Create Handoff

Create Handoff

Overview

Create a clear, concise handoff file that captures context, changes, and next steps so another agent can resume quickly.

Workflow

1) Choose file path and name

• Save under .ai/shared/handoffs in the current repo.
• If a ticket exists, use a ticket folder; otherwise use general.
• Filename format:
• With ticket: YYYY-MM-DD_HH-mm-ss_ENG-XXXX_description.md
• Without ticket: YYYY-MM-DD_HH-mm-ss_description.md
• Use 24-hour time and local timezone. Keep description in kebab-case, ASCII.

2) Gather metadata

Capture:

• Current timestamp with timezone (ISO 8601)
• Git commit hash
• Git branch
• Repository name
• Author name (if available)

3) Write the handoff

Use the template below. Keep it thorough but concise. Prefer file path references (with optional line numbers) over large code blocks.

---
date: [Current date and time with timezone in ISO format]
author: [Name or handle if available]
git_commit: [Current commit hash]
branch: [Current branch name]
repository: [Repository name]
topic: "[Short task name or feature]"
tags: [handoff, implementation, relevant-component-names]
status: in_progress|complete
last_updated: [Current date in YYYY-MM-DD format]
last_updated_by: [Author name]
type: handoff
---

# Handoff: [ENG-XXXX] [very concise description]

## Task(s)
- [Task 1] — [status: complete | in_progress | planned]
- [Task 2] — [status]

## Critical References
- [path/to/spec-or-plan.md]
- [path/to/architecture-note.md]

## Recent Changes
- [path/to/file.ext:line] — [what changed]
- [path/to/file.ext] — [what changed]

## Learnings
- [Key discovery or constraint] (file reference if relevant)
- [Pattern or gotcha]

## Artifacts
- [path/to/doc-or-plan.md]
- [path/to/branch-or-pr.md]

## Action Items & Next Steps
1. [Next action]
2. [Next action]

## Other Notes
- [Any extra context that does not fit above]

4) Confirm location and handoff command

After writing the file, respond with a short confirmation and the exact /resume_handoff command pointing at the new handoff path.

Example response:

Handoff created. Resume with:

/resume_handoff .ai/shared/handoffs/ENG-1234/2026-01-29_14-05-33_ENG-1234_fix-user-export.md

Guidelines

• Be explicit about what is done vs. pending.
• List only the most critical references (2–3) to keep it scannable.
• Avoid large code blocks; prefer file path references.
• Include any risks, blockers, or assumptions in “Other Notes.”

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: DanAIDev
• Source: DanAIDev/agent-skills
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.