handoff

Input Handling

Treat the current command arguments as this workflow's input. When invoked from a slash command, use the forwarded $ARGUMENTS value.

handoff: Fast Session State Snapshot

Generate progress update, gather context, output structured JSON for session resume. Output: {timestamp}_handoff.json in session_logs.

Performance Target: 2-3 tool calls depending on session history

CRITICAL: Do not narrate or explain what you're doing. No "Session count is 0, so..." or "Let me gather context...". Just execute the steps silently and output ONLY the final confirmation message. Every token matters at end of session.

ARGUMENTS

$ARGUMENTS

Step 1: Gather Context (Single Bash Call)

• Action — GatherContext: Run ONE bash command:

branch=$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD 2>/dev/null || echo unknown)
mkdir -p "docs/tasks/${branch}/session_logs"

# Count existing session logs for conditional flow
session_count=$(ls docs/tasks/${branch}/session_logs/*_handoff.json 2>/dev/null | wc -l | xargs)

beads_available=false
beads_tasks='[]'
beads_count=0

if command -v bd &>/dev/null && bd doctor &>/dev/null; then
  beads_available=true
  open=$(bd list --label "$branch" --status open --json 2>/dev/null || echo '[]')
  in_prog=$(bd list --label "$branch" --status in_progress --json 2>/dev/null || echo '[]')
  blocked=$(bd list --label "$branch" --status blocked --json 2>/dev/null || echo '[]')
  beads_tasks=$(echo "$open $in_prog $blocked" | jq -s 'add // []')
  beads_count=$(echo "$beads_tasks" | jq 'length' 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
fi

cat << EOF
{
  "branch": "$branch",
  "commit": "$(git rev-parse --short HEAD 2>/dev/null || echo unknown)",
  "wip_count": $(git status --porcelain 2>/dev/null | wc -l | xargs),
  "ts": "$(date +%Y-%m-%d-%H%M%S)",
  "session_count": $session_count,
  "beads_available": $beads_available,
  "beads_count": $beads_count,
  "beads": $beads_tasks
}
EOF

Output: JSON with branch, commit, wip_count, ts, session_count, beads_available, beads_count, beads[]

Step 2: Compose Handoff Data

• Action — ComposeProgressUpdate: From session memory, compose using "WE" voice:

  Field	Required	Description
  summary	✓	Slack-style paragraph a human would read
  goal	✓	What we're building + success criteria
  accomplished	✓	What we completed (2-5 bullets)
  now	✓	What you were actively working on when session ended (critical!)
  next_steps	✓	Upcoming work (2-4 bullets)
  confidence	✓	high / medium / low
  constraints		Known constraints or assumptions
  decisions		Key decisions made (0-3 bullets)
  blockers		Things blocking progress
  open_questions		Questions needing answers
  risks		Identified risks

  Tone: "We finished the auth refactor and got tests passing. Hit a snag with OAuth callback - next we'll tackle session management."

• Action — BuildWorkingSet: Capture active context:

  • key_files: Files actively edited
  • active_ids: Beads task IDs in progress
  • recent_commands: Recent terminal commands (test, build, etc.)

• Action — BuildBeadsTree (if available): From beads array, build hierarchy (epic → tasks → subtasks). Include task IDs for resume.

Step 3: Conditional Write

Check session_count from Step 1:

If session_count = 0 (First Session)

Do not narrate. Just write the file and output the confirmation.

Write directly to docs/tasks/{branch}/session_logs/{ts}_handoff.json

JSON Schema:

{
  "version": "1.1",
  "timestamp": "{ts}",
  "branch_name": "{branch}",
  "task_name": "{ARGUMENTS or branch}",
  "session_number": 1,
  "progress_update": {
    "summary": "string",
    "goal": "string",
    "accomplished": ["string"],
    "now": "string (critical for resume)",
    "next_steps": ["string"],
    "confidence": "high|medium|low",
    "constraints": ["string"],
    "decisions": ["string"],
    "blockers": ["string"],
    "open_questions": ["string"],
    "risks": ["string"]
  },
  "working_set": {
    "key_files": ["path"],
    "active_ids": ["bd-xxxxx"],
    "recent_commands": ["command"]
  },
  "beads": {  // OMIT ENTIRE SECTION if beads_available=false OR beads_count=0
    "available": true,
    "workspace_label": "{branch}",
    "task_count": "number",
    "epic_id": "bd-xxxxx|null",
    "epic_title": "string|null",
    "tasks": [{"id", "title", "status", "type", "parent", "children", "labels"}]
  },
  "context": {
    "wip_state": "uncommitted|clean",
    "last_commit": "abc1234"
  }
}

Then respond: "✓ Handoff saved: {path}. First session recorded. Next session auto-resumes from this context."

If session_count >= 1 (Continuation)

Do not narrate. Just spawn the subagent and output the confirmation when done.

Spawn @sesh:sync subagent with the composed data:

<current_session>
{full JSON object you composed above}
</current_session>

<session_logs_path>
docs/tasks/{branch}/session_logs
</session_logs_path>

The sync agent will:

1. Read up to 3 previous handoff.json files
2. Synthesize current context with historical arc
3. Write the final {ts}_handoff.json with enriched continuity
4. Return the file path

Then respond: "✓ Handoff saved: {path}. Session {n} recorded with continuity from {x} previous sessions. Next session auto-resumes from this context."