# Create Handoff

Create handoff document for transferring work to another session

- Repository: https://github.com/parcadei/Continuous-Claude-v3 (3947 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-01-26
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add parcadei/Continuous-Claude-v3 --skill create-handoff -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add parcadei/Continuous-Claude-v3 --skill create-handoff -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add parcadei/Continuous-Claude-v3 --skill create-handoff -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add parcadei/Continuous-Claude-v3 --skill create-handoff -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Create handoff document for transferring work to another session

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

# Create Handoff

You are tasked with writing a handoff document to hand off your work to another agent in a new session. You will create a handoff document that is thorough, but also **concise**. The goal is to compact and summarize your context without losing any of the key details of what you're working on.


## Process
### 1. Filepath & Metadata
Use the following information to understand how to create your document:

**First, determine the session name from existing handoffs:**
```bash
ls -td thoughts/shared/handoffs/*/ 2>/dev/null | head -1 | xargs basename
```

This returns the most recently modified handoff folder name (e.g., `open-source-release`). Use this as the handoff folder name.

If no handoffs exist, use `general` as the folder name.

**Create your file under:** `thoughts/shared/handoffs/{session-name}/YYYY-MM-DD_HH-MM_description.yaml`, where:
- `{session-name}` is from existing handoffs (e.g., `open-source-release`) or `general` if none exist
- `YYYY-MM-DD` is today's date
- `HH-MM` is the current time in 24-hour format (no seconds needed)
- `description` is a brief kebab-case description

**Examples:**
- `thoughts/shared/handoffs/open-source-release/2026-01-08_16-30_memory-system-fix.yaml`
- `thoughts/shared/handoffs/general/2026-01-08_16-30_bug-investigation.yaml`

### 2. Write YAML handoff (~400 tokens vs ~2000 for markdown)

**CRITICAL: Use EXACTLY this YAML format. Do NOT deviate or use alternative field names.**

The `goal:` and `now:` fields are shown in the statusline - they MUST be named exactly this.

```yaml
---
session: {session-name from ledger}
date: YYYY-MM-DD
status: complete|partial|blocked
outcome: SUCCEEDED|PARTIAL_PLUS|PARTIAL_MINUS|FAILED
---

goal: {What this session accomplished - shown in statusline}
now: {What next session should do first - shown in statusline}
test: {Command to verify this work, e.g., pytest tests/test_foo.py}

The rest: https://github.com/parcadei/Continuous-Claude-v3/blob/HEAD/.claude/skills/create_handoff/SKILL.md