Recovery Skill

Workflow recovery protocol for resuming workflows after context loss, session interruption, or errors.

When to Use

• Context window exhausted mid-workflow
• Session interrupted or lost
• Need to resume from last completed step
• Workflow state needs reconstruction

Instructions

Step 1: Identify Last Completed Step

1. Check gate files for last successful validation:

   • Location: .claude/context/history/gates/{workflow_id}/
   • Find highest step number with validation_status: "pass"
   • This is the last successfully completed step

2. Review reasoning files for progress:

   • Location: .claude/context/history/reasoning/{workflow_id}/
   • Read reasoning files up to last completed step
   • Extract context and decisions made

3. Identify artifacts created:

   • Check artifact registry: .claude/context/artifacts/registry-{workflow_id}.json
   • List all artifacts created up to last step
   • Verify artifact files exist

Step 2: Load Plan Documents

1. Read plan document (stateless):

   • Load plan-{workflow_id}.json from artifact registry
   • Extract current workflow state
   • Identify completed vs pending tasks

2. Load relevant phase plan (if multi-phase):

   • Check if project is multi-phase (exceeds phase_size_max_lines threshold)
   • Load active phase plan: plan-{workflow_id}-phase-{n}.json
   • Understand phase boundaries and dependencies

3. Understand current state:

   • Map completed tasks to plan
   • Identify next steps
   • Check for dependencies

Step 3: Context Recovery

1. Load artifacts from last completed step:

   • Read artifact registry
   • Load all artifacts with validation_status: "pass"
   • Verify artifact integrity

2. Read reasoning files for context:

   • Load reasoning files from completed steps
   • Extract key decisions and context
   • Understand workflow progression

3. Reconstruct workflow state:

   • Combine plan, artifacts, and reasoning
   • Create recovery state document
   • Validate state consistency

Step 4: Resume Execution

1. Continue from next step:

   • Identify next step after last completed
   • Load step requirements from plan
   • Prepare inputs for next step

2. Planner updates plan status (stateless):

   • Update plan-{workflow_id}.json with current status
   • Mark completed steps
   • Update progress tracking

3. Orchestrator coordinates next agents:

   • Pass recovered artifacts to next step
   • Resume workflow execution
   • Monitor for additional interruptions

Recovery Validation Checklist

• Last completed step identified correctly
• Plan document loaded and validated
• All artifacts from completed steps available
• Reasoning files reviewed for context
• Workflow state reconstructed accurately
• No duplicate work will be performed
• Next step inputs prepared
• Recovery logged in reasoning file

Error Handling

• Missing plan document: Request planner to recreate plan from requirements
• Missing artifacts: Request artifact recreation from source agent
• Corrupted artifacts: Request artifact recreation with validation
• Incomplete reasoning: Use artifact registry and gate files to reconstruct state

Related Documentation

• Planner Agent - Stateless Behavior Rule
• Orchestrator Agent - Context Recovery
• CUJ-027 - Workflow Recovery After Context Loss