Session Start

---
name: session-start
description: Cold session start — context, status, focus. Use at the beginning of each new session.
user-invocable: true
argument-hint: "[workstream]"
allowed-tools:
  - Bash(node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/memory.js" *)
---

# /session-start — Cold session start

Quick context entry. Gather state, propose focus.

---

## Step 1: Gather context

**Do NOT re-read MEMORY.md** — already in system prompt via claudeMd loader.

If a workstream argument is provided — skip to Step 3.

Run each command as its own Bash call — that is what the skill's `allowed-tools` pre-approves (no variables, loops or pipes):

```bash
node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/memory.js" handoff        # latest handoff (per-workstream ones in Step 3)
node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/memory.js" workstreams    # sorted by aggregate weight
node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/memory.js" dir            # memory folder, keyed by git root like CC
```

Then read the newest `notes/YYYY-MM-DD.md` in that folder (first ~30 lines), and for each of the top 3 workstreams:

```bash
node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/memory.js" workstream <name> --brief
```

**Decision tree — source of focus candidates:**

| Handoff state | Candidates source |
|---|---|
| ≤7 days old, has "What's next" | Handoff primary (workstreams table still rendered for context) |
| >7 days old | Workstreams table; handoff shown as stale context |
| Missing/empty/only `SESSION_START` markers | Workstreams table; say "no usable context", suggest `/session-restore` |
| No handoff, no notes | Workstreams table only |

The workstreams table in Step 1b is **always** rendered in Step 4 — it's the session's map, not a fallback. The decision tree only controls where focus candidates come from.

---

## Step 1b: Workstreams table (always rendered)

Render as table. Top-3 rows show synthesized "What's in" from `--brief`; rest show keywords. ➕ row is mandatory.

```
**Workstreams** (sorted by aggregate weight)

| # | Workstream | Last touched | What's in / Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | <name> | <date> | <synthesized 1-line for top-3> |
| ... | | | <keywords for rest> |
| N | ➕ Create new | | |
```

If user picks ➕ — ask name + keywords, then:
```bash
node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/memory.js" add-workstream <name> <keyword1> <keyword2> ...
```
If decisions on this theme are already in the notes (`node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/memory.js" unassigned`), offer a card drafted from them — see `card` in the memory skill.

---

## Step 2: Git status

```bash
git status; git log --oneline -5; git branch --show-current
```

- Uncommitted changes → ask: "Commit or continue on top?"
- Last commit >5 days ago → note it
- **Commits:** synthesize last 2-3 into 1 line about the theme. Don't list verbatim.

**Branch ↔ workstream check:** does branch name contain any keyword from `workstreams.json`?

- Match → skip "Current branch" block in Step 4
- No match → run `git log <branch> --oneline -10` + `git diff $(git merge-base HEAD "origin/$(git symbolic-ref --short refs/remotes/origin/HEAD | sed 's|^origin/||')")...HEAD --stat` (default branch, not hardcoded `main`). Synthesize phase (review iteration / new feature / hotfix). Grep `notes/` for branch name. Surface in Step 4 as branch block + extra focus candidate.

If handoff has `lastCommit` ref: show `git log <ref>..HEAD --oneline` (changes since session-end).

---

## Step 3: Workstream brief

```bash
node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/memory.js" card <name>         # what the workstream is, what's open — NO_CARD if none
node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/memory.js" parked <name>       # what was set aside in it — mention titles in the task plan
node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/memory.js" handoff <name>      # per-workstream handoff if available
node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/memory.js" workstream <name> --brief
```

Read the card first: it frames the handoff. Show: open/done task counts, blockers, pickable now. **Do NOT read full files** — full context loads only after task pick in Step 4.

---

## Step 4: Render & propose

**Use the user's preferred language** (from `profile/language.md` if present, else English). Translate labels and prose; keep markdown structure, identifiers, code refs as-is.

**Required format** — clean bold headers, no emoji, `---` between every block, blank line after each header before content.

```text
## Session YYYY-MM-DD

**Git:** branch `<branch>` / <N> uncommitted / last commit <days> days ago
**Commits:** <1-line synthesis>

---

**Workstreams**

[table from Step 1b]

---

**Task plan ({active workstream})**

{1-line context}
- [ ] {open task} ({SP})
- [ ] {open task} — {blocker}

---

**Current branch `{branch}`** _(only if no workstream match)_

{1-2 sentences: theme, phase, side task vs portfolio}

---

**Focus candidates**

1. **{task}** — {why now} → `/model {model}` ({reason})
2. **{task}** — {why now} → `/model {model}` ({reason})
3. **{task}** — {why now} → `/model {model}` ({reason})

---

My hypothesis: focus on **{candidate #1}** because {reasoning grounded in handoff/git/recency}. Recommendation: `/model {model}`.

Agree, pick another candidate, or **start a new workstream**?
```

**Close with a hypothesis, not a menu.** Users iterate on a proposal faster than they pick from a list. Candidates 2-3 stay visible for quick override.

**MANDATORY:** the closing line must keep "start a new workstream" as an explicit option. Never omit it — the hypothesis frame hides existing workstreams, so the escape hatch to create a new one has to be surfaced every time. If the user picks it, run Step 1b (workstream creation).

**Model selection:** Opus = planning/architecture/exploration. Sonnet = execution by plan, refactoring, review. Haiku = routine/translation/pattern copy. Write it as the command to type — `/model opus`, `/model sonnet`, `/model haiku` — one action instead of a menu.

---

## Step 5: Session label

```bash
node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/memory.js" note "SESSION_START branch:$(git branch --show-current) workstream:<chosen> focus:<task>"
```

(Auto-routed to `sessions.log`, not notes.)

---

## Rules

- Max 3 focus candidates
- Skip blocked tasks (waiting on mockups/backend) from candidates — note them separately
- Workstream argument → go straight to Step 3
- Previous session ended with compact → check via `/session-restore`