Introduction
# Context Anchor Skill
Helps agents recover context after compaction by scanning memory files and generating a "here's where you are" briefing.
## Why This Exists
Context compaction loses memory. Files survive. But after waking up fresh, you need to: 1. Know what you were working on 2. See decisions that were made 3. Find open loops that need closing 4. Get oriented fast
This skill automates that recovery.
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## Quick Start
```bash # Full briefing (default) ./scripts/anchor.sh
# Just show current task ./scripts/anchor.sh --task
# Just show active context files ./scripts/anchor.sh --active
# Just show recent decisions ./scripts/anchor.sh --decisions
# Show open loops / questions ./scripts/anchor.sh --loops
# Scan specific number of days back ./scripts/anchor.sh --days 3 ```
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## What It Scans
| Source | What It Extracts | |--------|------------------| | `memory/current-task.md` | Current task status, blockers, next steps | | `memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md` | Recent daily logs (last 2 days by default) | | `context/active/*.md` | In-progress task files | | Daily logs | Decisions (lines with "Decision:", "Decided:", "✅") | | Daily logs | Open loops (lines with "?", "TODO:", "Blocker:", "Need to") |
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## Output Format
The script outputs a structured briefing:
``` ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ CONTEXT ANCHOR Where You Left Off ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
📋 CURRENT TASK ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── [Contents of memory/current-task.md or "No current task set"]
📂 ACTIVE CONTEXT FILES ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── • context/active/project-name.md (updated 2h ago) └─ First line preview...
🎯 RECENT DECISIONS (last 2 days) ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── [2026-01-30] Decision: Use Cloudflare Pages for hosting [2026-01-30] ✅ Completed email capture setup
❓ OPEN LOOPS ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── [2026-01-30] Need to enable SFTP on NAS [2026-01-30] TODO: Create Product Hunt account
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ```
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## Integration with AGENTS.md
Add to your "Every Session" routine:
```markdown ## Every Session
Before doing anything else: 1. Run `./skills/context-anchor/scripts/anchor.sh` for orientation 2. Read `SOUL.md` — this is who you are 3. Read `USER.md` — this is who you're helping ... ```
Or use it manually when you feel lost about context.
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## Customization
### Change workspace root
```bash WORKSPACE=/path/to/workspace ./scripts/anchor.sh ```
### Change days to scan
```bash ./scripts/anchor.sh --days 5 # Scan 5 days back ```
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## No Dependencies
Pure bash. Uses only: - `find`, `grep`, `head`, `tail`, `date`, `stat` - Works on macOS and Linux - No external tools required
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## When to Use
- **Session start**: Quick orientation on what's happening - **After compaction**: Recover lost context - **Feeling lost**: "Wait, what was I doing?" - **Handoff**: Show another agent where things stand - **Daily review**: See what decisions were made