Pickup Prompt Generator
Generate a handoff prompt that allows resuming work in a fresh session.
Output Format
Output the prompt in a fenced code block so the user can copy it:
## Session Pickup
### Goal
[One sentence: what we're trying to accomplish]
### Context
[2-3 sentences: relevant background the next session needs]
### Progress
- [Completed item 1]
- [Completed item 2]
- ...
### Key Decisions
- [Decision]: [Brief rationale]
- ...
### Current State
[What's the immediate situation? What file/task were we in the middle of?]
### Next Steps
1. [Immediate next action]
2. [Following action]
3. ...
### Open Questions
- [Any unresolved questions or blockers]Guidelines
- Be specific: Include file paths, function names, exact values—not vague descriptions
- Capture rationale: For decisions, briefly note WHY, not just what
- Prioritize recency: Recent context matters more than early conversation
- Skip the obvious: Don't include information Claude would know from the codebase
- Include blockers: Note anything that was blocking progress or needs investigation
- Keep it scannable: Use bullets and short phrases, not paragraphs
What to Include
| Include | Skip |
|---|---|
| Current task and subtasks | General pleasantries |
| Files modified or key files referenced | Files just briefly mentioned |
| Decisions made and their rationale | Exploratory dead-ends (unless informative) |
| Blockers or open questions | Resolved issues |
| Next concrete steps | Vague future plans |
| Error messages if debugging | Successful outputs |
Example Output
## Session Pickup
### Goal
Add a `/pickup` skill to generate session handoff prompts before /clear.
### Context
Working in Rob's PKM vault. Skills live in `~/.claude/skills/`. Using the skill-creator skill as a guide for proper skill structure.
### Progress
- Clarified requirements: output to clipboard, focus on task state, name it "pickup"
- Initialized skill at `/Users/rob/.claude/skills/pickup`
- Removed unneeded example directories
### Key Decisions
- No scripts/references/assets needed: pure workflow skill
- Task-state focus over full-context: keeps prompts concise and actionable
### Current State
Writing SKILL.md content. Need to complete the instructions and package the skill.
### Next Steps
1. Finish writing SKILL.md
2. Package with package_skill.py
3. Test by invoking /pickup
### Open Questions
- None currently