Session Handoff

Handoff

Creates comprehensive handoff documents that enable fresh AI agents to seamlessly continue work with zero ambiguity. Solves the long-running agent context exhaustion problem.

Mode Selection

Determine which mode applies:

Creating a handoff? User wants to save current state, pause work, or context is getting full.

• Follow: CREATE Workflow below

Resuming from a handoff? User wants to continue previous work, load context, or mentions an existing handoff.

• Follow: RESUME Workflow below

Proactive suggestion? After substantial work (5+ file edits, complex debugging, major decisions), suggest:

"We've made significant progress. Consider creating a handoff document to preserve this context for future sessions. Say 'create handoff' when ready."

CREATE Workflow

Step 1: Generate Scaffold

Run the smart scaffold script to create a pre-filled handoff document:

python ~/.agents/skills/session-handoff/scripts/create_handoff.py [task-slug]

Example: python ~/.agents/skills/session-handoff/scripts/create_handoff.py implementing-user-auth

Run it from the target project directory: the scaffold reads the project path, git branch, and recent commits from the current working directory.

For continuation handoffs (linking to previous work):

python ~/.agents/skills/session-handoff/scripts/create_handoff.py "auth-part-2" --continues-from 2024-01-15-auth.md

The script will:

• Create .claude/handoffs/ directory if needed
• Generate timestamped filename
• Pre-fill: timestamp, project path, git branch, recent commits, modified files
• Add handoff chain links if continuing from previous
• Output file path for editing

Step 2: Complete the Handoff Document

Open the generated file and fill in all [TODO: ...] sections. Prioritize these sections:

1. Current State Summary - What's happening right now
2. Important Context - Critical info the next agent MUST know
3. Immediate Next Steps - Clear, actionable first steps
4. Decisions Made - Choices with rationale (not just outcomes)

Use the template structure in references/handoff-template.md for guidance.

Step 3: Validate the Handoff

Run the validation script to check completeness and security:

python ~/.agents/skills/session-handoff/scripts/validate_handoff.py <handoff-file>

The validator checks:

• No [TODO: ...] placeholders remaining
• Required sections present and populated
• No potential secrets detected (API keys, passwords, tokens)
• Referenced files exist

Do not finalize a handoff while the validator reports BLOCKED. It blocks on secrets, remaining [TODO: ...] placeholders, or missing required sections, and exits nonzero. Everything else is a warning.

Step 4: Confirm Handoff

Report to user:

• Handoff file location
• Validation verdict (READY / BLOCKED) and any warnings
• Summary of captured context
• First action item for next session

RESUME Workflow

Step 1: Find Available Handoffs

ls -t .claude/handoffs/*.md

Newest first. The filename carries the date and the task slug.

Step 2: Check Staleness

Compare the handoff's own header (timestamp, branch, commit) against the repo now:

git log --oneline -- .            # commits since the handoff was written
git status --short                # uncommitted drift
git branch --show-current         # still the branch the handoff names?

A handoff written on another branch, or behind many commits, is a lead rather than a fact: re-verify anything it asserts before acting on it.

Step 3: Load the Handoff

Read the relevant handoff document completely before taking any action.

If handoff is part of a chain (has "Continues from" link), also read the linked previous handoff for full context.

Step 4: Verify Context

Before acting on the handoff:

1. Project directory and git branch match what the handoff names.
2. Listed blockers are still blockers (they may have been resolved since).
3. Stated assumptions still hold — check the ones the next step depends on.
4. Modified files have no conflicting work on top of them.

Step 5: Begin Work

Start with "Immediate Next Steps" item #1 from the handoff document.

Reference these sections as you work:

• "Critical Files" for important locations
• "Key Patterns Discovered" for conventions to follow
• "Potential Gotchas" to avoid known issues

Step 6: Update or Chain Handoffs

As you work:

• Mark completed items in "Pending Work"
• Add new discoveries to relevant sections
• For long sessions: create a new handoff with --continues-from to chain them

Handoff Chaining

For long-running projects, chain handoffs together to maintain context lineage:

handoff-1.md (initial work)
    ↓
handoff-2.md --continues-from handoff-1.md
    ↓
handoff-3.md --continues-from handoff-2.md

Each handoff in the chain:

• Links to its predecessor
• Can mark older handoffs as superseded
• Provides context breadcrumbs for new agents

When resuming from a chain, read the most recent handoff first, then reference predecessors as needed.

Storage Location

Handoffs are stored in: .claude/handoffs/

Naming convention: YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS-[slug].md

Example: 2024-01-15-143022-implementing-auth.md

Resources

scripts/

Listing and staleness need no script — see the RESUME workflow above.

references/

• handoff-template.md - Complete template structure with guidance