| name | handoff |
| description | Compact the current session into a handoff document so another agent or fresh session can continue the work. Use when user asks to hand off, transfer context, continue in another session, start a parallel agent, or preserve only the next-useful context instead of using /compact. |
| argument-hint | What should the next session focus on? |
Handoff
Create a concise handoff document for another agent/session to continue from here.
When to Use
Use when the user wants to:
- continue work in a fresh session
- hand work to another agent
- run a prototype or parallel line of work elsewhere
- preserve actionable context without carrying the whole transcript
Procedure
- Create a temp file:
handoff_file=$(mktemp -t handoff-XXXXXX.md)
cat "$handoff_file" >/dev/null
- Write the handoff to that path.
- Keep it compact. Do not duplicate artifacts already captured in PRDs, plans, ADRs, issues, commits, diffs, or docs. Reference them by path or URL.
- If the user provided arguments, treat them as the next session focus and tailor the handoff around that work.
- Redact sensitive information: API keys, passwords, tokens, secrets, personal data, customer data, and any other confidential values. Mention redaction only when it affects continuation.
- Suggest skills the next session should use, if any.
- Return only the handoff path plus a 1-2 sentence summary.
Handoff Template
# Handoff
## Next session focus
<What the next agent/session should do first.>
## Current state
<Only facts needed to resume. Include branch, cwd, PR/issue links if relevant.>
## Decisions made
<Bullets. Link to ADRs/plans/issues instead of restating them.>
## Open questions
<Bullets, or "None".>
## Next actions
1. <First concrete action>
2. <Second concrete action>
3. <Verification or shipping step>
## Relevant artifacts
- <path or URL>: <why it matters>
## Suggested skills
- </skill-name>: <why>
Guardrails
- Do not use handoff as a hidden summary of everything. Include only continuation context.
- Prefer paths and URLs over pasted content.
- Redact secrets and personal data.
- Call out uncertainty explicitly.
- If no useful work has happened yet, say so and write a short starter brief.