Session-Save 150 Protocol
Core Principle: Never lose progress. Save context before ending, restore context when starting.
What This Skill Does
This skill handles two modes:
💾 SAVE MODE (End of Session)
- Capture current state and progress
- Document key decisions and why
- Define next steps clearly
- Create handoff for next session
🔄 RESTORE MODE (Start of Session)
- Read saved context
- Restore working state
- Verify what's still valid
- Continue seamlessly
When to Use This Skill
SAVE triggers:
- Context window running low
- Ending work session
- Before major context switch
- Handoff to another person/session
- "Save progress", "end session", "preserve context"
RESTORE triggers:
- Starting new session
- Continuing previous work
- "Resume", "continue from last time", "restore context"
The 150% Continuity Rule
- 100% Core: Current state + next steps
- 50% Enhancement: Decision rationale + blockers + risks
Save Protocol
Step 1: SUMMARIZE PROGRESS
What was accomplished:
- Tasks completed
- Current state
- Files changed
Step 2: CAPTURE DECISIONS
Key choices made and why:
- What was decided
- Why this approach
- Alternatives considered
Step 3: DEFINE NEXT STEPS
Clear continuation path:
- Immediate priorities
- What's blocked
- What's ready
Step 4: NOTE CONTEXT
Important state to remember:
- Active files/components
- Dependencies
- Risks/concerns
Output Format: Session Save
💾 **SESSION-SAVE 150**
**Date:** [YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM]
**Project:** [Project name/path]
## Progress Made
- ✅ [Completed item 1]
- ✅ [Completed item 2]
- 🔄 [In progress item]
## Current State
- Working on: [Current focus]
- Files touched: [Key files]
- Status: [Overall status]
## Key Decisions
| Decision | Reasoning |
|----------|-----------|
| [Choice 1] | [Why] |
| [Choice 2] | [Why] |
## Next Steps (Priority Order)
1. **Immediate:** [Next action]
2. **Then:** [Following action]
3. **Later:** [Future action]
## Blockers & Risks
- ⚠️ [Blocker/Risk 1]
- ⚠️ [Blocker/Risk 2]
## Context to Remember
- [Important detail 1]
- [Important detail 2]
---
**Handoff Status:** ✅ Ready for next session
Output Format: Session Restore
🔄 **SESSION-RESTORE 150**
**Restoring from:** [Date of saved session]
## Previous Progress
[Summary of what was done]
## Continuing From
- Last state: [Where we left off]
- Next step: [What to do now]
## Context Restored
- ✅ [Verified context 1]
- ✅ [Verified context 2]
- ⚠️ [Needs verification]
## Ready to Continue
Starting with: [First action]
Quick Save Template
For fast saves when time is short:
💾 **QUICK SAVE**
**Done:** [What was accomplished]
**Current:** [Where we are]
**Next:** [What to do next]
**Remember:** [Key context]
Where to Save Context
📁 SAVE LOCATIONS
├── MEMORY.md # Project memory file
├── .session-context.md # Session-specific file
├── Project README # For major milestones
└── Git commit message # For code changes
Operational Rules
- SAVE BEFORE ENDING: Always save context before session ends
- RESTORE BEFORE STARTING: Check for saved context when starting
- BE SPECIFIC: Vague notes are useless later
- INCLUDE WHY: Decisions without rationale cause confusion
- PRIORITIZE NEXT STEPS: Make continuation obvious
- FLAG RISKS: Don't hide problems
Examples
❌ Bad Session Save
"Was working on stuff. Continue later."
Result: Next session spends 30 min figuring out what "stuff" was
✅ Good Session Save
💾 SESSION-SAVE 150
Progress Made:
- ✅ Created 7 skills from protocols
- ✅ Refactored chain-flow to include action-plan
- 🔄 Working through remaining protocols
Current State:
- Converting PROTOCOLS_GENERALIZED.md to skills
- 7/13 protocols converted
Key Decisions:
| Decision | Reasoning |
|----------|-----------|
| Renamed "Plan-First" → "chain-flow" | It's an orchestrator, not just a plan |
| Separated action-plan as own skill | Needed as component in chains |
Next Steps:
1. **Immediate:** Create session-save-150 (context window low)
2. **Then:** Continue with remaining protocols
3. **Later:** Test skills integration
Context to Remember:
- Skills go in ./skills/ folder
- Each skill needs SKILL.md with yaml frontmatter
- chain-flow orchestrates other skills
Handoff Status: ✅ Ready
Failure Modes & Recovery
| Failure | Detection | Recovery |
|---|---|---|
| No save | Session ended without handoff | Reconstruct from memory, files, git |
| Vague save | Can't understand notes | Ask questions, check artifacts |
| Outdated context | Things changed since save | Verify current state, update |
| Missing decisions | Don't know why choices made | Review code/docs, make new decision |
Remember: Future you (or next session) will thank present you for good notes. Context loss is expensive — prevention is cheap.