# Session Continuity

> Preserves durable session context, handoffs, and next-step clarity across interruptions. Use this skill when pausing work, resuming a thread, or writing handoff notes so another agent or human can continue. Do not use when/for choosing investigation mode (use investigation-modes) or completing a branch (use branch-completion).

- Skill: `jagreehal/session-continuity` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add jagreehal/session-continuity`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/jagreehal/session-continuity/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: jagreehal (https://skillmd.com/u/jagreehal)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/jagreehal/session-continuity

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# Session Continuity

## Critical rules

- State lives in project `.claude/` files (`tasks.md`, `requirements.md`, `session.md`), not conversation memory.
- EVERY message must start with the current state prefix.
- Never re-derive progress by investigating the codebase — read `session.md`.
- Never auto-advance tasks; never commit for the user; never use TodoWrite.
- VERIFY before COMPLETE; mark `[x]` only after user yes in AWAITING_COMMIT.
- Before operating or setting up, read [references/state-machine.md](references/state-machine.md) and [references/setup-and-antipatterns.md](references/setup-and-antipatterns.md).

## Workflow

1. On "continue": enter `CHECK_STATUS` — read only `session.md`, route by Status.
2. `WORKING`: implement current task only; update `session.md` at triggers.
3. `VERIFY`: run all requirements verification commands; show output; fail → WORKING.
4. `COMPLETE` → CHECK_STATUS → `AWAITING_COMMIT` (ask permission, STOP).
5. On yes: `MARK_COMPLETE` then CHECK_STATUS for next task.
6. On "create a plan" / "setup tasks": create the three files per setup reference.

## Resources

- [references/state-machine.md](references/state-machine.md) — states, transitions, file roles. Read every session.
- [references/setup-and-antipatterns.md](references/setup-and-antipatterns.md) — file templates, anti-patterns, path fixes. Read on setup or resume failures.

## Validation

- [ ] Every message has state prefix
- [ ] Three `.claude/` files exist at project root
- [ ] CHECK_STATUS only reads session.md
- [ ] VERIFY ran all commands with verbatim output
- [ ] No `[x]` without user approval; no TodoWrite; no agent commits

## Constraints

- Not for single self-contained one-session changes.
- Related: `implementation-planning`, `verification-before-completion`, `tdd-workflow`, `investigation-modes`, `create-tasks`.