# Handoff

Write a compact, decision-ready handoff so the next session (or the user) can continue...

- Repository: https://github.com/codewhale-hq/Codewhale (41164 stars)
- Category: Writing
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add codewhale-hq/Codewhale --skill handoff -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add codewhale-hq/Codewhale --skill handoff -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add codewhale-hq/Codewhale --skill handoff -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add codewhale-hq/Codewhale --skill handoff -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Write a compact, decision-ready handoff so the next session (or the user) can continue without reconstructing the current one. Use when the session is ending, context is running low, the user asks for a handoff / 'pass the baton' / 'hand off', or a long-running operation needs a durable state checkpoint.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Handoff

> Write a compact, decision-ready handoff so the next session (or the user)
> can continue without reconstructing the current one. Use when the session is
> ending, context is running low, the user asks for a handoff / "pass the
> baton" / "hand off", or a long-running operation needs a durable state
> checkpoint. The goal: the durable artifact survives, the context does not
> need to.

Invocation: `model+user`

## When to use

- The user says "handoff", "hand off", "pass the baton", "takeover prompt",
  "write me a handoff", or the session is about to end / compact.
- A long operation (multi-turn, multi-workstream) has state that must survive
  context loss: commits, branches, PRs, CI, blockers, decisions.
- You are switching to a fresh session and want the new session to start from
  evidence instead of reconstructing the old one.

## What to do

1. **Gather the truth from tools, not memory.** Run/collect:
   - `git branch --show-current`, `git status --short`, `git log --oneline
     origin/<default>..HEAD` (what is local-only), `git log --oneline -5`
     (recent context).
   - Live remote state where relevant (`gh pr list --state open`,
     `gh pr checks <n>`, `gh run list`), only what the user's operation
     actually depends on; do not pad the handoff with a full GitHub dump.
   - Any in-flight work: dirty files, uncommitted slices, partial worktrees,
     running background jobs/workers, queued CI.
2. **Write a compact markdown handoff** (aim under ~60 lines; the user may
   also ask for a "short text-only" variant, then aim under ~15 lines):

The rest: https://github.com/codewhale-hq/Codewhale/blob/HEAD/crates/skills/assets/skills/handoff/SKILL.md