Save Memory Checkpoint

Save current analysis, findings, and progress to an external memory file to prevent context loss during long-running tasks.

Summary

Goal: Persist current task context, findings, and progress to a checkpoint file for recovery after context compaction.

Step	Action	Key Notes
1	Determine location	Filename: plans/reports/checkpoint-{YYMMDD-HHMM}-{slug}.md
2	Gather context	Task, findings, files analyzed/modified, progress, decisions
3	Write checkpoint file	Structured markdown with recovery instructions
4	Update todo list	Mark checkpoint creation complete

Key Principles:

• Save checkpoints every 30-60 minutes during complex tasks
• Include file paths, line numbers, and exact findings -- be specific
• Always include recovery instructions for easy task resumption

Usage

Use this command when:

• Working on complex multi-step tasks (investigation, planning, implementation)
• Before expected context compaction
• At key milestones during feature development
• After completing significant analysis phases

Checkpoint File Location

Files are saved to: plans/reports/checkpoint-{timestamp}-{slug}.md

Instructions

Create a checkpoint file with the following structure:

Step 1: Determine Checkpoint Location

# Get current date for filename
date +%y%m%d-%H%M

Step 2: Gather Context

Collect and document:

1. Current Task - What are you working on?
2. Key Findings - What have you discovered?
3. Files Analyzed - Which files have been read/modified?
4. Progress Summary - What's completed vs remaining?
5. Important Context - Critical information to preserve
6. Next Steps - What should be done next?
7. Open Questions - Unresolved issues

Step 3: Write Checkpoint File

Create a markdown file at plans/reports/checkpoint-YYMMDD-HHMM-{task-slug}.md with:

# Memory Checkpoint: [Task Description]

> Checkpoint created to preserve analysis context during [task type].

## Session Info

- **Created:** [timestamp]
- **Task:** [description]
- **Branch:** [git branch]
- **Phase:** [current phase]

## Current Task Summary

[Brief description of what you're working on]

## Key Findings

### Analysis Results
- [Finding 1]
- [Finding 2]
- [Finding N]

### Patterns Discovered
- [Pattern 1]
- [Pattern 2]

### Dependencies Identified
- [Dependency 1]
- [Dependency 2]

## Files Context

### Analyzed Files
| File            | Purpose   | Relevance       |
| --------------- | --------- | --------------- |
| path/to/file.cs | [purpose] | High/Medium/Low |

### Modified Files
- `path/to/modified.ts` - [change description]

### Pending Files
- `path/to/pending.cs` - [why pending]

## Progress Summary

### Completed
- [x] [Completed item 1]
- [x] [Completed item 2]

### In Progress
- [ ] [Current item]

### Remaining
- [ ] [Remaining item 1]
- [ ] [Remaining item 2]

## Important Context

### Critical Information
[Information that must not be lost]

### Assumptions Made
- [Assumption 1]
- [Assumption 2]

### Decisions Made
- [Decision 1] - [rationale]
- [Decision 2] - [rationale]

## Next Steps

1. [Immediate next action]
2. [Following action]
3. [Subsequent action]

## Open Questions

- [ ] [Question 1]
- [ ] [Question 2]

## Recovery Instructions

To resume this task after context reset:
1. Read this checkpoint file
2. Review [specific files] for context
3. Continue from [specific point]

---

*Checkpoint saved by Claude Code at [timestamp]*

Step 4: Update Todo List

Update your todo list to reflect checkpoint was created:

- [x] Create memory checkpoint at [timestamp]

Best Practices

1. Save checkpoints frequently - Every 30-60 minutes during complex tasks
2. Be specific - Include file paths, line numbers, exact findings
3. Document decisions - Record why choices were made
4. Link related files - Reference other analysis documents
5. Include recovery steps - Make resumption easy

Related Commands

• /context - Load project context
• /compact - Manually trigger context compaction
• /watzup - Generate progress summary

IMPORTANT Task Planning Notes

• Always plan and break many small todo tasks
• Always add a final review todo task to review the works done at the end to find any fix or enhancement needed