashboard

Ask mode is available directly from your browser at buildwithtrace.com/dashboard. The web version uses the same AI backend, models, and research infrastructure as the desktop app. Web chat is ideal for:
  • Quick questions when you’re away from your workstation
  • Component research and datasheet analysis
  • Design theory and concept exploration
  • Reviewing conversations on mobile
  • Sharing context with teammates who don’t have the desktop app
Upload a datasheet PDF, ask about it, look up alternatives, discuss circuit topology — all from your browser.

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Example Prompts

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Understanding Circuits

How does the current limiting work on this LED driver circuit?
Walk me through the feedback loop.

What's the purpose of C12 in this design? It's a 100pF cap on the
feedback pin of the buck converter.

Explain the difference between a Schmitt trigger input and a
standard CMOS input. When would I need one?

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Component Research

Find me a USB-C PD controller that supports 20V/3A output,
is available at LCSC, and comes in a QFN package.

Is the TPS563200DDCR in stock? Check JLCPCB/LCSC and Mouser.
If not, suggest a pin-compatible alternative.

Compare the LM1117 vs AMS1117 vs AP2112K for a 3.3V 500mA rail.
Which has better noise, dropout, and availability?

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Design Review

Look at my schematic and tell me if there are any issues with
the power distribution. I'm worried about voltage drop.

I have a DRC violation saying "clearance 0.15mm < 0.2mm" on
net /USB_D+. What does this mean and how serious is it?

Review my decoupling cap placement. Are there any ICs that
don't have proper local decoupling?

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Datasheet Questions

[attached: MP2359_datasheet.pdf]
What's the recommended input capacitor for this converter
at 12V input, 5V/1.2A output?

[attached: STM32F411_datasheet.pdf]
Which pins support hardware I2C? I need two I2C buses.

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General Electronics

What trace width do I need for 2A on the outer layer of a
1oz copper, 2-layer board?

How do I calculate the inductor value for a buck converter?
Give me the formula and an example for 12V→5V at 2A, 500kHz.

What's the difference between a ferrite bead and an inductor
for power filtering? When would I use each?

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Ask Mode and the Free Plan

Ask mode is the only AI mode available on the Free plan, and it’s unlimited — no daily caps, no token budgets, no restrictions. This means:
  • You can ask as many questions as you want
  • Full access to web search, parts search, and datasheet parsing
  • No degraded quality or model downgrades
  • Same Claude model as paid plans
The Free plan restricts Agent and Plan modes (which modify files), not Ask mode.

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Tips for Effective Ask Mode Usage

  1. Upload datasheets for specific answers. “What caps does this LDO need?” is vague. Attaching the datasheet and asking “What does page 12 recommend for the output cap?” gets a precise answer.
  2. Ask about YOUR design. In the desktop app, Ask mode reads your files. “Is my decoupling adequate for U3?” is better than generic questions because the AI has your actual schematic context.
  3. Use Ask before Agent. Start with “How should I implement ESD protection for USB?” (Ask), then switch to Agent with “Add the PESD5V0S2BT on D+ and D-” once you know what you want.
  4. Check availability before committing. “Is the XYZ part in stock at LCSC in 100-unit quantities?” saves you from designing around an unavailable component.
  5. Ask in any language. Trace understands and responds in any language. Component names stay standard, but explanations happen in whatever language you’re comfortable with.

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Next Steps