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rpmcdougall
rpmcdougallCOMMUNITY
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checkpoint

Generates and commits a dated session checkpoint markdown file on the current feature branch.

Updated Apr 22, 2026
Search Tags:#git#workflow#documentation#markdown#checkpoint#session summary#github cli
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/rpmcdougall/claude-skills --skill checkpoint-rpmcdougall
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: checkpoint
Source: https://github.com/rpmcdougall/claude-skills/tree/main/skills/checkpoint
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/rpmcdougall/claude-skills --skill checkpoint-rpmcdougall

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Closing out a work session often means losing context about what shipped, why decisions were made, and what to pick up next. This Skill captures that state in a standardized checkpoint file committed to the repo, so the next session starts with full context. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Template-based checkpoint generation: Writes memory/checkpoint-YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>.md with fixed sections (What shipped / Design decisions / Deferred / Board state / Next pickup), matching the style of prior checkpoints. - Live board state capture: Runs gh issue list to embed currently-open GitHub issues in the checkpoint. - Safe git workflow: Commits on the current feature branch with a heredoc message, refuses to run on main, and defers to pre-merge-housekeeping when bundling before a merge. - Use Case: After finishing a shooting-engagements feature in the turnipsim repo, ask for a checkpoint to document the session and commit it before opening a PR. ## Quick Start Ask the assistant to checkpoint this session with the topic slug for the feature you just finished.

Frequently Asked Questions about checkpoint

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I write a session checkpoint for a feature branch?▼

Ask to checkpoint the session and provide a kebab-case topic slug. The skill writes memory/checkpoint-YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>.md following the project's fixed template and commits it on the current feature branch.

What sections does a turnipsim checkpoint file contain?▼

Each checkpoint contains What shipped, Design decisions, Deferred, Board state after, and Next pickup sections, plus a metadata block with date, PR number, and branch. Empty sections are marked (none) rather than fabricated.

Can I create a checkpoint while on the main branch?▼

No. The skill stops and asks the user if the current branch is main, because checkpoints must ride on the feature branch they document.

How does the checkpoint capture open GitHub issues?▼

It runs gh issue list --state open --limit 20 to populate the Board state after section with currently-open issues, plus any new issues filed during the session.

When should I use pre-merge-housekeeping instead of checkpoint?▼

When you say bundle housekeeping or indicate you are ready to merge, the checkpoint skill defers to pre-merge-housekeeping, which bundles the checkpoint with wiki scans and staleness checks into one docs commit.

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