Session Handoff

Session Handoff Skill

Produce a repeatable end-of-session summary so the user can /clear and start fresh without losing continuity.

When to invoke

User says: "session handoff", "wrap up session", "hand off", "handoff summary", "let's wrap up", or proactively if user says they're about to /clear.

How to produce the summary

1. Review FULL conversation, not just last 3 turns
2. Pull state from:
   • Plan files in .claude/plans/ (if used this session)
   • TodoWrite state (in-progress/pending tasks)
   • Background processes (run_in_background shell IDs)
   • Files created/modified (what you touched)
   • Memory files written (if any)
   • Unresolved questions (user asked but didn't get clear answer)
3. Do NOT audit filesystem. Synthesis only of what happened in THIS session.
4. Output in chat only — never write a file, never update memory.

Output template — use exactly this every time

# Session Handoff — <one-line title>

## Where it started
<2-3 sentences: what user asked, key constraints>

## Decisions locked + shipped
- <decision> — <why, location if file>
- ...

## Key files for next session
- `<absolute path>` — <why read this first>
- Plan file: `<path>` (if applicable)
- Memory touched: `<paths>` (if any)

## Running state
- Background: <shell IDs + command to kill> or "none"
- Dev servers: <url + port> or "none"
- Worktrees/branches: <paths> or "none"

## Token budget this session
- Started: XXK tokens
- Ended: XXK tokens
- Next trigger: ~60% of window (manual compact before auto-compaction)

## Blocked by
- <waiting for user decision yes/no>
- <waiting for deploy result>
- or "none"

## Verification — how to confirm work
- `<command>` — <expected output>
- ...

## Deferred + open questions
- Deferred: <item> — <why pushed to later>
- Open: <question needing user input> — <context>

## Exact pickup command
\`\`\`bash
<full command to restart where we left off>
\`\`\`

## Pick up here
<1-2 sentences: single most likely next action for fresh agent>

Hard rules

1. Chat output only. Never write to file. Never update memory.
2. Never invent state. If section is empty, write "none" — do not omit.
3. Absolute paths always. Next agent may have different working dir.
4. Plan file first if it drove the session.
5. Background process IDs are critical. Include with kill command.
6. Token budget is now required. Track start/end and next trigger point.
7. Blocked by section required. What's waiting on user input?
8. Exact pickup command is now required. No guessing; full command.
9. No emojis, no hype. Terse, concrete, engineering tone.

Anti-patterns — do NOT do these

• Summarizing only last 3 turns
• Using relative paths
• Skipping sections (use "none" instead)
• Writing summary to file
• Adding retrospective ("what went well / poorly")
• Recommending next steps beyond "Pick up here"
• Forgetting token budget or exact pickup command