shuymn

handover

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".

shuymn 1 Updated 2mo ago
GitHub

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.md in the current working project.
  • If the user specifies another path or filename, follow the user request.

Workflow

  1. Gather session context.
    • Review completed work, pending work, and user goals from the conversation.
    • Inspect repository context when available:
      • rtk git status
      • git branch --show-current
      • rtk git log -n 15
      • rtk git diff
  2. 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.
  3. Write HANDOVER.md using the template below.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.