context-reset

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

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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