| name | handoff-receiver |
| description | The cold-start protocol for an AI agent PICKING UP a handoff bundle (the receiving half of `handoff`). Triggers when a fresh session is pointed at a handoff directory or pasted a handoff block — e.g. "read this handoff", "take over from this bundle", "you're picking up <path>", "continue this work", or when the first message is a handoff block. Boots the agent loaded: reads the bundle README + manifest, runs Prime from it, confirms understanding and locked decisions BEFORE writing code, and refuses to start on a bundle with no manifest/mission. Works in any tool (Claude, Cursor, Copilot, Codex, Gemini, Aider, Windsurf). |
Handoff-receiver
The receiving half of handoff. handoff packs a session; this unpacks one cleanly so a fresh agent starts loaded instead of cold.
When to Use This Skill
Trigger when the agent is:
- Pointed at a handoff directory: "read
~/Work/AgentHandoffs/<bundle>/", "take over from this bundle"
- Pasted a handoff block as the first message
- Told "continue this work", "you're picking up X", "finish what the last session started"
How It Works (4-Step Protocol)
Step 1 — Load the bundle, in order
Read README.md → manifest.json → 02-mission.md → 03-locked-decisions.md → 06-what-is-done.md → 07-files-in-scope.md. Skip sections not present. If there is no manifest and no mission, stop and ask the user for one — never improvise scope.
Step 2 — Prime from the bundle
Treat the bundle as the primer (see prime). Load ~/ai-doctrine.md and any pointers the bundle names. Open only the files in 07-files-in-scope.md; do not wander the repo.
Step 3 — Confirm before coding
Echo back, in ≤6 lines: the mission, the locked decisions you will NOT touch, and the open questions you need answered. Get explicit go on the open questions. Locked decisions are immutable — escalate to change, never silently revise.
Step 4 — Work, then hand to report-back
Run the PURE phases (understand → refine → execute). On completion or block, invoke report-back to write the result to files. A receiver that finishes without reporting has not finished.
Operational Rules
- No manifest, no start. A bundle without a mission gets a clarifying question, not a guess.
- Locked decisions are law. Escalate; don't re-litigate.
- Stay in scope. Read only
07-files-in-scope.md. Scope creep → a new bundle.
- Confirm understanding before code. Six lines, then go.
- Always end in
report-back. Receiving implies reporting.
Position in the PURE Loop
handoff (sender) → handoff-receiver (Prime in the new chat) → understand → refine → execute → report-back. This closes the cross-session loop that pure-orchestrator opens.
Part of the Vibe Coding Mastery skill suite. MIT licensed.
