Agent Handoff — Bootstrapper & Manager

This skill bootstraps and maintains the .ai/ shared context directory that enables seamless handoff between AI agents (Claude, Codex, Gemini, Cursor, Windsurf, OpenCode, Copilot, and others).

The always-active read/write behavior is handled by the snippet injected into each agent's config file (CLAUDE.md, codex.md, .cursorrules, etc.) during installation. This skill handles the heavier operations: first-run bootstrapping, stale detection, and project scanning.

For file format templates, see references/templates.md. For real-world examples, see references/examples.md.

When This Skill Triggers

• User says "agent handoff", "handoff", "bootstrap", "initialize", "set up handoff", "set up agent context"
• User says "continue", "resume", "keep going", "what was the last agent doing"
• Any core .ai/ file is missing, empty, or still has installer placeholders:

.ai/PROJECT.md, .ai/PATHS.md, .ai/PLAN.md, .ai/conversations/HANDOFF.md

• HANDOFF.md is stale (>7 days since last update)
• User asks about session files, missing handoff writes, or another agent not

invoking the handoff flow

• User explicitly invokes /agent-handoff

First-Run Bootstrapping

Run the full bootstrap if any required file is missing, empty, or placeholder-only:

• .ai/PROJECT.md
• .ai/PATHS.md
• .ai/PLAN.md
• .ai/conversations/HANDOFF.md

Placeholder examples include Last updated: —, (empty), "created (empty, will be populated on first agent run)", or files with only a heading.

Step 1: Create directory structure

mkdir -p .ai/conversations/decisions .ai/conversations/sessions
mkdir -p ".ai/conversations/sessions/$(date +%F)"

Step 2: Detect project type and tech stack

Read all package manifests that exist (a polyglot project may have several):

• composer.json — PHP (Laravel, Symfony, etc.)
• package.json — Node.js / frontend (Next.js, Nuxt, React, Vue, Angular, etc.)
• Gemfile — Ruby (Rails, Sinatra, etc.)
• requirements.txt / pyproject.toml / Pipfile — Python (Django, Flask, FastAPI, etc.)
• go.mod — Go
• Cargo.toml — Rust
• pom.xml / build.gradle — Java / Kotlin
• .csproj / .sln — .NET

Read all agent/convention configs that exist:

• CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md, .cursorrules, .windsurfrules, codex.md, GEMINI.md
• README.md, CONTRIBUTING.md
• .editorconfig, lint configs (.prettierrc, eslint.config.*, phpcs.xml, etc.)

Read environment hints:

• .env.example — expected environment variables
• docker-compose.yml / Dockerfile — containerized setup
• Makefile / justfile — common commands

Step 3: Discover documentation

Scan these locations for documentation files:

Root:        *.md files (README, CHANGELOG, CONTRIBUTING, ARCHITECTURE, etc.)
Docs:        docs/  documentation/  wiki/  guides/  .github/
Specs:       specs/  spec/  plans/  rfcs/  adrs/  design/  proposals/
API:         docs/api/  api-docs/
             openapi.yaml  openapi.json  swagger.json  swagger.yaml
             *.postman_collection.json (up to 3 levels deep)
             insomnia*.json  insomnia*.yaml
Nested:      docs/archive/  docs/plans/  any docs/ subdirectory with markdown

For each location found:

find {dir} -maxdepth 3 -type f \( -name "*.md" -o -name "*.pdf" -o -name "*.postman_collection.json" -o -name "openapi.*" -o -name "swagger.*" \)

Classify by reading the title or first 10 lines:

Version detection: When multiple versions exist (e.g., TRD-v3, TRD-v4, TRD-v5), identify the current version by highest number or most recent date. List only the current version under "Reference Documents (current)." Older versions go to "Archived."

Step 4: Detect spec/plan directory patterns

If specs/, rfcs/, adrs/, or similar directories exist:

1. List all subdirectories
2. Pick one representative and list its contents
3. Document the detected pattern (what files each entry contains)
4. List all entries with one-line descriptions
5. Identify active vs completed (check git history or task checkboxes)

If no formal spec system exists, note how the project tracks work (GitHub Issues, Jira, informal, etc.) if detectable.

Step 5: Generate context files

Using the templates in references/templates.md, generate:

• .ai/PROJECT.md — from detected stack, architecture, and key documents
• .ai/PATHS.md — from discovered files and documentation
• .ai/PLAN.md — from active work (git branch, recent commits, spec status)
• .ai/conversations/HANDOFF.md — initial state with "system initialized" note
• .ai/conversations/LOG.md — header only

Use the real local system time for all dates. On Unix-like systems, get it with:

date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M %Z'
date '+%Y-%m-%d/%H%M%S'

Never copy a date from old project docs, model memory, or previous handoff entries when creating new log/session records.

Step 6: Inject always-active snippet into agent config files

The .ai/ files are useless unless agents actually read them. This step ensures every agent's config file contains the always-active snippet that drives the read-on-start / write-after-task behavior.

