checkpoint-workflow

name	checkpoint-workflow
description	Enforces incremental saving during complex tasks to prevent progress loss. Use this skill whenever working on multi-step tasks, creating multiple files, or doing work that takes more than 5 minutes. Triggers on: file creation, documentation updates, code changes, workflow execution, any task with multiple steps. Use when this capability is needed.

Checkpoint Workflow Skill

Core Principle

CHECKPOINT EARLY, CHECKPOINT OFTEN

Never accumulate more than 5 minutes of unsaved work. Every significant unit of work must be persisted before moving to the next.

Checkpoint Triggers

Create a checkpoint when:

1. After creating ANY file → commit immediately
2. After completing a subtask → update PROGRESS.md + commit
3. Before starting a new phase → save current state
4. Every 3-5 tool calls → update progress journal
5. Before complex operations → pre-operation snapshot

Required Actions

After Every 2-3 Files Created

git add <files>
git commit -m "checkpoint: <brief description>"
git push origin main

Before and After Major Steps

Update docs/claude-integration/PROGRESS.md:

### Completed Steps:
- [x] Step description (commit: abc123)

### Current State:
- Working on: [specific item]
- Next action: [what comes next]

Commit Message Prefixes

• checkpoint: - Work in progress
• wip: - May not build/work
• progress: - Incremental progress
• save: - Explicit save point

Recovery Protocol

On context loss or "continue" request:

1. Read docs/claude-integration/PROGRESS.md
2. Check git log --oneline -10
3. Check /mnt/transcripts/[latest].txt
4. Resume from documented "Next Actions"
5. Update PROGRESS.md before continuing

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

❌ Creating 10 files then committing all at once ❌ Completing entire task before documenting ❌ Starting context-heavy operations without saving first ❌ Ignoring PROGRESS.md updates

Sample Workflow

1. START TASK
   └─> Update PROGRESS.md: "Starting task X"
   └─> git commit -m "checkpoint: starting task X"

2. SUBTASK A (2-3 files)
   └─> Create files
   └─> git commit -m "checkpoint: completed subtask A"
   └─> Update PROGRESS.md

3. SUBTASK B (2-3 files)
   └─> Create files
   └─> git commit -m "checkpoint: completed subtask B"
   └─> Update PROGRESS.md

4. COMPLETE
   └─> git commit -m "feat: complete task X"
   └─> Update PROGRESS.md: "COMPLETE"

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