Handoff

Create enough context for a fresh agent to continue the work without reconstructing the session from scratch.

Prefer references to durable artifacts over copying their contents.

Include

Goal

What the user is trying to achieve.

Current state

What has already been completed.

Decisions

Only decisions that materially affect future work.

Relevant artifacts

Point to existing:

• specs;
• GitHub Issues;
• pull requests;
• commits;
• documentation;
• files;
• research notes.

Do not duplicate their full contents.

Remaining work

Describe what still needs to happen.

Blockers or open questions

Record anything that prevents safe continuation.

Verification state

State:

• what has been tested;
• what passed;
• what failed;
• what has not been verified.

Suggested skills

List relevant skills the next agent should use.

Rules

• Keep the handoff compact.
• Prefer pointers over duplicated context.
• Preserve exact identifiers when they matter.
• Do not invent completed work.
• Do not claim verification that did not happen.
• Redact secrets, credentials, and unnecessary personal information.
• Do not repeat information already stored in canonical artifacts.

Completion

A handoff is complete when a fresh agent can identify:

• the goal;
• the current state;
• the authoritative context;
• the next useful action;
• unresolved risks or questions.