---
description: Short-chat handoff to cut token burn; agents cannot open new chats
alwaysApply: true
---

# Handoff (token control)

Agents **cannot** create a new Cursor chat. When a handoff is needed, write `agents-docs/HANDOFF.md` and tell the user to start a **new chat** with `@agents-docs/HANDOFF.md`.

## When to hand off

- User says "handoff", "new chat", or "wrap up this session"
- Thread is long (many tool rounds, large pastes, repeated failed approaches) and more major work remains
- Switching to a clearly separate objective

## What to do

1. Overwrite `agents-docs/HANDOFF.md` — set `Status: active`; fill Goal, Completed, Changed files, Decisions, Failed approaches, Current issue, Next steps, Commands.
2. Stop major new work in this chat after writing the handoff (unless the user says continue here).
3. Tell the user the one-liner to paste in the new chat.

## New-chat bootstrap

If `agents-docs/HANDOFF.md` has `Status: active`, read it first and continue Next steps. Do not reload the whole monorepo or redo Completed work.