/catchup

name: catchup
description: Summarizes recent git changes for context recovery after session breaks. Use when resuming work after a gap or handing off to another session.
alwaysApply: false
category: analysis-methods
tags:
- summarization
- context-acquisition
- insights
- follow-ups
dependencies:
- imbue:proof-of-work
tools: []
usage_patterns:
- context-catchup
- handoff-preparation
- progress-review
complexity: intermediate
estimated_tokens: 700
progressive_loading: true
role: entrypoint

Catchup Analysis Methodology

Overview

Structured method for quickly understanding recent changes in git repositories, meeting notes, sprint progress, document revisions, or system logs. Answers "what changed and what matters?" efficiently.

When To Use

• Joining ongoing work or returning after absence
• Before planning or reviewing handoffs
• Any "what happened and what's next" context

When NOT To Use

• Doing detailed

diff analysis - use diff-analysis instead

• Full code review needed
• use review-core instead

Activation

**Keywords**: catchup, summary, status, progress, context, handoff **Cues**: "get me up to speed", "current status", "summarize progress"

Progressive Loading

Load modules based on context:

**Git**: Load `modules/git-catchup-patterns.md` for git commands. Consider `sanctum:git-workspace-review` for initial data gathering.

**Documents/Notes**: Load `modules/document-analysis-patterns.md` for meeting notes, sprint tracking, document revisions.

**Logs/Events**: Load `modules/log-analysis-patterns.md` for time-series and metric analysis.

**Always Available**: `imbue:proof-of-work`, progress-item workflow, structured output.

Required Progress Items

1. `catchup:context-confirmed` - Boundaries established 2. `catchup:delta-captured` - Changes enumerated 3. `catchup:insights-extracted` - Themes identified 4. `catchup:followups-recorded` - Actions captured

4-Step Methodology

Step 1: Confirm Context

Define scope (git branch, sprint, meetings), baseline (last state), and current target. See modules for commands.

Step 2: Capture Delta

Enumerate changed items with metrics. Prioritize source/config/docs over generated artifacts. See modules for strategies.

Step 3: Extract Insights

Per item: **What** (change), **Why** (motivation), **Implications** (tests/risks/deps). Rollup into themes.

Step 4: Record Follow-ups

Capture: Tests, Documentation, Reviews, Blockers, Questions. If none, state explicitly.

Output Format

## Summary
[2-3 sentence theme + risk overview]

## Key Changes
- [Item]: [what/why/implication]

## Follow-ups
- [ ] [Action with owner]

## Blockers/Questions
- [Item requiring resolution]

**Verification:** Run the command with `--help` flag to verify availability.

Integration

Use `imbue:diff-analysis` for risk assessment, `imbue:proof-of-work` for reproducibility, `sanctum:git-workspace-review` for git data. Feed to `brainstorming` or `writing-plans` as needed.

Token Conservation

Reference paths and lines (don't reproduce). Summarize outputs. Defer deep analysis. Use progressive loading.

Exit Criteria

• [ ] All four `catchup:` progress items are marked complete
• [ ] The Summary names the baseline it compared against: a git ref,

a date, or a document version

• [ ] Key Changes lists each changed area with a file path or source

reference

• [ ] Follow-ups and Blockers/Questions are present, each filled or

marked "none"