
Catchup
- 581 installs
- 1 repo stars
- Updated May 26, 2026
- camacho/ai-skills
catchup is a read-only git skill that reconstructs project context after chat clears, branch switches, or stale sessions by aggregating git logs, status, and branch-context metadata for developers resuming work.
About
catchup is a strictly read-only context reconstruction skill for AI coding sessions. After /clear, /compact, session resume, or switching into an existing git worktree, catchup runs parallel git commands—log, status, and worktree list—and reads `.branch-context.md` YAML frontmatter when present. Parsed fields include workflow_step, validate_round, review_round, and plan chunk approval counters so agents understand validation and review progress. Developers invoke catchup when branch context is unknown or stale and they need a concise briefing before editing code. The skill never creates branches, edits files, or runs write commands.
- Strictly read-only: gathers data without ever editing files or running write commands
- Runs 7 independent context sources in parallel including git history, worktree status, MEMORY.md, HANDOFF.md and active
- Parses YAML frontmatter from .branch-context.md for workflow_step, validate_round, review_round and plan approval state
- Checks open GitHub PRs and issues when gh CLI is authenticated
- Synthesizes everything into a single coherent briefing for the agent
Catchup by the numbers
- 581 all-time installs (skills.sh)
- Ranked #1,618 of 16,546 AI & Agent Building skills by installs in the Skillselion catalog
- Security screen: MEDIUM risk (skills.sh audit)
- Data as of Jul 28, 2026 (Skillselion catalog sync)
npx skills add https://github.com/camacho/ai-skills --skill catchupAdd your badge
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| Installs | 581 |
|---|---|
| repo stars | ★ 1 |
| Security audit | 2 / 3 scanners passed |
| Last updated | May 26, 2026 |
| Repository | camacho/ai-skills ↗ |
How do you restore project context after clearing chat?
Quickly reconstruct project context after clearing the chat, switching branches, or resuming a stale session.
Who is it for?
Developers using git worktrees and branch-context files who lose agent memory after /clear, compaction, or resuming a long-running branch.
Skip if: Greenfield projects with no git history or teams that need the agent to implement features rather than read repository state.
When should I use this skill?
Context was cleared, compacted, or is stale after branch or worktree changes and the next step requires understanding current repo state.
What you get
Session briefing with recent commits, working tree status, active worktrees, and parsed workflow or review round metadata.
- context briefing
- workflow step summary
- worktree status overview
By the numbers
- Reads the last 20 git commits via git log during context reconstruction
Files
Catchup — Context Reconstruction
This skill is strictly read-only. Do NOT edit files, create branches, or run write commands.
1. Gather data (run all independent steps in parallel)
git log --format="%h %s (%ar)" -20,git status, andgit worktree list- Read
.branch-context.md(if exists — check CWD and worktree root). Parse YAML frontmatter:workflow_step,validate_round/validate_max,review_round/review_max,plan_review_chunk/plan_review_total/plan_chunks_approved - Read
ai-workspace/MEMORY.md— note anything in-progress or blocking - Read
HANDOFF.md(if exists) - List
ai-workspace/plans/(sort by mtime, most recent first) and read the first file that does NOT end in.done.mdor.executed.md - Search Basic Memory via MCP for recent entries matching the current branch name. If MCP unavailable, skip silently.
- GitHub — check availability first:
command -v gh >/dev/null 2>&1 && gh auth status >/dev/null 2>&1If authenticated, run in parallel:
gh pr list --state open
gh issue list --state open --limit 15If gh is unavailable or unauthenticated, note "GitHub CLI unavailable" and skip. Do NOT attempt to install or authenticate.
2. Synthesize
Present findings in this format. Omit sections where the data source was not found (e.g., no HANDOFF.md, gh unavailable). Always show Loop state and Blockers even when empty — absence is informative:
Branch: <name> — <what we're building (from plan or branch-context)>
Worktree: <path> (or "primary")
Last commit: <hash> <message>
Uncommitted: <staged/unstaged summary, or "clean">
Workflow step: <N> — <step name> (from frontmatter, or inferred)
Loop state: validate <round>/<max>, review <round>/<max>
Active plan: <file> — <current phase> — <next action>
Blockers: <list>
Open PRs: <count — titles>
Open issues: <count — top 5 titles>
Handoff: <detail>After the summary, surface blockers and TODO items prominently — remaining work, failing CI, stale branches, items from memory flagged as blocking. These go above the fold, not as footnotes.
3. Suggest next actions
Based on gathered state, suggest 2-3 concrete next actions. Examples:
- "Resume building — plan X is at step 5 (Build)"
- "Run /validate — implementation looks complete"
- "Address blocker: [description]"
- "Review open PR #N — awaiting action"
- "Pick up issue #N — in-progress"
End with: "What would you like to do?"
Failure modes
- No `.branch-context.md`: infer workflow step from git state and plan file status. Note: "No branch context — step inferred."
- No active plan: note "No active plan." Do not search
.done.mdfiles. - On `main` branch: skip branch-context and plan lookup. Show git state, PRs, issues, and memory only.
- Basic Memory MCP unavailable: skip silently.
- `gh` unavailable: show "GitHub CLI unavailable — PR/issue status unknown."
Related skills
How it compares
Use catchup for fast read-only situational awareness; use planning skills when the goal is drafting new work rather than summarizing existing branch state.
FAQ
Does catchup modify the repository?
catchup is strictly read-only. The skill gathers git log, status, and worktree data and reads `.branch-context.md` when present, but never edits files, creates branches, or runs write commands.
When should developers invoke catchup?
catchup fits after /clear, /compact, session resume, or entering an existing worktree when branch context is stale. It rebuilds awareness from the last 20 commits and optional branch-context YAML metadata.
Is Catchup safe to install?
skills.sh reports 2 of 3 security scanners passed. Review the Security Audits panel on this page before installing in production.