Creates or refreshes a HANDOVER.md that captures current session state for the next assistant. Use when wrapping up a session, context is getting full, switching operators, or when the user asks for a handoff summary including decisions, pitfalls, lessons learned, next steps, and important files. Also trigger when the user says "save progress", "session summary", or "prepare for next session".
Install
npx skillscat add shuymn/dotfiles/handover Install via the SkillsCat registry.
SKILL.md
Create Session Handover
Generate a HANDOVER.md file in the current project folder so the next session can continue without losing context.
Not in Scope
- Generating implementation code, task plans, or decomposing incomplete work.
- Reviewing or critiquing code quality.
- Summarizing AI/human code review comments.
Core Behavior
- Produce one actionable handover document, not a generic summary.
- Keep statements factual and verifiable.
- Do not invent details; mark unknowns explicitly.
- Prefer concise bullets with direct file and command references.
Default Output Location
- Write to
HANDOVER.mdin the current working project. - If the user specifies another path or filename, follow the user request.
Workflow
- Gather session context.
- Review completed work, pending work, and user goals from the conversation.
- Inspect repository context when available:
rtk git statusgit branch --show-currentrtk git log -n 15rtk git diff
- Extract handover essentials.
- What was completed.
- What is still in progress.
- Key decisions and rationale.
- Pitfalls, bugs, and applied fixes/workarounds.
- Lessons learned and recurring gotchas.
- Important files and why each matters.
- Clear next actions in execution order.
- Write
HANDOVER.mdusing the template below. - Run a final quality pass.
- Ensure every claim is specific.
- Ensure all referenced files/commands exist or are marked as assumptions.
- Ensure next steps are concrete and immediately executable.
- Save and report completion.
- Confirm the file path.
- Highlight the highest-priority next step.
HANDOVER.md Template
# Session Handover
## 1. Session Snapshot
- Date:
- Project:
- Primary goal:
- Current status:
## 2. Completed Work
- [Completed item with evidence: file/command/commit]
## 3. In-Progress Work
- [Work item]
- Current state:
- Remaining tasks:
## 4. Key Decisions (and Why)
- Decision:
- Why:
- Alternatives considered:
- Impact:
## 5. Problems, Pitfalls, and Fixes
- Problem:
- Symptoms:
- Root cause (if known):
- Fix/workaround:
- Validation:
## 6. Lessons Learned / Gotchas
- [Lesson]
- [Gotcha and prevention]
## 7. Important Files Map
- `path/to/file`: Why this file matters and its current state
- `path/to/file`: Why this file matters and its current state
## 8. Next Steps (Ordered)
1. [Highest-priority action]
2. [Next action]
3. [Follow-up action]
## 9. Open Questions / Risks
- [Question or risk]
- [Required decision or mitigation]
## 10. Useful Commands / References
- `command`: Purpose
- [Reference link or doc path]Quality Bar
- Write for a new session with no prior memory.
- Prefer "what changed + why it matters" over raw logs.
- Include blockers and assumptions explicitly.
- Keep output concise but complete enough to resume work in under 30 minutes.
- If little or no work happened, still generate the document and say so clearly.
Optional Additions
- Add a "Recent Commits" subsection when commits exist.
- Add a "Validation/Test Results" subsection when tests were run.
- Add deployment/release status when environment changes were made.