Agent Handoff

Agent Handoff

Skill for managing transitions between different agent roles in a multi-step workflow. Detects when a role change is needed, asks the user how to proceed, and generates copy-paste handoff prompts for new threads.

Input

• Current step just completed (and its deliverables)
• Next step to execute (and its expected agent role)

Output

• Decision: continue in same thread OR switch to new thread
• If switching: a ready-to-paste handoff prompt for the new thread

Role Transition Map

Every step has an assigned agent role. When the role changes between steps, a handoff decision is needed.

Step 1 (👤 PM Agent)
   │ 🔀 Role changes
Step 2 (🏗️ Arch Agent)
   │ 🔀 Role changes
Step 3 (⚙️ DevOps+PM)
   │ 🔀 Role changes
Step 4 (📅 PM Agent)
   │ 🔀 Role changes
Step 5 (💻 Dev Agent)
   │ 🔀 Role changes
Step 6 (🔍 Lead Dev)
   │ 🔀 Role changes
Step 7 (✅ QA Agent)

Every gate in the workflow is a potential handoff point.

Process

Phase 1: Detect Transition

After a gate is approved, check if the next step uses a different agent role.

Gate approved → Check next step role
├── Same role as current → Continue (no handoff needed)
└── Different role → Trigger Phase 2

Phase 2: Ask the User

Present this decision clearly:

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║  🔀 AGENT TRANSITION                                     ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║                                                          ║
║  ✅ Completed: Step X — [Step Name]                      ║
║  ➡️  Next:      Step Y — [Step Name]                      ║
║                                                          ║
║  Role change: [Current Role] → [Next Role]               ║
║                                                          ║
║  How would you like to proceed?                          ║
║                                                          ║
║  [1] Continue here (same thread)                         ║
║      I'll switch roles and keep working.                 ║
║                                                          ║
║  [2] New thread (handoff)                                ║
║      I'll generate a handoff prompt you can paste        ║
║      into a fresh agent thread.                          ║
║                                                          ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Phase 3: Generate Handoff Prompt

If the user chooses a new thread, generate a complete, self-contained handoff prompt that the new agent can execute without any prior context.

The handoff prompt MUST include these sections:

Handoff Prompt Template

## Handoff Prompt — Step [Y]: [Step Name]

### Working Directory
```
[absolute path to project root]
```

### Read First
Before doing anything, read these files in order:
1. `[path/to/latest deliverable from previous step]`
2. `[path/to/other key documents]`
3. `[path/to/README.md]`

### Role & Persona
- **Role:** [e.g. Senior Developer / UI Specialist / QA Engineer / Backend Engineer]
- **Focus:** [e.g. Pixel-perfect implementation / Robust error handling]
- **Language:** English (all communication and deliverables)

### Context
- **Project:** [1-line description]
- **Completed steps:** [list of completed steps with deliverables]
- **Current step:** Step [Y] — [Name] ([Role])
- **Your task:** [clear description of what to do]

### GitHub (if applicable)
- **Repo:** [URL]
- **Project board:** [URL]
- **Tracking:** [GH Issues / BACKLOG.md / Hybrid]

### Key Decisions Already Made
- [Decision 1: e.g., Stack is [language] + [framework] + [database]]
- [Decision 2: e.g., Tracking via GitHub Issues]
- [Decision 3: e.g., Branch naming: codex/<id>-<name>]

### Technical Context & Patterns (CRITICAL)
- **Architecture:** [e.g. project's chosen pattern]
- **Key Models:** [e.g. User, Order, Product]
- **Existing patterns to match:**
  - [Pattern 1: e.g. Repository pattern for data access]
  - [Pattern 2: e.g. state management approach for UI]
- **Gotchas:** [Specific implementation details to watch out for]

### What To Do
[Specific instructions for this step, e.g.:]
- Start Step 5 implementation from issue #1
- Continue in dependency order per IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md
- One issue = one branch = one PR

### Rules
- Branch: `codex/<issue-number>-<short-name>`
- PR must include `Closes #<issue-number>`
- Tests required for every ticket (TDD)
- Use squash merge
- Never commit/push `.agent/` (local-only workflow config)
- Update project board status as you work

### Skills Available
The following skills are available in `.agent/skills/`:
- [list relevant skills for this step]

### Deliverable
When done, produce: `[expected output file or artifact]`
Then ask the user to approve via Gate [Y].

Handoff Prompt Requirements

The generated prompt must be:

Quick Decision Guide

Gate passed → Next step has different role?
├── No  → Continue working. No handoff needed.
└── Yes → Ask user: same thread or new thread?
     ├── Same thread → Switch role, keep going.
     └── New thread  → Generate handoff prompt.
                        Present as code block.
                        User copies → pastes in new chat.

Manager Agent Pattern (Best Practice)

For complex execution steps (like Step 5: Implementation), use the Manager-Worker pattern:

1. Manager Agent (Main Thread):

   • Holds the high-level context (Vision, Plan, Backlog)
   • Does NOT write code or run tests
   • Delegates tasks via Handoff Prompts
   • Reviews work via gh pr view and gh pr review

2. Worker Agent (New Thread):

   • Receives a specific task (Handoff Prompt)
   • Writes code, runs tests, fixes bugs
   • Opens a PR when done
   • Closes the thread

Why? This keeps the Manager's context clean and prevents "context window overflow" during long implementation phases.

CRITICAL: The Manager MUST define a specific Role & Persona (e.g., "UI Specialist") and provide technical context to ensure high-quality, focused output. CRITICAL: The Manager MUST provide specific technical context (patterns, existing models, gotchas) in the handoff prompt to prevent the Worker from reinventing the wheel or breaking inconsistencies.

Rules

1. ALWAYS ask before switching — never assume the user wants a new thread
2. ALWAYS include absolute paths in handoff prompts
3. ALWAYS include decisions already made (stack, tracking system, conventions)
4. NEVER omit the "Read First" section — it's critical for context
5. NEVER include conversational history — only structured context
6. NEVER assume the new thread knows anything — treat it as a blank slate

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