Compress Session

Compress Session

Compress active session into structured summary. Capture decisions, tools built, breakthroughs - the "why" and "how" that git commits don't preserve.

When to Activate

• User says: "compress", "compress session"
• After significant milestones
• Every ~10 messages in long sessions
• Before ending major work

Process

1. Determine Sequence Number

ls -t inbox/​session-summaries/​$(date +%Y-%m-%d)*.md 2>/​dev/​null | head -1

• If files exist: increment (seq2, seq3...)
• If none: this is seq1

2. Review Conversation

Identify signal vs. noise:

• INCLUDE: Decisions, tools built, breakthroughs, key quotes, context
• SKIP: Pleasantries, process discussion without outcome, redundant info

3. Write Summary

Create: inbox/​session-summaries/​YYYY-MM-DD-HHMM-seqN.md

# Session Capture: YYYY-MM-DD [Sequence N]

**Time:** [Start] - [Current]
**Roles Active:** [List or "general"]
**Messages:** [Approximate range]
**Branch:** [git branch]

---

## Context

[1-3 sentence narrative of what happened this sequence]

---

## Decisions Made

- [Decision 1]
  - Reason: [Why]
- [Decision 2]

---

## Tools/​Workflows Built

- **[Name]:** [Description and purpose]

[Or: None this sequence]

---

## Breakthroughs/​Insights

- [Insight] - [Significance]

---

## Key Quotes

- "[Quote]" ([Context])

---

## Files Created/​Modified

[From git status]
- New: [files]
- Modified: [files]

---

## Next Steps

- [What's coming]

---

**Session compressed. Sequence [N] captured.**

4. Confirm

Session compressed. Sequence [N] captured.
Stored: inbox/​session-summaries/​YYYY-MM-DD-HHMM-seqN.md

What to Include

• Decisions affecting work/​strategy/​direction
• Tools/​workflows built or planned
• Breakthroughs (creative, technical, conceptual)
• Context explaining why decisions were made
• Key quotes revealing intent

What to Skip

• Conversational filler
• Detailed implementation (git shows that)
• Process discussion without decision
• Speculation that didn't become action

Tone

• Concise, structured
• Bullet points over paragraphs
• Searchable and scannable
• Neutral observation