# session-handoff

Creates handoff documents for AI agent session transfers. Useful when context window fills up or projects span multiple sessions.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 4200 installs · ★ 2592
- Author: softaworks
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/softaworks/agent-toolkit/tree/HEAD/skills/session-handoff/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-03-05
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/softaworks-session-handoff

## What it does

The skill saves agent work state into a structured document and lets a fresh session pick up exactly where you left off. Triggers on request ('create handoff', 'save state') or proactively after substantial work — multiple file edits, complex debugging, architecture decisions.

Four Python scripts inside: `create_handoff.py` generates a document with timestamp, current git branch, modified file list; `validate_handoff.py` checks section completeness, scans for secrets, scores quality (minimum 70 to finalize); `check_staleness.py` assesses currency — FRESH, SLIGHTLY_STALE, STALE, VERY_STALE — by counting commits and changes since creation; `list_handoffs.py` shows all available documents in the project. Documents live in `.claude/handoffs/` with names like `YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS-[slug].md`.

For long projects, handoff chaining is supported: each new document links to its predecessor via `--continues-from` flag, maintaining a context lineage. Requires Python to run the scripts.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add softaworks/agent-toolkit --skill session-handoff -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/session-handoff/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/session-handoff/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add softaworks/agent-toolkit --skill session-handoff -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/session-handoff/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add softaworks/agent-toolkit --skill session-handoff -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/session-handoff/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install softaworks/agent-toolkit session-handoff
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/session-handoff/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add softaworks/agent-toolkit --skill session-handoff -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/softaworks/agent-toolkit --path skills/session-handoff
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/session-handoff/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add softaworks/agent-toolkit --skill session-handoff -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/softaworks/agent-toolkit/tree/HEAD/skills/session-handoff/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- save session state before context window fills
- resume work after a break without losing details
- transfer architectural decisions to the next agent
- check whether saved context is still current before loading
- chain multiple sessions for a long-running project

## Example prompts
- create a handoff for this session
- save state to `.claude/handoffs/` named auth-implementation
- load the most recent handoff and continue

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 12e953e112992fb5.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 12e953e112992fb5
````text
---
name: session-handoff
description: "Creates comprehensive handoff documents for seamless AI agent session transfers. Triggered when: (1) user requests handoff/memory/context save, (2) context window approaches capacity, (3) major task milestone completed, (4) work session ending, (5) user says 'save state', 'create handoff', 'I need to pause', 'context is getting full', (6) resuming work with 'load handoff', 'resume from', 'continue where we left off'. Proactively suggests handoffs after substantial work (multiple file edits, complex debugging, architecture decisions). Solves long-running agent context exhaustion by enabling fresh agents to continue with zero ambiguity."
---

# 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:

```bash
python scripts/create_handoff.py [task-slug]
```

Example: `python scripts/create_handoff.py implementing-user-auth`

**For continuation handoffs** (linking to previous work):
```bash
python 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](references/handoff-template.md) for guidance.

### Step 3: Validate the Handoff

Run the validation script to check completeness and security:

```bash
python scripts/validate_handoff.py <handoff-file>
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 12e953e112992fb5

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---
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