context-reset

Context Reset

Protocol for cleanly resetting agent context when the context window fills up or a fresh start is needed.

When to Use

The full commit → handoff → card-update → clear protocol, triggered by context pressure or a domain switch — not by finishing a task. For end-of-task wrap-up where context is still healthy, use task-summary (the record) or just transition the card; you don't need a reset. The handoff-file step itself is context-handoff, which this protocol invokes — call that one directly if you want a handoff without clearing context.

Procedure

1. Assess current state:

   • Is there uncommitted work? → commit or stash first
   • Is there an active task card? → note current state in work_log
   • Are there open files or running processes? → clean up

2. Run context-handoff:

   • Execute context-handoff to write a handoff file
   • For general sessions: write to <ai_hats_dir>/sessions/handoffs/YYYY-MM-DD-<title>.md
   • For active tasks: rack transition <ID> --attach <file>:handoff.md — the tracker refuses a direct write (see context-handoff step 1)

3. Update task card (if exists):

   • Remaining work is a coherent chunk → shape it per task-slicing, append as ## Steps checklist items in plan.md, run rack plan-extract <ID> (idempotent), wire order via rack transition <ID> --link depends:<DEP> — the tail becomes takeable successor tasks instead of a frozen card
   • Otherwise set state to blocked with reason: context-reset
   • Add handoff_file path to work_log

4. Report to supervisor:

   • Print the handoff file path
   • Print brief summary: what was done, what remains
   • Suggest the command to resume (e.g., "continue task HATS-XXX using handoff at <path>")

Completion

• All work committed or stashed
• Handoff file written via context-handoff
• Task card updated (if applicable)
• Supervisor informed with resume instructions

Anti-Patterns

• Resetting without saving context — the next agent starts blind
• Leaving uncommitted changes — work is lost on context switch
• Writing the handoff AFTER reset — too late, context is already gone