handoff-protocols
Manages work transitions between team members or agents by creating structured handoff documents, summarizing project status, documenting key decisions, blockers, and open questions, and generating onboarding briefs. Use when someone needs to hand off, hand over, or transition a project; pass work to another person or agent; brief a colleague taking over; prepare a shift change summary; or onboard someone mid-task. Produces ready-to-use handoff documents covering current status, next steps, known issues, technical context, and communication templates for both planned and unplanned transfers.
Best use case
handoff-protocols is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Manages work transitions between team members or agents by creating structured handoff documents, summarizing project status, documenting key decisions, blockers, and open questions, and generating onboarding briefs. Use when someone needs to hand off, hand over, or transition a project; pass work to another person or agent; brief a colleague taking over; prepare a shift change summary; or onboard someone mid-task. Produces ready-to-use handoff documents covering current status, next steps, known issues, technical context, and communication templates for both planned and unplanned transfers.
Teams using handoff-protocols should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/handoff-protocols/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How handoff-protocols Compares
| Feature / Agent | handoff-protocols | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Manages work transitions between team members or agents by creating structured handoff documents, summarizing project status, documenting key decisions, blockers, and open questions, and generating onboarding briefs. Use when someone needs to hand off, hand over, or transition a project; pass work to another person or agent; brief a colleague taking over; prepare a shift change summary; or onboard someone mid-task. Produces ready-to-use handoff documents covering current status, next steps, known issues, technical context, and communication templates for both planned and unplanned transfers.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Handoff Protocols You are executing a work handoff between team members or agents. ## Handoff Types | Type | When | Key Characteristics | |------|------|---------------------| | **Planned** | End of shift, vacation, role change | Time to prepare docs; opportunity for sync meeting; gradual transition possible | | **Unplanned** | Illness, emergency, priority change | Limited prep time; rely on existing docs; may need to reconstruct context | | **Partial** | Transfer one piece while retaining other work | Requires clear boundary definition; shared ownership and integration points | ## Handoff Document ### Essential Sections ```markdown # Handoff: [Task/Project Name] ## Quick Summary [One paragraph: What is this and current state] ## Current Status - [ ] Phase: [Design/Implementation/Testing/etc] - [ ] Progress: [X% complete / Y of Z tasks done] - [ ] Blockers: [Current blockers, if any] - [ ] Next Action: [Very next thing to do] ## Context ### What We're Building [Brief description of the goal/feature] ### Why [Business/technical justification] ### Key Decisions Made | Decision | Options Considered | Choice | Rationale | |----------|-------------------|--------|-----------| | [D1] | A, B, C | B | [Why B was chosen] | ### Open Questions - [Question 1] - [Question 2] ## Technical Details ### Architecture/Design [Relevant diagrams or links] ### Key Files - `path/to/file1.ts` - [Purpose] - `path/to/file2.ts` - [Purpose] ### Dependencies - [Dependency 1]: [How it's used] - [Dependency 2]: [How it's used] ## Current State of Code ### What's Complete - [x] [Completed item 1] - [x] [Completed item 2] ### In Progress - [ ] [In progress item] - [Current state] ### Not Started - [ ] [Pending item 1] - [ ] [Pending item 2] ## Known Issues ### Active Issues - [Issue 1]: [Description and current understanding] ### Workarounds in Place - [Workaround 1]: [Why it exists, how to remove it] ## How to Continue ### Immediate Next Steps 1. [Step 1] 2. [Step 2] 3. [Step 3] ### Things to Watch Out For - [Gotcha 1] - [Gotcha 2] ### Who to Contact - [Name/Team] for [Topic] - [Name/Team] for [Topic] ## Resources - [Link to design doc] - [Link to requirements] - [Link to related PRs] ``` ## Handoff Meeting Checklist If doing a live handoff: **Before Meeting:** - [ ] Prepare handoff document - [ ] Ensure code is in clean state - [ ] List questions you anticipate **During Meeting:** 1. Walk through handoff document 2. Show current state of code 3. Demo any working functionality 4. Explain key decisions and trade-offs 5. Highlight risks and unknowns 6. Answer questions 7. Verify recipient understands **After Meeting:** - [ ] Share access to all resources - [ ] Offer availability for follow-up questions - [ ] Confirm handoff complete ## Code State Preparation Before handing off, ensure: ```bash # Clean working directory git status # Should be clean # Latest changes committed git log -1 # Recent meaningful commit # Branch is up to date git pull origin main # Tests pass npm test # All green # Build works npm run build # No errors ``` Leave the code in a state where: - It compiles/runs - Tests pass - No work-in-progress changes uncommitted - Clear commit messages explain recent changes ## Communication Templates ### Async Handoff Message ``` Hi [Name], I'm handing off [Task/Project] to you. Here's what you need to know: **Status:** [Current state in one sentence] **What I've Done:** - [Accomplishment 1] - [Accomplishment 2] **Next Steps:** 1. [Immediate next action] 2. [Following action] **Watch Out For:** - [Important gotcha] **Resources:** - Handoff doc: [link] - Code: [branch name] - Related PR: [link] Let me know if you have questions! ``` ### Requesting Additional Context ``` Hi [Name], I'm picking up [Task] from your handoff. A few clarifications: 1. [Specific question 1] 2. [Specific question 2] Also, I noticed [observation]. Was that intentional? Thanks! ``` ## Handoff Anti-Patterns Avoid: brain dumps of unstructured info, disappearing after handoff, omitting critical context, and handing off code in a broken state. ## Receiving a Handoff When you receive work: 1. **Read documentation** before asking questions 2. **Acknowledge receipt** to confirm handoff 3. **Identify gaps** in your understanding 4. **Ask focused questions** about specific unclear points 5. **Verify you can build/run** the current state 6. **Document** any additional context you discover ## Handoff Quality Checklist For the giver: - [ ] Documentation is complete and current - [ ] Code is in clean, working state - [ ] All access/permissions transferred - [ ] Key contacts introduced - [ ] Questions answered or noted - [ ] Availability for follow-up communicated For the receiver: - [ ] Documentation reviewed - [ ] Can build and run the code - [ ] Understand current state - [ ] Know next steps - [ ] Know who to contact - [ ] No blocking questions ## Integration with Other Skills - **structured-review**: Get review before handoff if work is complete - **parallel-investigation**: Handoff individual threads - **planning/task-decomposition**: Reference task breakdown in handoff
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