Handoff

Handoff

Export current session state to ./HANDOFF.md so another LLM can continue seamlessly.

What to Capture

Gather all of the following from the current session context:

1. Current Goal — What the user is trying to accomplish (one sentence)
2. Status — Where things stand right now (in progress / blocked / partially done)
3. Files Changed — List every file modified, created, or deleted this session with a one-line summary of each change
4. What Was Tried — Approaches attempted, in chronological order
5. What Worked — Successful approaches and confirmed solutions
6. Dead Ends — Failed approaches and why they failed (save the next LLM from repeating mistakes)
7. Key Decisions — Important architectural or design choices made and their rationale
8. Open Questions — Unresolved ambiguities or decisions deferred to the user
9. Next Steps — Concrete, actionable items the next session should start with

Output Format

Write to ./HANDOFF.md using this template:

# Handoff — {project name}

**Date**: {date}
**Branch**: {current branch}
**Status**: {in progress | blocked | partially done}

## Goal

{One sentence describing what the user wants to accomplish}

## Files Changed

| File | Change |
|------|--------|
| `path/to/file` | Brief description |

## What Was Tried

1. {Approach 1} — {outcome}
2. {Approach 2} — {outcome}

## What Worked

- {Confirmed solution or successful approach}

## Dead Ends (Do Not Retry)

- {Failed approach} — {why it failed}

## Key Decisions

- {Decision}: {rationale}

## Open Questions

- {Unresolved question}

## Next Steps

1. {First thing the next session should do}
2. {Second thing}
3. {Third thing}

## Context Files

Key files the next LLM should read first:
- `path/to/important/file` — {why}

Rules

• Be factual. Only include what actually happened, not speculation.
• Include enough context that an LLM with zero prior knowledge of this session can pick up immediately.
• Do not pad. If a section is empty (e.g., no dead ends), write "None" and move on.
• The HANDOFF.md must be self-contained — no references to "the conversation above".