iterating

Iterating

Maintain context across multiple sessions by persisting state in Work Logs.

Environment Detection

Detect environment and load appropriate reference:

if [ "$CLAUDE_CODE_REMOTE" = "true" ]; then
  # Claude Code on the Web (CCotw) - writes to GitHub
  # Read: references/ccotw-environment.md
elif [ -n "$CLAUDE_CODE_REMOTE" ]; then
  # Claude Code CLI - writes to local filesystem
  # Read: references/codecli-environment.md
elif [ -x "$(command -v osascript)" ] && [ -d "/Applications/Claude.app" ]; then
  # Claude Desktop - may write to disk OR output for download
  # Read: references/desktop-environment.md
else
  # Claude.ai (web/chat/native app) - outputs for download
  # Read: references/chat-environment.md
fi

See environment-specific reference for persistence and retrieval details.

Checkpoint Pattern

The iterating skill enforces a checkpoint-and-save pattern to prevent work loss:

1. Create/Update WorkLog → Output for user → STOP
2. User saves WorkLog to project knowledge (survives conversation limits)
3. User says "continue" (same or new conversation)
4. Make incremental progress on ONE item → Update WorkLog → STOP
5. Repeat

This matters because separate conversations don't share context automatically: skipping the STOP step ("full waterfall") produces work the user hasn't seen or been able to redirect, and risks losing everything mid-task if the conversation ends before a checkpoint lands.

WorkLog Format

---
version: v1
status: in_progress
---

# [Project Name] Work Log

## v1 | YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM | Title

**Prev:** [previous context OR "Starting new work"]
**Now:** [current goal]

**Progress:** [X% complete OR milestone status]

**Files:**
- `path/to/file.ext` (Why this file matters)
  - L45-67: [What to examine/change here]
  - L123-145: [Another area, specific issue]

**Work:**
+: [additions with file:line]
~: [changes with file:line]
!: [fixes with file:line]

**Decisions:**
- [what]: [why] (vs [alternatives])

**Works:** [effective approaches]
**Fails:** [ineffective approaches, why]

**Blockers:** [None OR specific blocker with owner/ETA]

**Next:**
- [HIGH] [Critical action item]
- [MED] [Important but not urgent]
- [LOW] [Nice to have]

**Open:** [questions needing answers]