context-anchor

# Context Anchor Skill

Helps agents recover context after compaction by scanning memory files and generating a "here's where you are" briefing.

## Why This Exists

Context compaction loses memory. Files survive. But after waking up fresh, you need to:
1. Know what you were working on
2. See decisions that were made
3. Find open loops that need closing
4. Get oriented fast

This skill automates that recovery.

---

## Quick Start

```bash
# Full briefing (default)
./scripts/anchor.sh

# Just show current task
./scripts/anchor.sh --task

# Just show active context files
./scripts/anchor.sh --active

# Just show recent decisions
./scripts/anchor.sh --decisions

# Show open loops / questions
./scripts/anchor.sh --loops

# Scan specific number of days back
./scripts/anchor.sh --days 3
```

---

## What It Scans

| Source | What It Extracts |
|--------|------------------|
| `memory/current-task.md` | Current task status, blockers, next steps |
| `memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md` | Recent daily logs (last 2 days by default) |
| `context/active/*.md` | In-progress task files |
| Daily logs | Decisions (lines with "Decision:", "Decided:", "✅") |
| Daily logs | Open loops (lines with "?", "TODO:", "Blocker:", "Need to") |

---

## Output Format

The script outputs a structured briefing:

```
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
                    CONTEXT ANCHOR
              Where You Left Off
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

📋 CURRENT TASK
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
[Contents of memory/current-task.md or "No current task set"]

📂 ACTIVE CONTEXT FILES
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
• context/active/project-name.md (updated 2h ago)
  └─ First line preview...

🎯 RECENT DECISIONS (last 2 days)
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
[2026-01-30] Decision: Use Cloudflare Pages for hosting
[2026-01-30] ✅ Completed email capture setup

❓ OPEN LOOPS
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
[2026-01-30] Need to enable SFTP on NAS
[2026-01-30] TODO: Create Product Hunt account

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
```

---

## Integration with AGENTS.md

Add to your "Every Session" routine:

```markdown
## Every Session

Before doing anything else:
1. Run `./skills/context-anchor/scripts/anchor.sh` for orientation
2. Read `SOUL.md` — this is who you are
3. Read `USER.md` — this is who you're helping
...
```

Or use it manually when you feel lost about context.

---

## Customization

### Change workspace root

```bash
WORKSPACE=/path/to/workspace ./scripts/anchor.sh
```

### Change days to scan

```bash
./scripts/anchor.sh --days 5  # Scan 5 days back
```

---

## No Dependencies

Pure bash. Uses only:
- `find`, `grep`, `head`, `tail`, `date`, `stat`
- Works on macOS and Linux
- No external tools required

---

## When to Use

- **Session start**: Quick orientation on what's happening
- **After compaction**: Recover lost context
- **Feeling lost**: "Wait, what was I doing?"
- **Handoff**: Show another agent where things stand
- **Daily review**: See what decisions were made