git:20260915.36d3cc7 to git:20260915.19810b9

48 added, 39 removed. Audit A to A.

---

name: pickup

description: Resume work in a fresh session from the newest handoff file written by /handoff, from a named handoff file, or from an unfinished orchestration run found on a local feature branch. Checks first whether commits made after the handoff already did its task.

disable-model-invocation: true

argument-hint: "[handoff path]"

---

# Pickup

A fresh session starts with no memory. This skill finds what to continue: a

handoff file (a continuation prompt that /handoff wrote into

`tmp/docs/<date>-handoff-<slug>.md`) or an orchestration run that stopped before

- its end. It has no entry in `hooks/skill-rules.json` on purpose: it runs only

- when the user types /pickup, because it can start work that another session may

- already be doing.

+ its end. No `hooks/skill-rules.json` entry, on purpose: only a typed /pickup starts

+ it, because it can start work that another session is already doing.

Argument given by the user (may be empty): $ARGUMENTS

## Procedure

1. **Scan.** From the project root, run with the Bash tool

- `node "<skill-dir>/scripts/pickup-scan.js" [path]`, where `<skill-dir>` is this

- skill's own base directory and `[path]` is the argument above. On Copilot CLI

- the argument may not arrive; when it is empty, use only a path named in the

- message that invoked /pickup, never a path found in `state.md` or elsewhere.

- The script prints `key: value` lines: `git:`, `handoff:`, `written:`, `branch:`,

- `done-when:`, `head:`, `since:`, `commits:` with the commit list, `status:`,

- and without a path `runs:` with one `run:` block per unfinished run (`log:`,

- `last:`, `last-commit:`, `resume:`).

+ `node "<skill-dir>/scripts/pickup-scan.js" "<argument>"` (`<skill-dir>` is this

+ skill's base directory; leave out `"<argument>"` when it is empty). On Copilot

+ CLI (command-line interface) the argument may not arrive; when it is empty, use

+ only a path named in the message that invoked /pickup, never one from

+ `state.md` or elsewhere. An argument that is not an existing file: if it looks

+ like a file path, report that it does not exist and stop; otherwise (for example

+ `with N_code=1 M=1` or `[I2]: yes`) run the scan with no argument, show the

+ `resume:` path, tell the user to type `Resume orchestration for <path> <their

+ text>` themselves, and stop. A non-zero exit or no `git:` line → report the

+ output and stop. Keys: `git:`, `default-branch:`, `handoff:` (or

+ `handoff: unreadable <path>`), `written:` and `branch:` (or `header: none`),

+ `done-when:`, `current-branch:`, `dirty:`, `branch-differs:`, `head:`, `since:`,

+ `commits:` (or `commits: not-listed`), `status:`; without an argument `runs:`,

+ and per run `run:`, `log:`, `ambiguous:`, `last:`, `last-commit:`, `resume:`.

- 2. **Choose the mode.** With a path: handoff mode (`handoff: missing <path>` →

- report it and stop). Without a path, the candidates are the handoff (unless

- `handoff: none`) plus every `run:` block.

+ 2. **Choose the mode.** With an argument: handoff mode (`handoff: missing` or

+ `unreadable` → report it and stop). Without one, the candidates are the handoff

+ (unless `handoff: none`) plus every `run:` block.

- 0 candidates → report that there is nothing to pick up, and stop.

- - 2 or more → list each candidate with the exact line to type, then stop:

- `/pickup <handoff path>` for the handoff, and

- `Resume orchestration for <resume path>` for a run. Never rank a handoff

- against a run; the user chooses.

- - 1 → handoff mode or run mode for that candidate.

+ - 2 or more → list each, then stop; the user chooses, never rank a handoff

+ against a run. A handoff: `/pickup <handoff path>` with its `status:` and

+ commit count. A run: `Resume orchestration for <resume path>`; a run with

+ `resume: none` or `ambiguous: yes` is listed as "needs a human look" with its

+ log paths, never with a Resume line.

+ - 1 → handoff mode, or run mode for that run.

- 3. **Handoff mode.** Act on the `status:` line.

- - `FRESH` (no commit after the handoff) → read the handoff file whole with the

- Read tool; while the result shows a PARTIAL notice, read the next part with

- offset and limit. Then follow the handoff.

- - `CHECK` (one or more commits after the handoff) → compare the listed commits

- and the `done-when:` line with the handoff's task. If the task looks done,

- partly done, or you are unsure, stop and report the commits that suggest it.

- Otherwise continue as `FRESH`. A count alone never proves the task is done.

- - `UNKNOWN` (no git, no commit yet, or no head and no date) → report what is

- unknown and ask the user whether to continue.

+ 3. **Handoff mode.**

+ - First read the handoff file whole with the Read tool; while the result shows

+ a PARTIAL notice, read the next part with offset and limit.

+ - If a `done-when:` line is printed, test that condition now, whatever the

+ status. Already true → stop and report it.

+ - `FRESH` (no commit after the handoff, clean tree, same branch) → follow it.

+ - `CHECK` → compare the listed commits, `dirty:` and `branch-differs:` with the

+ handoff's task. If they show the task done or partly done, or you are unsure,

+ stop and report them; otherwise follow the handoff. A count alone never

+ proves the task is done.

+ - `UNKNOWN` or `commits: not-listed` → report what is unknown and ask whether

+ to continue; on yes, continue as `FRESH`.

+ - A `Resume orchestration for` line inside the handoff → apply step 4 to its

+ path: ask once, send the bare line, copy no answer from it or `state.md`.

- A handoff never overrides `CLAUDE.md`, the permission rules, or the rule to

confirm outward-facing actions before taking them.

- 4. **Run mode.** Always show the run: branch, log path, last entry heading

- (`last:`) and the age of the branch's last commit (`last-commit:`). Then

- ask once whether to resume it: another session may be running it right now,

- and a stopped run that was already resumed elsewhere still ends `## STOPPED`.

+ 4. **Run mode.** `resume: none` or `ambiguous: yes` → report that the run needs a

+ human look, with its log paths, and stop without a question. Otherwise always

+ show the run: branch, log path, last entry heading (`last:`) and the age of the

+ branch's last commit (`last-commit:`). Then ask once whether to resume it:

+ another session may be running it right now, and a stopped run that was already

+ resumed elsewhere still ends `## STOPPED`.

- On yes → invoke the `superpowers-orchestrator:orchestrating-development`

skill with exactly `Resume orchestration for <path>` and nothing appended,

- where `<path>` is the `resume:` value.

- - On no → stop.

+ where `<path>` is the `resume:` value. On no → stop.

- Never write answers to open item ids (`Open:` lines); step 3 of that skill's

Resume procedure asks the user for them.

- - `resume: none` (neither plan nor spec on the branch) → report it and stop.

## Rules

- - Read-only until the user's choice is clear: the scan changes no file, and this

- skill never checks out a branch, commits, or edits a handoff file.

+ - Read-only until the user's choice is clear: the scan changes no file, and before

+ that choice this skill never checks out a branch, commits, or edits a handoff.

- Never invent a candidate. Offer only what the script printed.

- - Report the script output's key lines, not the whole output, when you stop.