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Queue Handoff

Pass work to another agent or the human via durable queue items so tasks don't stall

Source Download skill
Repository
mvschwarz/openrig
Stars
8,553
Licence
Apache-2.0
Files
1 file

What it does

This skill teaches an AI agent how to end a unit of work by handing it to a named next owner (another agent or a human) through a durable queue item, instead of going idle or leaving work stuck in chat. It explains the required closure reasons for queue items, when to park work that is waiting on something external, and when the default wake-up notification should be suppressed with --no-nudge. Once installed, the agent follows these rules whenever it finishes a slice or gets blocked in an OpenRig multi-agent setup.

Great for

  • Developers running multi-agent workflows on the OpenRig daemon who want agents to hand off work reliably
  • Teams building orchestration where agents must survive context compaction, missed messages, and interruptions
  • Anyone debugging stalled agent seats and wanting a clear handoff discipline

Skip it if

  • Single-agent chats or simple projects with no queue or other agents, since the commands assume the OpenRig rig CLI is present
  • Setups using a different queue system, because the rig queue commands and state machine will not apply

Try asking

  • “Finish this migration slice and hand the next step to the reviewer agent through the queue”
  • “Block this queue item on the QA agent until their tests complete”
  • “Park this item waiting for the CI job, and wake me in 30 minutes to resume”
  • “Escalate this blocker to the human with a durable attention item”
Step-by-step guide: how to use Queue HandoffInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 1 original files, the Apache-2.0 licence and an attribution note.

    queue-handoff.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip queue-handoff.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip queue-handoff.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Trust the default nudge in live loops and only add --no-nudge for deliberate cold parks or human gates, since it suppresses wake-ups.
  • Make the last action of a turn a real send, queue handoff, or committed edit, not a drafted prompt left unsent.
  • After each handoff, check your own queue and pull the next item rather than idling with work waiting.

What's inside

  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from mvschwarz/openrig under the Apache-2.0 licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.