checkpoint

Q: How do I install checkpoint?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/codewithmukesh/dotnet-claude-kit --skill checkpoint in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/checkpoint/ (personal) or .claude/skills/checkpoint/ (project).

by codewithmukeshCode Quality & Workflow

Mid-session save point: create a descriptive git commit and a brief handoff note, then keep working. Use before a risky change or refactor, when switching tasks, or to bank progress without ending the session. Triggers on: /checkpoint, "checkpoint", "save progress", "commit and handoff", "save state", "pause here", "before a risky change". For the full end-of-session ritual with learning extraction, use /wrap-up instead.

Installs: 2.8K
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Security: Not audited

Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/codewithmukesh/dotnet-claude-kit --skill checkpoint

01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads checkpoint automatically when relevant.
03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

/checkpoint

What

A quick mid-session save that banks the known-good state in two moves:

Descriptive git commit — stage relevant changes and commit with a message that summarizes the work.
Brief handoff note — write .claude/handoff.md so a resumed session (or you, after a botched refactor) knows exactly where things stand.

Checkpoint is the mid-session save; /wrap-up is the end-of-session ritual. Checkpoint commits and jots a note, then keeps working. Wrap-up does the full handoff plus learning extraction into MEMORY.md.

When

Before a risky refactor or destructive change — checkpoint the known-good state
When switching to a different task or feature mid-session
After completing a logical unit of work — bank it
User says "checkpoint", "save progress", "save state", "pause here"
If the session is actually ending, use /wrap-up for the full ritual

How

Assess state — git status and git diff to see staged and unstaged changes.
Stage changes — Stage specific files; never git add -A. Exclude generated files, build artifacts, and secrets (.env, credentials).
Commit — Descriptive message following the repo's commit style (conventional prefixes: feat:, fix:, refactor:). New commit, never amend. If there is nothing to commit, skip to the handoff.
Write handoff note — .claude/handoff.md, same format as /wrap-up but abbreviated: Completed, Pending (with specific next steps), Learned (only if something non-obvious surfaced), and Context (branch + commit hash). One file, always overwritten.
Confirm — Report the commit hash and the handoff summary, then resume work.

Safety Rules

Never push, force-push, or touch remote branches
Never commit secrets
Never amend — a checkpoint is a new commit you can return to
No changes to commit? Update the handoff only

Example

User: /checkpoint — about to try the EF Core split-query refactor

Claude: 3 files modified, 1 new.

  Commit a1b2c3d: "feat: add CreateOrder validation with FluentValidation"
  - src/Orders/Features/CreateOrder.cs
  - src/Orders/Features/CreateOrderValidator.cs (new)
  - tests/Orders.Tests/Features/CreateOrderTests.cs

  Handoff updated (.claude/handoff.md):
  ## Completed
  - [x] CreateOrder validation + 3 test scenarios
  ## Pending
  - [ ] Split-query refactor in GetOrderDetails (about to attempt)
  ## Context
  - Branch: feature/order-validation | Checkpoint: a1b2c3d

  Checkpoint saved — safe to proceed with the risky refactor.

/wrap-up — End-of-session ritual: full handoff format definition plus learning extraction into MEMORY.md
/build-fix — Get the build green before checkpointing

FAQ

What does the checkpoint skill do?

How do I install checkpoint?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/codewithmukesh/dotnet-claude-kit --skill checkpoint in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/checkpoint/ (personal) or .claude/skills/checkpoint/ (project).

Which AI agents can use checkpoint?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is checkpoint safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains checkpoint?

It is published by codewithmukesh in codewithmukesh/dotnet-claude-kit. It has 2,829 recorded installs.