/recap — Session Orientation & Awareness

Goal: Orient yourself fast. Rich context by default. Mid-session awareness with --now.

Usage

/recap           # Rich: retro summary, handoff, tracks, git, pulse
/recap --quick   # Minimal: git + focus only, no file reads
/recap --now     # Mid-session: timeline + jumps from AI memory
/recap --now deep # Mid-session: + handoff + tracks + connections

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DEFAULT MODE (Rich)

Run the rich script, then add suggestions:

bun ~/.claude/skills/recap/recap-rich.ts

Script reads retro summaries, handoff content, tracks, git state. Then LLM adds:

• What's next? (2-3 options based on context)

Also check pulse context:

cat ψ/data/pulse/project.json 2>/dev/null
cat ψ/data/pulse/heartbeat.json 2>/dev/null

If pulse data exists, add one line after the script output:

⚡ Session #X of Y | Streak: N days | Week: ±X% msgs

If pulse files don't exist, skip silently.

Total: 1 bash call + optional pulse read + LLM analysis

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QUICK MODE (/recap --quick)

Minimal, no content reads:

bun ~/.claude/skills/recap/recap.ts

Script outputs git status + focus state (~0.1s). Then LLM adds:

• What's next? (2-3 options based on git state)

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"What's next?" Rules

If you see...	Suggest...
Handoff exists	Continue from handoff
Untracked files	Commit them
Focus = completed	Pick from tracks or start fresh
Branch ahead	Push or create PR
Streak active	Keep momentum going

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Hard Rules

1. ONE bash call — never multiple parallel calls (adds latency)
2. No subagents — everything in main agent
3. Ask, don't suggest — "What next?" not "You should..."

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NOW MODE (/recap --now)

Mid-session awareness from AI memory — no file reading needed. Use when user asks "where are we", "now", "status", "what are we doing".

AI reconstructs session timeline from conversation memory:

## This Session

| Time | Duration | Topic | Jump |
|------|----------|-------|------|
| HH:MM | ~Xm | First topic | - |
| HH:MM | ~Xm | Second topic | spark |
| HH:MM | ongoing | **Now**: Current | complete |

**Noticed**:
- [Pattern - energy/mode]
- [Jump pattern: sparks vs escapes vs completions]

**Status**:
- Energy: [level]
- Loose ends: [unfinished]
- Parked: [topics we'll return to]

**My Read**: [1-2 sentences]

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**Next?**

Jump Types

Icon	Type	Meaning
spark	New idea, exciting
complete	Finished, moving on
return	Coming back to parked
park	Intentional pause
escape	Avoiding difficulty

Healthy session: Mostly sparks and completes
Warning sign: Too many escapes = avoidance pattern

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NOW DEEP MODE (/recap --now deep)

Same as --now but adds bigger picture context.

Step 1: Gather (parallel)

1. Current session from AI memory
2. Read latest handoff: ls -t ψ/inbox/handoff/*.md | head -1
3. Git status: git status --short
4. Tracks: cat ψ/inbox/tracks/INDEX.md 2>/dev/null

Step 2: Output

Everything from --now, plus:

### Bigger Picture

**Came from**: [Last session/handoff summary - 1 line]
**Working on**: [Current thread/goal]
**Thread**: [Larger pattern this connects to]

### Pending

| Priority | Item | Source |
|----------|------|--------|
| Now | [Current task] | This session |
| Soon | [Next up] | Tracks/discussion |
| Later | [Backlog] | GitHub/tracks |

### Connections

**Pattern**: [What pattern emerged]
**Learning**: [Key insight from session]
**Oracle**: [Related past pattern, if any]

**My Read**: [2-3 sentences - deeper reflection]

**Next action?**

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Philosophy: Detect reality. Surface blockers. Offer direction. "Not just the clock. The map."

Version: 8.0 (Merged where-we-are into --now mode)
Updated: 2026-02-10