Harness Lab · 10

Session control studio

Long threads without a new session: /context, /compress, /undo, /rollback.

~25 min

Requires

Open Harness 06 (tools proof); chat works on Desktop or CLI

Assumes

You can run a multi-turn conversation. You are not learning install here.

If not ready: Harness 06 — First agency

Session control
01
/context
Budget map
02
/compress
Keep last N
03
/undo
Rewrite ask
04
/rollback
Files only

Why this lab

Mastery 06–07 map session commands. This lab drills them so you stop burning a new session every time the window fills or a prompt goes wrong.

Commands under test

  • ·/context — budget and what consumes the window
  • ·/compress here N — keep last N exchanges full; summarize the rest
  • ·/compress focus <topic> — protect a subject while compressing elsewhere
  • ·/undo · /undo N — rewind user turns into the composer (conversation only)
  • ·/retry · /branch — same prompt again, or a side path without losing the first
  • ·/rollback + checkpoints — restore files Hermes already changed (not /undo)
/undo rewinds chat. It does not restore files. For disk damage, use checkpoints and /rollback when enabled.

Drill

Steps · tap to check0/6

session-control.md template

# session-control.md Profile: [...] /context: used […] remaining […] /compress: kept N=… · room after: […] /undo: worked yes/no · note: […] Files: /rollback needed for disk — tested yes/no Rule of thumb: […]
Outcome

session-control.md with: context snapshot, one compress result, one undo test, and a one-line note that file restore needs /rollback + checkpoints.

Proof · this device0/1

Stored on this device only — not sent anywhere.