context-bootstrapper

name	context-bootstrapper
description	Receiving-agent protocol. Boots a new agent into the minimum correct context (select + isolate) and produces a clear next-step plan without guessing.

Context Bootstrapper — Receiving Agent Protocol

Use this skill when starting work on this repo, resuming after a break, switching to a new "feature-agent", or when context feels bloated/confusing.

Goal: reach a confident, bounded next step using minimal context.

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Bootstrap order (read in this order)

1. Project baseline (always-on context)

   • .cursor/rules/always.mdc
   • AGENT_HANDOFF.md

2. Current phase / feature truth (choose the one that matches the user's goal)

   • PM_PLAN.md (phase/scope)
   • TEST_PLAN.md (Tier 1 / Tier 2 validation gates)

3. Most recent session handoff note (if present)

   • .cursor/handoff/NNNN-handoff-YYYY-MM-DD_HHmm.md (highest NNNN, tie-break by timestamp)
   • and/or doc/handoff/NNNN-HANDOFF-YYYY-MM-DD_HHmm.md (same rule)

4. If the task is code-touching: read the smallest set of files necessary to act safely.

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Produce the "Receiver Brief" (what you must write next)

After reading, produce a short brief with:

• Objective: one sentence; restate the user goal precisely.
• Scope:
  • In scope:
  • Out of scope:
• Constraints: branch policy, "no guessing", validation tier.
• Acceptance criteria: 2–5 verifiable checks.
• Next steps: 3–7 bite-sized steps, each with a validation hook.
• Open questions: only if something blocks safe progress.

If any required inputs are missing, stop and ask before acting.

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Token budget guidance (cheap but effective)

Preferred context payload for a new session:

• Tracked truth: AGENT_HANDOFF.md + the relevant plan doc(s) (project state)
• One handoff note: latest only (session delta)
• Only the files you're editing (and their direct dependencies)

Avoid:

• Full transcript dumps
• Large logs unless they directly change decisions
• Repeating old execution details already captured in tracked docs