Write Continue Here

Write structured continuation file so next session starts with full context.

When Use

• Ending session with work still in progress
• Handing off complex task between sessions
• Preserving intent, failed approaches, next steps that git cannot capture
• Before closing Claude Code when mid-task

Inputs

• Required: Active session with recent work to summarize
• Optional: Specific instructions about what to emphasize in handoff

Steps

Step 1: Assess Session State

Gather facts about recent work:

git log --oneline -5
git status
git diff --stat

Review conversation context: what was objective, what completed, what partially done, what tried and failed, what decisions made.

Got: Clear understanding of current task state — completed items, in-progress items, planned next steps.

If err: Not in git repository? Skip git commands. Continuation file can still capture conversational context, task state.

Step 2: Write CONTINUE_HERE.md

Write file to project root using structure below. Every section must contain actionable content, not placeholders.

# Continue Here

> Last updated: YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ | Branch: current-branch-name

## Objective
One-paragraph description of what we are trying to accomplish and why.

## Completed
- [x] Finished item with key file paths (e.g., `src/feature.R`)
- [x] Decisions made and their rationale

## In Progress
- [ ] Partially complete work — describe current state (branch, file:line)
- [ ] Known issues with partial work

## Next Steps
1. Immediate next action (most important)
2. Subsequent actions in priority order
3. **[USER]** Items needing user input or decision

## Context
- Failed approaches and why they did not work
- Key constraints or trade-offs discovered
- Relevant issue/PR links

Guidelines:

• Objective: Capture WHY — git log shows what changed, not why
• Completed: Mark items clear done to prevent re-work
• In Progress: Highest-value section — partial state hardest to reconstruct
• Next Steps: Number by priority. Prefix user-dependent items with **[USER]**
• Context: Record negative space — what tried and rejected, why

Got: CONTINUE_HERE.md file at project root with all 5 sections populated with real content from current session. Timestamp and branch accurate.

If err: Write fails? Check file permissions. File should be created in project root (same directory as .git/). Verify .gitignore contains CONTINUE_HERE.md — if not, add it.

Step 3: Verify File

Read back CONTINUE_HERE.md. Confirm:

• Timestamp current (within last few minutes)
• Branch name matches git branch --show-current
• All 5 sections contain real content (no template placeholders)
• Next Steps numbered and actionable
• In Progress items describe current state specifically enough to resume

Got: File reads as clear, actionable handoff fresh session could use to immediately resume work.

If err: Edit sections containing placeholder text or too vague. Each section should pass test: "Could fresh session act on this without asking clarifying questions?"

Check

• CONTINUE_HERE.md exists at project root
• File contains all 5 sections with real content (not placeholders)
• Timestamp and branch accurate
• .gitignore includes CONTINUE_HERE.md
• Next Steps numbered and actionable
• In Progress items specify enough detail to resume without questions

Pitfalls

• Write placeholders instead of content: "TODO: fill in later" defeats purpose. Every section must contain real information from current session.
• Duplicate git state: Do not list every file changed — git already tracks that. Focus on intent, partial state, next steps.
• Forget Context section: Failed approaches most valuable thing to record. Without them, next session will retry same dead ends.
• Overwrite without reading: CONTINUE_HERE.md already exists from prior session? Read first — may contain unfinished work from earlier handoff.
• Leave stale files: CONTINUE_HERE.md ephemeral. After next session consumes, delete. Stale files cause confusion.

See Also

• read-continue-here — complement: reading and acting on continuation file at session start
• bootstrap-agent-identity — cold-start identity reconstruction that consumes continuation file this skill produces
• manage-memory — durable cross-session knowledge (complements this ephemeral handoff)
• commit-changes — save work to git before writing continuation file
• write-claude-md — project instructions where optional continuity guidance lives