Session Handoff

Session Handoff

Two modes sharing one state contract. HANDOFF packages current work so the next agent (or future session) resumes without re-discovery. PICKUP rehydrates from that package at session start. Pick the mode from intent: ending or pausing work = HANDOFF; starting on existing work = PICKUP.

Mode: HANDOFF

Produce a concise bullet package with these sections, in order. Use observed state and linked evidence. Label inherited results with their source; refresh mutable state before relying on it. Preserve every section, using “not applicable” when needed, without running irrelevant commands.

1. Scope/status — the task in one line, finished vs. remaining work, blockers.
2. Working tree — git status -sb summary; note local commits not yet pushed and the worktree path (git worktree list; do not infer it from a directory name).
3. Branch/PR — current branch, PR number/URL, CI status (gh pr checks <num> when a PR exists).
4. Live processes — long-running jobs the next agent must know about: summarize ps auxww | grep -E '<your-process>', plus a copy-paste attach or log-tail command (tail -f <logfile>, jobs -l). Redact secrets in command lines.
5. Tests/checks — commands, results, checked revision or file state, relevant configuration/environment, log paths, and remaining checks.
6. Next steps — remaining actions in execution order, most urgent first.
7. Risks/gotchas — flaky tests, feature flags, brittle areas, approvals still needed.

Gate: every live process has a copy-paste command; every pending step is ordered. Output format: bullet list, Dense-Complete — short enough to paste into a PR comment or session note.

Mode: PICKUP

Rehydrate in this order, then act.

1. Read the handoff — the prior package and applicable repository instructions. Load named documents needed for the next action; a linked archive does not require a full reread.
2. Repo state — git status -sb; confirm branch, local commits, worktree path.
3. CI/PR — gh pr view <num> --comments (derive the PR from the branch when unnumbered); note failing checks.
4. Processes — check for live jobs named in the handoff; attach or tail logs using its commands.
5. Tests/checks — apply the evidence-reuse rules in verification-before-completion. Check that inherited results cover the current files and relevant environment; rerun only invalidated or missing checks, plus required release/CI checks.
6. Plan — write the next 2–3 actions as bullets, then execute them.

Gate: branch, PR state, and first action are confirmed before any edit. Report discrepancies between the handoff and observed state; observed state wins.

Constraints

• Separate directly observed results from inherited evidence. Name the source and any unverified conditions; never present another worker's run as your own.
• Scale detail to the next action. Keep the request, authority, ownership, acceptance checks, unresolved decisions, and live-process recovery commands. Link full logs and prior investigation instead of copying them. The dispatch builder owns Task Spec fields; this skill owns transfer state.
• In worktrees, follow worktree rules (skills/meta/do/references/worktree-rules.md): verify CWD, feature branch first.
• Keep secrets out of the package: redact tokens and credential paths as <redacted>.

Error handling

Handoff references a process that is gone

Cause: job exited between sessions. Solution: check its log file for exit status, record the finding, drop the attach step.

Branch in handoff differs from checked-out branch

Cause: another agent or the user moved the worktree. Solution: report the difference and proceed from observed state.