Continue Claude Work
Recover actionable context from local .claude session artifacts and continue interrupted work — without running claude --resume — by inspecting history first.
A session got interrupted and `claude --resume` isn't an option, but the context is sitting in your .claude files. This playbook reconstructs where you were and picks the work back up.
Who it's for: Claude Code users, developers
Example
"Continue the work from my last session" → Claude reconstructs the goal and state from local session files and resumes the implementation
CLAUDE.md Template
New here? 3-minute setup guide → | Already set up? Copy the template below.
npx ccplaybooks add continue-claude-work# Continue Claude Work
## Overview
Recover actionable context from a prior Claude Code session and continue execution in the current conversation. Use local session files as the source of truth, then continue with concrete edits and checks — not just summarizing.
**Why this exists instead of `claude --resume`**: `claude --resume` replays the full session transcript into the context window. For long sessions this wastes tokens on resolved issues and stale state. This skill **selectively reconstructs** only actionable context — the latest compact summary, pending work, known errors, and current workspace state — giving a fresh start with prior knowledge.
## File Structure Reference
For directory layout, JSONL schemas, and compaction block format, see `references/file_structure.md`.
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What This Does
Recover actionable context from local .claude session artifacts and continue interrupted work — without running claude --resume — by inspecting history first.
What's Inside
The template covers:
- File Structure Reference
- Workflow
- How the Script Works
- Guardrails
- Limitations
- Example Trigger Phrases
Quick Start
Step 1: Create a Project Folder
Make a dedicated folder for this workflow and open it in Claude Code.
Step 2: Download the Template
Click Download above to save the template, then drop it into your project as CLAUDE.md (or paste it into your existing one).
Step 3: Start Working
Tell Claude what you need in plain language — it will follow the template's workflow automatically. For example:
Continue the work from my last session
Claude reads the template and runs the steps for you.