| name | context-reset |
| description | Clean context reset protocol covering commit work, write handoff, update task card, and inform supervisor. Use when the context window is approaching its limit (system signals compression), when switching to a fundamentally different task domain, or when explicitly requested by the supervisor. |
| license | MIT |
Context Reset
Protocol for cleanly resetting agent context when the context window fills up or a fresh start is needed.
When to Use
The full commit → handoff → card-update → clear protocol, triggered by
context pressure or a domain switch — not by finishing a task. For
end-of-task wrap-up where context is still healthy, use task-summary (the
record) or just transition the card; you don't need a reset. The handoff-file
step itself is context-handoff, which this protocol invokes — call that one
directly if you want a handoff without clearing context.
Procedure
-
Assess current state:
- Is there uncommitted work? → commit or stash first
- Is there an active task card? → note current state in
work_log
- Are there open files or running processes? → clean up
-
Run context-handoff:
- Execute context-handoff to write a handoff file
- For active tasks: write to
<ai_hats_dir>/tracker/backlog/tasks/<ID>/handoff.md
- For general sessions: write to
<ai_hats_dir>/sessions/handoffs/YYYY-MM-DD-<title>.md
-
Update task card (if exists):
- Remaining work is a coherent chunk → shape it per task-slicing, append
as
## Steps checklist items in plan.md, run rack plan-extract <ID>
(idempotent), wire order via rack transition <ID> --link depends:<DEP> —
the tail becomes takeable successor tasks instead of a frozen card
- Otherwise set state to
blocked with reason: context-reset
- Add
handoff_file path to work_log
-
Report to supervisor:
- Print the handoff file path
- Print brief summary: what was done, what remains
- Suggest the command to resume (e.g., "continue task HATS-XXX using handoff at ")
Completion
- All work committed or stashed
- Handoff file written via context-handoff
- Task card updated (if applicable)
- Supervisor informed with resume instructions
Anti-Patterns
- Resetting without saving context — the next agent starts blind
- Leaving uncommitted changes — work is lost on context switch
- Writing the handoff AFTER reset — too late, context is already gone
