---

name: backlog-resume description: Check for in-progress work on session start. Use when beginning a new session in a project with backlog.org. Triggers automatically at session start or when user says "what was I working on?", "resume", "continue", or "where did I leave off?". Surfaces WIP tasks and handoff notes to enable seamless session continuity.

Backlog Resume

This skill checks for in-progress work when starting a new session, implementing the "hook pattern" from gastown - if there's work on your hook, you should run it.

When to Offer This Workflow

Trigger conditions:

• Starting a new session in a project with backlog.org
• User asks "what was I working on?", "resume", "continue"
• User says "where did I leave off?"

Initial check: Read backlog.org and look for WIP tasks in the Active section.

Workflow

1. Check for WIP Tasks

Read * Current WIP > ** Active section in backlog.org.

Look for tasks with state WIP (work in progress).

2. Surface Handoff Notes

For each WIP task found:

• Read the :HANDOFF: property
• Read recent progress notes (entries starting with [YYYY-MM-DD])

3. Present Resume Option

If WIP task(s) found, display:

Copy## Work in Progress

Found active work from previous session:

### [TASK-ID] Task Title

**Handoff notes:**
> <content of :HANDOFF: property>

**Recent progress:**
> <last progress note>

Continue working on this task?

4. If No WIP Tasks

Check if there are TODO tasks in Active section:

Copy## Ready to Start

No work in progress. Active queue:

1. [TASK-ID-1] Task title
2. [TASK-ID-2] Task title

Start one of these tasks?

5. Handle Response

• If user wants to continue: Run /task-start <task-id>
• If user wants different task: Queue or start the requested task
• If user declines: Proceed with whatever they want to do

Example

CopyUser: <starts session>

Claude: "Checking backlog.org for in-progress work...

## Work in Progress

Found active work from previous session:

### [DAB-005-01] Implement handoff notes

**Handoff notes:**
> Stuck on property format. Check org-mode docs for multi-line properties.

**Recent progress:**
> [2026-01-03] Started implementation. Template updated.

Continue working on this task?"

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