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Agent skill

Session Handoff

by sickn33 in sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills

A skill your agent uses when context approaches capacity, before /clear or /compact, when switching tasks, or when ending a coding session: produces a structured handoff artifact for the next session.

MITAuto-check: notesAgent Workflows

Install Session Handoff

skills CLI
$ npx skills add sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills --skill session-handoff -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills session-handoff --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/session-handoff .claude/skills/session-handoff && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
session-handoff
GitHub stars
47k
Token cost
~1.8k tokens
SKILL.md length
620 words
Files
1
Skills in repo
1,394
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

A skill your agent uses when context approaches capacity, before /clear or /compact, when switching tasks, or when ending a coding session: produces a structured handoff artifact for the next session.

  • Works in 6 steps: Audit Git and Workspace State → Capture Goal State vs. Implemented Reality → Record Decisions Made and Discarded Paths → …
  • Context approaches capacity
  • SKILL.md covers Purpose, When to Use This Skill, Workflow: Ending a Session (6… and Operating Rules, plus 3 more sections
  • Calls git and pytest

What it does

Session Handoff is an agent skill from sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills. Use when context approaches capacity, before /clear or /compact, when switching tasks, or when ending a coding session: produces a structured handoff artifact for the next session.

Its SKILL.md is about 1.8k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.

It sits in Agent Workflows, covering Session handoff. It works with Git. The repository describes itself as: AAS Core is the local, agent-first control plane for complete catalog discovery, agent-owned selection, stack validation, and planning, backed by 2,400+ agentic skills. Includes… The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

  • Context approaches capacity
  • Switching tasks
  • Ending a coding session: produces a structured handoff artifact for the next session

Example prompts

  • “/session-handoff”

Workflow steps

6 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.

  1. Audit Git and Workspace State
  2. Capture Goal State vs. Implemented Reality
  3. Record Decisions Made and Discarded Paths
  4. Catalog Files Touched and Relevant Symbols
  5. Isolate Open Loops with Owners and Checks
  6. Specify the Immediate Next Action

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 1e53ce2. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    Shell commands in SKILL.md call:

    • git
    • pytest

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    No URLs in SKILL.md. Its commands use git, which can reach the network depending on how they are called.

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Session Handoff loads about 1.8k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 49 tokens; SKILL.md has 620 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~49
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~1.8k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check: notes

The automated check noted patterns worth knowing about, such as sudo or a known installer.

  • NoteMentions a .env fileSKILL.md:89
    [Human] Set `REDIS_AUTH_URL` secret in `.env.test` for CI execution.

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills at commit 1e53ce2, republished under its MIT licence (© sickn33). 620 words, ~1,794 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/session-handoff/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).
name
session-handoff
description
Use when context approaches capacity, before /clear or /compact, when switching tasks, or when ending a coding session: produces a structured handoff artifact for the next session.
category
productivity
risk
safe
source
community
source_repo
alapha888/session-handoff-kit
source_type
community
date_added
2026-10-05
author
alapha888
tags
context-management, session-handoff, coding-agents, workflow
tools
claude, cursor, codex
license
MIT

Session Handoff Skill

Purpose

Large context windows degrade in instruction adherence, reasoning precision, and tool accuracy as token counts accumulate. Long sessions fill with superseded plans, aborted scratchpads, and repetitive error traces. Resetting to a fresh session restores performance, but discarding context blindly introduces state loss, hallucinated progress, and repeated mistakes.

The session-handoff skill standardizes how an agent snapshots active state. It translates ephemeral working memory into an actionable, verifiable bridge document for the next session.

When to Use This Skill

  • Context usage approaches capacity (roughly >60%) and a reset is coming.
  • Before running /clear or /compact in Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex.
  • When switching tasks mid-session, or ending a coding session that another session (or agent) will continue.

Workflow: Ending a Session (6 Steps)

Run this sequence when an agent session reaches operational limits or when halting work:

  1. Audit Git and Workspace State Run git status -s and git diff --stat to establish grounded reality. Never rely on chat memory for what was modified. Identify modified, untracked, and staged files.

  2. Capture Goal State vs. Implemented Reality Define the original objective in one sentence. Document precisely what has been verified as working (with passing test commands or runtime checks) versus what remains partial or unverified.

  3. Record Decisions Made and Discarded Paths List architectural and design choices committed during the session, along with the concrete rationale. Explicitly record negative decisions (approaches tried and discarded) to prevent the next agent from re-attempting failed solutions.

  4. Catalog Files Touched and Relevant Symbols List key file paths, functions, classes, and schema definitions modified or referenced. Include line references where relevant.

  5. Isolate Open Loops with Owners and Checks List all unaddressed edge cases, failing tests, deferred tasks, and environment constraints. Every open loop must specify who resolves it (Human or Agent) and how completion is verified.

  6. Specify the Immediate Next Action Draft a single, atomic, unambiguous instruction for the next agent to execute on turn one. Do not provide a broad list; specify the exact command to run or file to edit first.

Show full SKILL.md (277 more words)Show less

Operating Rules

  • Separate Facts from Speculation: A test that passed is a fact; assuming code works because it compiled is speculation. Label untested assumptions explicitly as [UNVERIFIED].
  • Mandate Owners and Verifications for Open Loops: Every open loop must state an owner (Human or Agent) and a deterministic verification criteria (e.g., pytest tests/auth/test_token.py:test_refresh_rotation passes).
  • Ban Vague Continuations: Never write "continue working on auth" or "finish frontend components." State the exact symbol, file, and failure mode.
  • Reference Real Workspace Identifiers: All references to code must use exact file paths and symbol names. Do not use generalized pseudocode descriptions.

