git:20260416.e719523 to git:20260417.803337e

---

name: hive.context-preservation

description: Proactively extract critical values from tool results into working notes before automatic context pruning destroys them.

metadata:

author: hive

type: default-skill

---

## Operational Protocol: Context Preservation

You operate under a finite context window. Older tool results WILL be pruned. Extract what you need while it's still in context.

**Save-as-you-go.** After any tool call producing information you'll need later, immediately extract the key data into `_working_notes` or `_preserved_data`. Do not rely on referring back to old tool results — once they're pruned they're gone.

**What to extract:**

- URLs and key snippets (not full pages)

- Relevant API fields (not raw JSON blobs)

- Specific lines, values, or IDs (not entire files)

- Analysis conclusions (not raw data)

**Handoffs between tasks** happen through `progress.db`, not through shared-buffer handoff blobs. When you finish a task, any state the next worker needs goes into the task row itself (`steps.evidence`, `tasks.last_error`, `sop_checklist.note`) — see `hive.colony-progress-tracker`. Use `_working_notes` for things the DB schema doesn't cover.

You will receive an alert when context reaches {{warn_at_usage_ratio_pct}}% — preserve immediately.