handoff-ai

# Getting Started with Handoff Welcome to Handoff! This guide will help you set up and start using Handoff to create persistent AI collaboration in your projects. ## What is Handoff? Handoff is an AI collaboration framework that creates a persistent knowledge base for your projects. Instead of re-explaining your codebase to AI assistants every time, Handoff maintains institutional memory that enables consistent, intelligent collaboration. ## Quick Setup ### 1. Install Handoff ```bash # Install globally npm install -g handoff # Or use directly with npx (quick start) npx handoff-ai start ``` ### 2. Initialize in Your Project ```bash cd your-project handoff init ``` This creates a `.project` folder with: - Configuration files for AI interaction preferences - Structured workflows (EPICs) for different tasks - Templates for documenting assumptions and decisions ### 3. Configure Your Preferences ```bash handoff config ``` Choose your: - **Engagement Level**: How much you want to collaborate vs. let AI work autonomously - **Expertise Level**: Your technical background (affects how AI explains things) - **Review Frequency**: How often you want to approve AI decisions ### 4. Start Collaborating Tell any AI assistant: ``` "Check my .project folder and help me implement user authentication using medium-engagement mode" ``` The AI will automatically understand your project structure, follow your established patterns, and work at your preferred collaboration level. ## Understanding Engagement Levels ### 🤝 High Engagement (Collaborative) - **Best for**: Complex features, learning, critical systems - **Process**: Detailed discussions, step-by-step reviews, collaborative decision-making - **Time**: Higher time investment, maximum control ### 🎯 Medium Engagement (Guided) - **Best for**: Standard features, busy schedules, established patterns - **Process**: AI proposes approaches, you approve key decisions - **Time**: Moderate time investment, good balance of control and efficiency ### 🚀 Auto-Pilot (Autonomous) - **Best for**: Simple tasks, tight deadlines, well-defined requirements - **Process**: AI handles everything, documents all assumptions for later review - **Time**: Minimal time investment, maximum efficiency ## Core Concepts ### EPICs (Structured Workflows) Handoff includes pre-built workflows for common development tasks: - **Collaborative Documentation**: Generate comprehensive project docs - **Feature Implementation**: Build new features following established patterns - **Codebase Improvement**: Refactor, test, and enhance existing code - **Codebase Exploration**: Understand unfamiliar codebases ### Assumption Tracking When you're not available to provide input, AI documents its assumptions in `.project/assumptions.md`. You can review and correct these later, ensuring consistency across sessions. ### Persistent Knowledge All decisions, patterns, and architectural choices are preserved in your `.project` folder, creating institutional memory that survives team changes and project handoffs. ## Your First Handoff Session 1. **Initialize Handoff** in your project 2. **Configure your preferences** with `handoff config` 3. **Choose a task** you want AI help with 4. **Tell your AI assistant**: "Use the collaborative documentation EPIC to help me document this codebase" 5. **Follow the structured workflow** - AI will guide you through the process ## Example Workflows ### Documenting a New Project ``` You: "Use medium-engagement mode to document this React project" AI: "I see you're using React with TypeScript and Tailwind. I'll analyze your component structure and create documentation following your established patterns. Should I focus on the component architecture first?" ``` ### Implementing a Feature ``` You: "Help me add user authentication using auto-pilot mode" AI: "Based on your existing patterns, I'll implement JWT-based auth with your current error handling approach. I'm documenting all decisions in assumptions.md for your review." ``` ### Exploring Unknown Code ``` You: "Use the codebase exploration EPIC to help me understand this legacy system" AI: "I'll systematically analyze this codebase and create documentation. Starting with the overall architecture, then diving into specific components..." ``` ## New Features (v0.1.2) ### 🧪 Smart Testing Guidelines Handoff now includes built-in testing guidelines that prevent common issues: ``` ✅ AI will use: yarn test:ci, npm run test:run, yarn build ❌ AI avoids: yarn test, npm start, yarn dev (these hang or need browser control) ``` **For browser testing**, AI is guided to use automated tools like Playwright or Cypress instead of trying to manually test in browsers. ### 📝 Automatic Documentation Sync Every EPIC workflow now includes a final documentation sync phase that ensures: - Project documentation stays current with code changes - New patterns and decisions are preserved - Knowledge is ready for the next developer or AI session **Example Documentation Sync:** ``` AI: "I've completed the feature implementation. Now I'm updating the documentation: - ✅ Updated API docs for new endpoints - ✅ Added new component patterns to architecture docs - ✅ Updated golden paths for the new user flow - ✅ Logged implementation decisions in assumptions Ready for PR review!" ``` ## Best Practices ### For Teams - **Standardize engagement levels** across team members - **Review assumptions regularly** to maintain consistency - **Update configurations** as project complexity changes - **Use Handoff for onboarding** new team members - **Leverage documentation sync** to keep knowledge current across feature branches ### For Solo Developers - **Start with medium-engagement** to find your preferred balance - **Use auto-pilot for routine tasks** to save time - **Switch to high-engagement for learning** new concepts - **Review assumptions periodically** to catch any misunderstandings - **Trust the documentation sync** to maintain project knowledge ### For AI Collaboration - **Be specific about engagement levels** when starting tasks - **Reference existing patterns** by mentioning similar implementations - **Ask AI to explain its reasoning** when decisions seem unclear - **Update your configuration** as you learn what works best - **Let AI handle testing commands** - it knows which ones to avoid ## Troubleshooting ### AI Doesn't Understand My Project - Check that `.project/ai-quick-start.md` has accurate project information - Update your project description and current focus - Add specific architectural constraints to your configuration ### AI Makes Wrong Assumptions - Review `.project/assumptions.md` and correct any errors - Update your engagement level to get more input opportunities - Add specific guidance to your configuration file ### Inconsistent AI Behavior - Ensure all team members are using the same Handoff configuration - Check that assumptions are being documented and reviewed - Consider using higher engagement levels for critical decisions ## Next Steps - [Configuration Options](configuration.md) - Detailed configuration guide - [Available EPICs](epics.md) - All structured workflows - [Integration Examples](examples.md) - Real-world usage examples - [CLI Reference](cli.md) - Complete command reference ## Getting Help - **GitHub Issues**: Report bugs or request features - **Discussions**: Ask questions and share experiences - **Examples**: Check out real projects using Handoff Welcome to more efficient AI collaboration! 🚀