Worked Example: Session Handoff Note

markdown
# Session Handoff: JWT Rotation Implementation

### Goal & Current State
- **Target Goal**: Implement refresh token rotation and revocation in the FastAPI auth service.
- **Current State**: Refresh token database migration applied and rotation endpoint created. Token generation and database persistence work. Revocation blacklist cache is not yet wired into the dependency validator.
- **Verification**: `pytest tests/test_auth_tokens.py` passes (4/4 tests).

### Decisions Made (With Reasons)
- **Used Redis for Token Revocation List**: Selected Redis over Postgres lookups for revoked JTI tokens to keep latency under 5ms on protected routes.
- **Rejected Stateless Refresh Tokens**: We initially evaluated sliding expiration in JWT claims without persistence, but discarded it because compromised tokens could not be revoked before natural expiry.
- **Token Format**: Chose UUIDv4 for `jti` claim to maintain compatibility with existing session storage schemas.

### Files Changed
- `src/services/auth.py`: Added `rotate_refresh_token(old_token: str)` function and Redis invalidation call.
- `src/models/tokens.py`: Added `RefreshTokenRecord` SQLModel table for tracking token families.
- `alembic/versions/20261005_add_token_families.py`: Migration creating `token_records` table.
- `tests/test_auth_tokens.py`: Added unit tests for token family generation and rotation.

### Open Loops
- [Agent] Wire `verify_token_not_revoked` into `src/api/deps.py` -> Verify by checking `tests/test_auth_deps.py` fails on blacklisted token.
- [Agent] Handle database rollback if Redis is unreachable during rotation -> Verify by mocking Redis connection failure in unit test.
- [Human] Set `REDIS_AUTH_URL` secret in `.env.test` for CI execution.

### Next Action
Open `src/api/deps.py` and import `is_token_blacklisted` from `src.services.auth`. Insert the check into `get_current_user` directly after JWT decode verification.

### Watch-outs
- Do not modify the existing `access_token` expiration time (currently 15 minutes) in `src/core/config.py`.
- Alembic migration `20261005_add_token_families.py` must run before starting the API server locally (`alembic upgrade head`).

Anti-Patterns

  • The Chat Transcript Dump: Pasting raw conversation logs into the handoff note. The next session's context window is immediately polluted with the very conversational noise you intended to escape.
  • The Phantom Pass: Marking a module "completed" when it has only been written, not executed or tested.
  • The Omitted Dead-End: Leaving out solutions that failed. The next agent will read the codebase, see the same apparent path, and re-implement the failed approach.
  • The Abstract Next Step: Ending with "Next: Implement remaining tests." The new agent spends 3-5 unnecessary turns discovering what needs testing.

Limitations

  • This skill produces a written handoff only; it cannot preserve live state such as running processes, uncommitted terminal output, or in-memory debugging context — record anything that matters explicitly in the note.
  • Handoff quality is bounded by what the outgoing session records: decisions, dead-ends, or file changes that are not written down cannot be recovered by the next session.
  • It does not replace version control or issue tracking; commit work first and reference commits or tickets in the note instead of duplicating them.

© sickn33, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

Just SKILL.md in skills/session-handoff of sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills.

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 1e53ce2

Compare with similar skills

Session Handoff next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

Session Handoff compared with similar skills
SkillStarsUsed inTokensAuto-checkLicenceRepo updated
Session Handoff this skillsickn33/agentic-awesome-skills47k—~1.8kAutomated safety check: NotesMIT
Beads Task Memorygastownhall/beads28k—~1.2kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Session History Searchslopus/happy24k—~3.1kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Codewhale Session Handoffcodewhale-hq/Codewhale41k—~1.1kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Auditopenwpm/OpenWPM1.4k—~676Automated safety check: PassCustom licence
MemorixAVIDS2/memorix835—~516Automated safety check: PassApache-2.0

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Works with

Categories

Questions about Session Handoff

What does Session Handoff do?

A skill your agent uses when context approaches capacity, before /clear or /compact, when switching tasks, or when ending a coding session: produces a structured handoff artifact for the next session. Session Handoff is an agent skill from sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills. Use when context approaches capacity, before /clear or /compact, when switching tasks, or when ending a coding session: produces a structured handoff artifact for the next session.

When should I use Session Handoff?

Session Handoff fits situations like: context approaches capacity; switching tasks; ending a coding session: produces a structured handoff artifact for the next session.

How do I install Session Handoff in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills --skill session-handoff -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/session-handoff in sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills) into .claude/skills/session-handoff in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Session Handoff in Codex?

Run `npx skills add sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills --skill session-handoff -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/session-handoff in sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills) into .agents/skills/session-handoff in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Session Handoff in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills --skill session-handoff -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/session-handoff, .gemini/skills/session-handoff, .github/skills/session-handoff and .opencode/skills/session-handoff in your project.

What does Session Handoff need to run?

Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Session Handoff needs the command-line tools its instructions call (git and pytest).

Does Session Handoff access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Its commands use git, which can reach the network depending on how they are called. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Session Handoff safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found notes only (mentions a .env file), nothing it rates as a warning. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Session Handoff use?

Session Handoff is published under the MIT licence (declared in SKILL.md). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Session Handoff use?

About 1.8k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 7.2k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to Session Handoff?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Session Handoff: Beads Task Memory (gastownhall/beads, 28k stars), Session History Search (slopus/happy, 24k stars), Codewhale Session Handoff (codewhale-hq/Codewhale, 41k stars) and Audit (openwpm/OpenWPM, 1.4k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Session Handoff?

sickn33 (a GitHub user) maintains it in sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills, which has 47,304 GitHub stars. The repository holds 1,394 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 6, 2026.

Source: sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.