context-handoff

A Claude Code plugin that lets you save your session state before context runs out, and resume cleanly in the next session.

What it does

When you're getting close to the context limit (or just want to checkpoint), /handoff writes a structured Markdown file summarizing what you've done, what's in progress, and what's next. In a new session, /handoff-resume finds that file, summarizes it, and asks where you want to continue.

> /handoff before-refactor
✓ Wrote ./.handoffs/2026-05-12-1430-before-refactor.md
  Captured: 3 files changed, 1 commit, 2 next steps

> /handoff-resume
Found 3 handoffs:
1. 2026-05-12 14:30 — "Refactoring auth middleware..."
2. 2026-05-12 09:15 [before-refactor] — "About to split auth..."
3. 2026-05-11 17:42 — "WIP: parser bug..."

Which one? (1-3)

Install

/plugin marketplace add se4thvin/context-handoff
/plugin install context-handoff

Usage

Command	What it does
/handoff	Write a handoff with a timestamp-only filename.
/handoff <label>	Write a handoff with <label> appended to the filename (slugified).
/handoff-resume	Show a picker of recent handoffs, or auto-summarize if only one exists (then asks before continuing).
/handoff-resume <n>	Skip the picker, load handoff #n (1-based, newest first).

You can also just say "write a handoff" or "pick up where we left off" — the skills fire on those phrases too.

When does it trigger automatically?

The writing-handoff skill is intentionally conservative. It triggers on:

• Explicit /handoff invocation.
• Phrases like "write a handoff", "save state", "save session".
• Context-exhaustion signals: "running low on context", "almost out of context".
• Auto-compaction system reminders.

It does NOT trigger on generic session-ending phrases like "wrap up" or "let's stop for today" — those don't mean context is the problem.

Configuration

Env var	Default	Effect
HANDOFF_DIR	./.handoffs/ (per-project)	Override the directory where handoffs are written and searched. Useful for centralizing: export HANDOFF_DIR=~/.claude/handoffs.

What gets captured

The handoff file has these sections:

• Current task — where you left off
• Completed this session — decisions, file changes, commits
• In progress — uncommitted changes, partial work
• Next steps — prioritized TODOs
• Blockers / open questions — things waiting on input
• Key context — file paths, function names, conventions, gotchas

Plus a header with project name, working directory, git branch, and timestamp.

License

MIT — see LICENSE.