resume-from-handoff

name	resume-from-handoff
description	Load a handoff markdown from the workspace, extract the actionable context, verify the important referenced files, and continue work from where a previous agent left off. Use when the user says resume from handoff, continue from handoff, use this handoff, or wants an agent to pick up from a saved context file.
argument-hint	[path to handoff markdown, or leave blank to ask for it]

Resume From Handoff

This skill is for the receiving agent.

Its job is not to blindly trust the handoff. Its job is to use the handoff as a fast orientation layer, verify the important facts, and then continue work without making the user restate the whole project.

When To Use

Use this skill when the user says things like:

• resume from this handoff
• continue from the handoff file
• load this session handoff
• pick up where the last agent left off
• use the handoff markdown in the workspace

First Step: Ask For The Source Path If Missing

If the user has not already provided the handoff file path, ask for it immediately.

Use a concise prompt like:

What is the path to the handoff markdown in the workspace? You can paste an absolute path or a workspace-relative path.

Do not proceed until you have the source handoff path.

Core Workflow

Once you have the path:

1. Read the handoff markdown immediately.
2. Extract the key context.
3. Re-open or re-read the primary file(s) named in the handoff.
4. Verify the important current-state claims before editing anything critical.
5. Summarize the imported context to the user in a compact execution brief.
6. Continue with the new request using the handoff as the working baseline.

What To Extract From The Handoff

Pull out:

• artifact or feature name
• primary file(s)
• files created or changed
• current state to preserve
• decisions and rules that constrain future work
• validation status
• open issues or deferred items
• next recommended steps

Verification Rules

Treat the handoff as trusted orientation, not as a substitute for inspection.

Before making important edits:

• verify the primary file still exists
• verify the relevant code or markup still matches the handoff’s description
• verify any live UI claims if the next task depends on them
• re-check errors/tests if they matter to the next step

If a handoff claim is outdated, say so and proceed using the current file state.

Import Brief Format

After reading and verifying the handoff, give the user a compact brief such as:

• what artifact you loaded
• which file is primary
• what current state is verified
• which constraints you will preserve
• what the obvious next step is

Do not dump the whole handoff back to the user.

If Files Are Missing Or Stale

If the handoff references files that no longer exist or a state that no longer matches the workspace:

• say exactly what is stale or missing
• fall back to the current file state
• preserve still-valid decisions where possible
• continue from the live workspace, not the old assumption

Preserve Unless Overridden

If the handoff explicitly lists current state to preserve, keep those constraints in place unless:

• the user overrides them
• the live file clearly no longer matches them
• they conflict with the new request

Good Receiving-Agent Behavior

Do:

• use the handoff to accelerate context loading
• verify important implementation details before editing
• continue autonomously once context is loaded
• respect the preserve-list and decision-list unless the user changes direction

Do not:

• ask the user to repeat information already in the handoff
• restate the entire handoff verbatim
• blindly trust stale context without checking the file
• ignore explicit next-step guidance if it is still relevant

Suggested Trigger Phrases

This skill should feel natural to invoke for phrases like:

• resume from handoff
• continue from handoff
• load this handoff
• pick up from this context file
• use the handoff at [path]

Final Goal

The user should feel like they handed one capable agent’s context directly to another capable agent without losing momentum.