Loop 066
The restartable handoff loop
A bounded AI-agent handoff workflow that records current state, evidence, risks, untouched scope, and exactly one safe next action before the session ends.
Ready-to-use prompt
Copy the loop
Before ending [session or work period], create a restartable handoff. Record the current goal, changes, verification evidence, untouched scope, uncertainties, open risks, off-limits areas, and last decision or gate. Check that a new human or agent could continue without guessing, then name exactly one safe next action and what they must not assume. Stop after the handoff; do not begin that action.
Verify / stop
The next person or agent can resume without guessing.
The handoff accounts for current state, evidence, untouched and off-limits scope, uncertainty, risks, the last decision, one safe next action, and assumptions the next actor must not make.
Context and guidanceWhen to use it, steps, safety notes, and related loops
Use this when
Use this when a session is ending, context is becoming unwieldy, or another human or agent may need to continue the work later.
How to run it
- State the current goal, the work completed, and the evidence that was actually verified.
- Record untouched and off-limits scope, uncertainty, open risks, and the last decision or gate.
- Test whether a new actor could restart from the handoff without relying on hidden context or assumptions.
- Name exactly one safe next action, state what must not be assumed, and stop without starting it.
Why it works
A compact end-of-session artifact prevents context loss from turning into duplicated work, unsafe assumptions, or accidental scope expansion. The mandatory stop keeps a handoff from silently becoming authorization for more work.
Implementation note
Describe only verified state. Do not turn guesses into completed work, omit blockers, or use the handoff itself as permission to begin the next action.
Contributor playbookBoundaries, required outputs, implementation guidance, and reviewer handoff
Do not use this when
- Do not create a handoff merely to restate a completed one-step task with no continuation risk.
Required outputs
- A concise current-state record with evidence, risks, boundaries, and exactly one safe next action.
- A warning about anything the next human or agent must not assume.
Match the method to the artifact
- Distinguish verified work from planned or inferred work.
- Keep the handoff restartable by naming concrete artifacts, commands, decisions, or evidence where available.
Reviewer handoff
- Confirm that the handoff does not hide uncertainty or begin the proposed next action.