auto-handover

Auto-Handover: Save Session State

Generate a comprehensive handover document that captures the current session state for seamless continuation in a new session.

Instructions

Step 1: Determine Output Location

1. Read CLAUDE.md in the project root and look for HandoverPath: configuration

2. If found, use {project_root}/{HandoverPath}/ as the output directory

3. If not found, use {project_root}/handover/ as fallback, creating it if needed

4. Filename: {feature-or-task}-{phase(if any)}-{status}.md

   • feature-or-task: kebab-case name of the feature or task (e.g., epic-3.2-availability, guid-migration, security-remediation)
   • phase: include only if in a dev-workflow phase (e.g., phase2, phase3). Omit if N/A.
   • status: current state — in-progress, complete, blocked, etc.
   • Examples:
     • epic-3.2-availability-phase3-complete.md
     • guid-migration-complete.md
     • security-remediation-phase2-in-progress.md

5. One file per feature (overwrite rule): Before writing the new handover file, check the output directory for any existing file whose name starts with the same {feature-or-task} prefix. If found, delete it — the new file replaces it. This prevents file accumulation when the same feature progresses through phases.

   • Example: saving epic-3.2-availability-phase3-complete.md should first delete any existing epic-3.2-availability-*.md

Step 2: Gather Context

Collect the following information (use your full conversation context — this is why it's important to run this BEFORE context is lost):

1. Read /tmp/claude-context-pct.txt if it exists — include the percentage in metadata
2. Check git state: current branch, uncommitted changes, last commit
3. Review the conversation: identify key decisions, learnings, completed work, and remaining tasks
4. Identify important files: files that were created, modified, or are critical for continuing

Step 3: Generate Handover Document

Write the document with this exact structure:

---
auto_continue: false
threshold_triggered: {percentage from temp file, or "manual" if invoked manually}
created_at: {ISO 8601 timestamp}
session_branch: {current git branch}
feature: {feature name if in feature-dev workflow, otherwise "general"}
phase: {current phase number if in feature-dev workflow, otherwise "N/A"}
working_directory: {absolute path to project}
worktree: {worktree path if applicable, otherwise omit}
---

# Session Handover: {Short Description}

## Context
{1-2 sentences: What was the user working on? What was the overall goal of this session?}

## Key Decisions Made
{Bullet list of architectural, design, or implementation decisions made during this session.
Each decision should include WHY it was made, not just WHAT was decided.}

## Key Learnings
{Bullet list of important discoveries, gotchas, or patterns found during this session.
Focus on things that would be lost if context were cleared — things not documented elsewhere.}

## What Was Completed
{Numbered list of completed work items. Include file paths for each item.
Be specific — "Implemented X in Y file" not just "Worked on X".}

## Important Files
{Markdown table with columns: File Path | Purpose | Status (new/modified/reviewed)}

## Current State
{Describe the exact state right now:
- Are there uncommitted changes? What are they?
- Do tests pass? Which ones were run?
- Is the build clean?
- Any errors or issues currently unresolved?}

## What Needs To Continue
{Ordered list of remaining work items with enough detail to resume without prior context.
Each item should be actionable — not "finish the feature" but "implement the validation logic in X file for Y scenario".}

## Resume Instructions
{Step-by-step instructions for the next session to pick up exactly where this one left off:
1. What branch/worktree to be on
2. What to read first to get oriented
3. What command to run to verify state
4. What task to start with}

Step 4: Clean Up

1. Delete all cooldown files: rm -f /tmp/claude-handover-warned.txt /tmp/claude-auto-handover-blocked.txt /tmp/claude-context-gate-lock.txt /tmp/claude-context-growth.txt /tmp/claude-context-warned-warn.txt /tmp/claude-context-warned-urge.txt (resets context gate + legacy warnings for future sessions)
2. Delete any pre-compact metadata: Remove .pre-compact-metadata.txt from the handover directory if it exists (the full handover supersedes it)

Step 5: Inform User

After generating the handover, inform the user:

✅ Handover saved to: {file path}

When ready, run /clear to reset context, then /resume-handover to continue.

Check user preference: If this was triggered automatically (not manually), ask the user:

• "Would you like me to continue working in the current context, or are you ready to /clear?"
• If the user says "keep continue" or similar, note this preference — future handovers in this session should just save without prompting.

Important Notes

• Do NOT skip sections — every section must be filled in, even if brief
• Be specific — vague handovers are useless. File paths, function names, exact state
• Prioritize what's NOT documented elsewhere — don't repeat what's in CLAUDE.md or feature docs
• This is your last chance to capture session knowledge before it's lost