handoff

Handoff

Create a detailed handoff summary of the conversation for continuing work in a new session.

A handoff requires a purpose — what the next agent should do. If no purpose is clear, ask the user before proceeding.

Process

The handoff file includes an <analysis> section (written to the file, not chat; EVERYTHING handoff specific goes into the file; the entire analysis goes ONLY into the file - do not summarize in chat beforehand) where you:

1. Chronologically analyze the ENTIRE conversation with proper weight. Don't compress early discussion while elaborating recent work. For each significant section identify:
   • The user's explicit requests and evolving intent
   • How their thinking developed or changed
   • Key decisions and the reasoning behind them
   • Clarifications that refined understanding
   • Technical concepts, code patterns, file changes
2. Capture the WHY behind decisions, not just what was decided.
3. Double-check for technical accuracy and completeness.

Sections

The handoff should include:

1. Primary Request and Intent: All user requests and intents in detail
2. Key Technical Concepts: Important technical concepts, technologies, and frameworks discussed
3. Files and Code Sections: Specific files examined, modified, or created. Include code snippets where applicable and why each file matters.
4. Problem Solving: Problems solved and ongoing troubleshooting efforts
5. Pending Tasks: Tasks explicitly requested but not yet done
6. Current Work: What was being worked on immediately before this handoff
7. Next Step: Required next step, DIRECTLY aligned with the handoff purpose
8. Sources: Wiki-links to task files, knowledge files, and relevant external docs

Naming

Create a descriptive slug using keywords separated by dashes, lowercase. More detail is better.

Good examples:

• workflow-design-handoff-pickup-commands-wikilinks
• gemini-pdf-extraction-prompt-testing-latex-handling
• stripe-webhook-eu-withdrawal-edge-cases

Bad examples (too vague):

• gemini-integration
• stripe-fix

Output Structure

# <Readable Summary>

<analysis>
[Thought process, ensuring all points are covered]
</analysis>

<plan>

## 1. Primary Request and Intent
[Detailed description of all user requests and intents]

## 2. Key Technical Concepts
- [Concept 1]
- [Concept 2]

## 3. Files and Code Sections
### [File Name 1]
- **Why important**: [Summary]
- **Changes made**: [Summary]
- **Code snippet**:
```language
[Code]

4. Problem Solving

[Solved problems and ongoing troubleshooting]

5. Pending Tasks

[Tasks requested but not done]

6. Current Work

[What was being worked on before handoff]

7. Next Step

[Required next step aligned with purpose]

8. Sources

Task/Knowledge:

• [[task-file-name]] — the task being worked on (can be multiple if session grouped related work)
• [[knowledge-file-name]] — relevant knowledge

External docs:

• MUST READ: Doc title — next agent needs this before working
• Reference: Doc title — consulted, key finding was X

Key code files:

• MUST READ: path/to/file.py — why this file matters
• Reference: path/to/other.py — related context

Bias toward MUST READ. You have context that shaped your thinking — the next agent doesn't. When in doubt, mark it MUST READ.

```

Final Step

Write the handoff to: agent/handoffs/YYYY-MM-DD-<slug>.md

Then give the user the command to continue from there:

/mx:task agent/handoffs/YYYY-MM-DD-<slug>.md