Read the snippet from inject.md (same directory as this SKILL.md file — check .claude/skills/agent-handoff/inject.md or .agents/skills/agent-handoff/inject.md).

For each agent config file below, check if it already contains the marker ## Agent Handoff (always active). If NOT present, append the full snippet. If already present, skip it.

If inject.md is not found, use this minimal fallback snippet instead:

## Agent Handoff (always active)
<!-- agent-handoff:v3 -->

ON EVERY CONVERSATION START, read these files:
1. .ai/PROJECT.md
2. .ai/PATHS.md
3. .ai/PLAN.md
4. .ai/conversations/HANDOFF.md

If any are missing, empty, or placeholder-only, bootstrap/repair .ai/ before work.
Use `date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M %Z'` for real local timestamps.

BEFORE YOU FINISH EVERY RESPONSE, complete the handoff write-back:
- Append to .ai/conversations/LOG.md
- Update .ai/conversations/HANDOFF.md if files changed or decisions made
- Create a session file at .ai/conversations/sessions/YYYY-MM-DD/HHMMSS-agent-task-slug.md if files changed or decisions made
- In your final response, mention that handoff was updated or explain why no handoff write was needed
- Identify yourself by agent name in all writes

Step 7: Report to the user

Agent handoff system initialized.

Discovered: {N} reference documents, {N} feature specs, {N} archived docs.
Key documents: {list top 3}
Active work detected: {feature/branch or "none detected"}
Agent configs updated: {list of files where snippet was injected}
Gaps: {any missing elements like "no test directory found"}

Stale Detection

HANDOFF.md stale (> 7 days since last update):

1. Do NOT blindly trust the handoff state
2. Run git log --oneline --since="7 days ago" to check what changed
3. Cross-reference git history with HANDOFF.md
4. Update HANDOFF.md with current state before proceeding
5. Add a note: [stale] Handoff was {N} days old. Refreshed from git history.

PATHS.md references a file that no longer exists:

1. Remove the stale entry
2. Check if the file was renamed, moved, or superseded
3. Add the replacement if found
4. Log the cleanup in LOG.md

Size Limits

Startup read cost: ~800-1500 tokens for all 4 files combined. Per-task write cost: ~500-1200 tokens depending on complexity.

Concurrent Agent Safety

When two agents work simultaneously, file conflicts can occur.

Prevention:

• HANDOFF.md Active Work lists what each agent is working on.

Before starting, check if another agent is currently active.

• Session files never conflict — each agent writes its own timestamped file.
• LOG.md is append-only — conflicts are simple to resolve (keep both entries).

If a merge conflict occurs in HANDOFF.md:

1. Keep both agents' Active Work entries
2. Merge Recent Completions chronologically
3. Union all Key Context entries

Session File Protocol

Agents must create a session file whenever they modify files, make a decision, run an investigation that future agents may need, or take over another agent's active work.

1. Read the four startup files.
2. Get real local time from the environment.
3. Create the date directory:

mkdir -p .ai/conversations/sessions/$(date +%F).

1. Use this filename:

.ai/conversations/sessions/YYYY-MM-DD/HHMMSS-agent-task-slug.md.

1. Keep the file short and factual. Link to changed files, docs, commits, tests,

and blockers rather than pasting large diffs.

1. Reference the session file from HANDOFF.md Active Work or Recent Completions.
2. Append a matching LOG.md entry.
3. In the final response to the user, say that handoff was updated. If no write

was needed, say why.

If an agent writes LOG.md/HANDOFF.md but no session file for a file-changing task, the handoff is incomplete and the next agent should repair it by creating a catch-up session file from available evidence.

Monorepo Projects

• Place .ai/ at the repository root, not inside individual packages
• PATHS.md should list all packages/services with their paths
• PLAN.md can track work across packages — use package prefixes
• Session files should note which package(s) were modified

Rules

1. Always read before work. The 4 context files at conversation start. No exceptions.
2. Always write after work. Even for Q&A — a question answered today is context tomorrow.
3. Be concise in LOG.md. 3-5 lines per entry. Full details in session files.
4. Respect size limits. Archive LOG.md when it exceeds ~500 lines.
5. Promote decisions. Architecture/design choices → decisions/ directory.
6. Don't duplicate git history. Reference commit hashes, not diffs.
7. Use real timestamps. Never placeholders.
8. Tag every LOG.md entry. Tags enable scanning.
9. Keep PATHS.md accurate. New file or doc → update PATHS.md.
10. Update PLAN.md on progress. Mark tasks done, add blockers, note the agent.
11. Progressive disclosure. HANDOFF.md → session file → source files.
12. Identify yourself. Include agent name in all writes.
13. LOG.md is append-only. Never delete entries.
14. Verify on resume. Check files exist before continuing another agent's work.
15. Read docs before implementation. Check PATHS.md for relevant specs/plans.
16. Index new documents immediately. Don't leave them for the next agent.
17. Current over archived. Never reference an archived doc as authoritative.
18. Record your sources. List consulted docs in session file References section.