Resume Checklist

# Resume Checklist Follow this checklist when resuming work from a handoff document to ensure zero-ambiguity continuation. ## Pre-Resume Verification - [ ] Read the entire handoff document before taking any action - [ ] Verify you are in the correct project directory - [ ] Confirm the git branch matches (or understand why it might differ) - [ ] Check the handoff timestamp - how stale is this context? ## Context Validation - [ ] Review "Important Context" section thoroughly - [ ] Understand all assumptions listed - are they still valid? - [ ] Check if any blockers have been resolved since handoff - [ ] Review "Potential Gotchas" to avoid known pitfalls ## State Verification - [ ] Run `git status` to see current file state - [ ] Compare modified files list in handoff vs current state - [ ] Check if any environment variables need to be set - [ ] Verify any required services/processes are running ## Resume Execution - [ ] Start with "Immediate Next Steps" item #1 - [ ] Reference "Files Modified" table for context on recent changes - [ ] Apply patterns documented in "Key Patterns Discovered" - [ ] Follow architectural insights from "Architecture Overview" ## During Work - [ ] Update handoff document if major new context is discovered - [ ] Mark completed items in "Pending Work" as you finish them - [ ] Add new blockers/questions as they arise - [ ] Consider creating a new handoff if session becomes long ## Red Flags - Stop and Verify If you encounter any of these, pause and verify context before proceeding: 1. **Files mentioned in handoff don't exist** - codebase may have changed significantly 2. **Branch has diverged substantially** - check git log for recent commits 3. **Assumptions are clearly invalid** - reassess the approach 4. **Blockers marked as unresolved are now blocking you** - escalate to user 5. **Architecture has changed** - re-explore before continuing ## Quick Start Commands After reading the handoff, these commands help verify state: ```bash # Check current branch and status git branch --show-current git status # See recent commits (compare with handoff) git log --oneline -10 # Check for any running processes mentioned ps aux | grep [process-name] # Verify environment env | grep [relevant-var] ``` ## Handoff Quality Assessment Rate the handoff quality to identify if more exploration is needed: | Aspect | Good | Needs Exploration | |--------|------|-------------------| | Next steps | Clear, actionable | Vague or missing | | File references | Specific paths/lines | General descriptions | | Decisions | Rationale included | Just outcomes | | Context | Complete picture | Gaps or assumptions | If multiple aspects "Need Exploration", spend time re-exploring the codebase before continuing implementation.