/resume_handoff

description: Resume work from handoff document with context analysis and validation

Resume work from a handoff document

You are tasked with resuming work from a handoff document through an interactive process. These handoffs contain critical context, learnings, and next steps from previous work sessions that need to be understood and continued.

Initial Response

When this command is invoked:

1. **If the path to a handoff document was provided**:

• If a handoff document path was provided as a parameter, skip the default message
• Immediately read the handoff document FULLY
• Immediately read any research or plan documents that it links to under `thoughts/shared/plans` or `thoughts/shared/research`. do NOT use a sub-agent to read these critical files.
• Begin the analysis process by ingesting relevant context from the handoff document, reading additional files it mentions
• Then propose a course of action to the user and confirm, or ask for clarification on direction.

2. **If a ticket number (like ENG-XXXX) was provided**:

• run `humanlayer thoughts sync` to ensure your `thoughts/` directory is up to date.
• locate the most recent handoff document for the ticket. Tickets will be located in `thoughts/shared/handoffs/ENG-XXXX` where `ENG-XXXX` is the ticket number. e.g. for `ENG-2124` the handoffs would be in `thoughts/shared/handoffs/ENG-2124/`. **List this directory's contents.**
• There may be zero, one or multiple files in the directory.
• **If there are zero files in the directory, or the directory does not exist**: tell the user: "I'm sorry, I can't seem to find that handoff document. Can you please provide me with a path to it?"
• **If there is only one file in the directory**: proceed with that handoff
• **If there are multiple files in the directory**: using the date and time specified in the file name (it will be in the format `YYYY-MM-DD_HH-MM-SS` in 24-hour time format), proceed with the _most recent_ handoff document.
• Immediately read the handoff document FULLY
• Immediately read any research or plan documents that it links to under `thoughts/shared/plans` or `thoughts/shared/research`; do NOT use a sub-agent to read these critical files.
• Begin the analysis process by ingesting relevant context from the handoff document, reading additional files it mentions
• Then propose a course of action to the user and confirm, or ask for clarification on direction.

3. **If no parameters provided**, respond with:

I'll help you resume work from a handoff document. Let me find the available handoffs.

Which handoff would you like to resume from?

Tip: You can invoke this command directly with a handoff path: `/resume_handoff `thoughts/shared/handoffs/ENG-XXXX/YYYY-MM-DD_HH-MM-SS_ENG-XXXX_description.md`

or using a ticket number to resume from the most recent handoff for that ticket: `/resume_handoff ENG-XXXX`

Then wait for the user's input.

Process Steps

Step 1: Read and Analyze Handoff

1. **Read handoff document completely**:

• Use the Read tool WITHOUT limit/offset parameters
• Extract all sections:
• Task(s) and their statuses
• Recent changes
• Learnings
• Artifacts
• Action items and next steps
• Other notes

2. **Spawn focused research tasks**: Based on the handoff content, spawn parallel research tasks to verify current state:

   Task 1 - Gather artifact context:
   Read all artifacts mentioned in the handoff.
   1. Read feature documents listed in "Artifacts"
   2. Read implementation plans referenced
   3. Read any research documents mentioned
   4. Extract key requirements and decisions
   Use tools: Read
   Return: Summary of artifact contents and key decisions

3. **Wait for ALL sub-tasks to complete** before proceeding

4. **Read critical files identified**:

• Read files from "Learnings" section completely
• Read files from "Recent changes" to understand modifications
• Read any new related files discovered during research

Step 2: Synthesize and Present Analysis

1. **Present comprehensive analysis**:

   I've analyzed the handoff from [date] by [researcher]. Here's the current situation:

   **Original Tasks:**
   - [Task 1]: [Status from handoff] → [Current verification]
   - [Task 2]: [Status from handoff] → [Current verification]

   **Key Learnings Validated:**
   - [Learning with file:line reference] - [Still valid/Changed]
   - [Pattern discovered] - [Still applicable/Modified]

   **Recent Changes Status:**
   - [Change 1] - [Verified present/Missing/Modified]
   - [Change 2] - [Verified present/Missing/Modified]

   **Artifacts Reviewed:**
   - [Document 1]: [Key takeaway]
   - [Document 2]: [Key takeaway]

   **Recommended Next Actions:**
   Based on the handoff's action items and current state:
   1. [Most logical next step based on handoff]
   2. [Second priority action]
   3. [Additional tasks discovered]

   **Potential Issues Identified:**
   - [Any conflicts or regressions found]
   - [Missing dependencies or broken code]

   Shall I proceed with [recommended action 1], or would you like to adjust the approach?

2. **Get confirmation** before proceeding

Step 3: Create Action Plan

1. **Use TodoWrite to create task list**:

• Convert action items from handoff into todos
• Add any new tasks discovered during analysis
• Prioritize based on dependencies and handoff guidance

2. **Present the plan**:

   I've created a task list based on the handoff and current analysis:

   [Show todo list]

   Ready to begin with the first task: [task description]?

Step 4: Begin Implementation

1. **Start with the first approved task** 2. **Reference learnings from handoff** throughout implementation 3. **Apply patterns and approaches documented** in the handoff 4. **Update progress** as tasks are completed

Guidelines

1. **Be Thorough in Analysis**:

• Read the entire handoff docum