Session Ending Protocol

Rule

Before completing any session, follow the "Land the Plane" checklist to ensure clean handoff.

Context

At the end of any autonomous run, interactive session, or substantial work block.

Detection

Observable signals that you're ending a session:

• About to use complete tool
• Wrapping up substantial work
• Time/context budget running low
• Natural stopping point reached

Pattern

Execute checklist before completing:

Session Ending Checklist ("Land the Plane"):

1. FILE REMAINING WORK
   - [ ] Create tasks/issues for discovered follow-up work
   - [ ] Document any blockers encountered
   - [ ] Note deferred decisions or trade-offs

2. QUALITY VERIFICATION
   - [ ] Pre-commit hooks pass (or document failures)
   - [ ] Tests pass for changed code
   - [ ] No obvious broken state

3. UPDATE TRACKING
   - [ ] Task tracker updated with status
   - [ ] Progress documented (journal, notes, etc.)
   - [ ] Issues/PRs updated with progress

4. GIT STATE CLEAN
   - [ ] All intended changes committed
   - [ ] No untracked files that should be tracked
   - [ ] Branch state is coherent

5. RECOMMEND NEXT WORK
   - [ ] Identify logical next task
   - [ ] Provide context for next session

Outcome

Following this protocol ensures:

• Clean handoff: Next session starts from known state
• No lost work: Follow-up items captured before context lost
• Quality maintained: Verification prevents broken commits
• Continuity: Clear guidance for next session

Related

• Pre-Landing Self-Review - Review for substantial changes