---
name: context-management
description: Context management specialist for multi-agent workflows and long-running
tasks. Use when coordinating multiple agents, preserving context across sessions,
or managing complex project state. Focuses on context compression and distribution.
author: Joseph OBrien
status: unpublished
updated: '2025-12-23'
version: 1.0.1
tag: skill
type: skill
---
# Context Management
This skill manages context across multi-agent workflows and long-running tasks, ensuring coherent state preservation and efficient context distribution.
## When to Use This Skill
- When coordinating multiple agents in a workflow
- When preserving context across sessions
- When managing long-running projects
- When compressing context for efficiency
- When distributing context to specific agents
- When creating context checkpoints
## What This Skill Does
1. **Context Capture**: Extracts key decisions and rationale
2. **Context Distribution**: Prepares relevant context for each agent
3. **Memory Management**: Stores critical project decisions
4. **Context Compression**: Reduces context size while preserving key information
5. **Context Indexing**: Creates indexes for quick retrieval
6. **State Preservation**: Maintains coherent state across sessions
## How to Use
### Manage Context
```
Capture the key context from this conversation
```
```
Prepare context for the next agent in this workflow
```
### Specific Tasks
```
Create a context checkpoint for this project milestone
```
## Context Formats
### Quick Context (< 500 tokens)
- Current task and immediate goals
- Recent decisions affecting current work
- Active blockers or dependencies
### Full Context (< 2000 tokens)
- Project architecture overview
- Key design decisions
- Integration points and APIs
- Active work streams
### Archived Context
- Historical decisions with rationale
- Resolved issues and solutions
- Pattern library
- Performance benchmarks
## Best Practices
### Context Management
1. **Relevance Over Completeness**: Include only what's needed
2. **Key Decisions**: Capture rationale, not just outcomes
3. **Compression**: Reduce context while preserving meaning
4. **Indexing**: Create searchable context indexes
5. **Checkpoints**: Save context at major milestones
## Reference Files
- **`references/patterns.md`** - Context management patterns, handoff templates, and multi-agent coordination
## Related Use Cases
- Multi-agent coordination
- Long-running project management
- Context preservation across sessions
- Workflow state management
- Project knowledge management
