🤝 Copilot Handoff

Track GitHub Copilot chat session duration and get timely reminders for context-preserving handoffs

Features · Installation · Usage · Configuration · Contributing · Roadmap

Copilot Handoff is a VS Code extension that tracks how long you have been in a GitHub Copilot Chat session and reminds you when to start a fresh conversation. Long AI chat sessions degrade context quality — responses become less accurate as the context window fills with older, less relevant information. The extension shows session duration in the status bar, sends configurable reminders at your chosen threshold, and exports a structured handoff document so your next session has full context on what you were working on. Built with TypeScript and the VS Code Extension API.

graph LR
    A[Start Coding] --> B[Session Tracking Begins]
    B --> C{Threshold Reached?}
    C -->|No| B
    C -->|Yes| D[Show Notification]
    D --> E{User Action}
    E -->|Export Context| F[Save Handoff Document]
    E -->|Reset Timer| B
    E -->|Remind Later| G[Snooze]
    G --> B
    F --> H[Continue Fresh Session]

@handoff analyze scores your current chat session:

From VS Code Marketplace (recommended)

1. Open the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)
2. Search for "Copilot Handoff" and click Install

From Command Palette

Press Ctrl+P → type ext install curtisfranks.copilot-handoff → Enter

Manual

Download the .vsix from Releases:

code --install-extension copilot-handoff-*.vsix

The $(pulse) Check Chat Health button is always visible in the status bar. Click it to open Copilot Chat with @handoff analyze pre-filled. Press Enter to see your health report.

Access all features via Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P:

Exported handoff documents include:

• Session metadata — timestamp, workspace, current file
• Working state — active files, selections, language
• Guided sections — what I was working on, key decisions made, next steps, important context notes

Customize all settings in VS Code Settings (Ctrl+, / Cmd+,). Search for copilot-handoff:

Conservative (less interruption)

{
  "copilot-handoff.sessionThresholdMinutes": 60,
  "copilot-handoff.notificationFrequency": "once"
}

Aggressive (frequent handoffs)

{
  "copilot-handoff.sessionThresholdMinutes": 15,
  "copilot-handoff.notificationFrequency": "periodic",
  "copilot-handoff.periodicReminderMinutes": 5
}

Silent (tracking only)

{
  "copilot-handoff.notificationFrequency": "never",
  "copilot-handoff.showStatusBar": true
}

1. Set realistic thresholds — default 30 minutes works well; adjust to your session rhythm
2. Use periodic reminders — keeps context fresh without a single hard stop
3. Export before breaks — save context before stepping away from a complex problem
4. Document decisions — use the handoff template to capture key choices, not just state

Contributions are welcome! See CONTRIBUTING.md to get started.

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch: git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature
3. Commit and push, then open a Pull Request

Initial release.

• Session duration tracking with persistent state across VS Code restarts
• Smart notification system (once/periodic/never modes)
• Context export: clipboard, file, and guided Markdown template
• @handoff chat participant with 0–100 health scoring
• 5-minute inactivity auto-reset
• TypeScript strict mode, zero runtime dependencies

See CHANGELOG.md for complete history.

• Report an issue
• Request a feature
• Join discussions

PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 — free for personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial use requires a paid license. See COMMERCIAL-LICENSE.md or contact curtisfranks@gmail.com.

© 2026 Curtis Franks