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pickup

Parse HANDOFF.md to orient an agent and create tasks for pending work.

Updated Apr 17, 2026
Search Tags:#handoff#task-management#git-workflow#session-continuity#agent-orientation
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/smallorbit/smallorbit-plugins --skill pickup-smallorbit
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: pickup
Source: https://github.com/smallorbit/smallorbit-plugins/tree/main/plugins/sessionkit/skills/pickup
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/smallorbit/smallorbit-plugins --skill pickup-smallorbit

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Load a handoff document and orient the agent to continue a previous session's work. Use at the start of a new session after /handoff was run.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Discover and parse .sessionkit/HANDOFF.md to extract fields like Project, Date, Branch, Goal, Progress, Git State, Remaining Work, and Context.
  • Produce a concise orientation summary covering Goal, Progress, Git State, Remaining Work, and Context to quickly resume work.
  • Hydrate tasks from the ## Task List section: create pending/in_progress tasks, map old IDs to new IDs, and establish blockedBy relationships.
  • Suggest a git checkout if the HANDOFF branch differs from the current branch to preserve continuity.
  • Prompt for next actions using AskUserQuestion with 2–4 options derived from the Remaining Work.
  • Respect read-only behavior: never modify the HANDOFF.md file.

Quick Start

Use /pickup to load the handoff context from .sessionkit/HANDOFF.md and orient the agent to continue the previous session.

Frequently Asked Questions about pickup

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I resume a previous coding session and load prior handoff context?▼

To resume a previous coding session and load prior handoff context, run the /pickup command to parse the .sessionkit/HANDOFF.md file. This extracts project, branch, goal, and progress data to orient your agent and restore your working state.

How does session continuity work when restoring a git workflow handoff?▼

Session continuity works by parsing the HANDOFF.md file to extract git state and branch information. It detects if the handoff branch differs from your current branch and suggests a git checkout to preserve continuity before you continue development.

Can I hydrate and remap pending tasks from a markdown handoff document?▼

Yes, you can hydrate and remap pending tasks from a markdown handoff document. The skill parses the Task List section, recreates pending and in-progress tasks, maps old IDs to new IDs, and establishes blockedBy relationships for accurate task restoration.

How do I continue work on remaining tasks after a project handoff?▼

To continue work on remaining tasks after a project handoff, the skill presents 2 to 4 next-action options derived from the Remaining Work section. It uses AskUserQuestion to prompt you, allowing you to select an action and immediately resume development.

Does the pickup skill modify the HANDOFF.md file during agent orientation?▼

No, the pickup skill respects read-only behavior and never modifies the HANDOFF.md file during agent orientation. It only parses the document to extract context, create tasks, and suggest git checkouts without altering your original handoff data.

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