startuplisted

@markdownai v1.0 # /startup > **Recovery path — not the default boot.** Use this skill when boot is degraded, the session anchor is missing/stale, or you need deeper continuity recovery than the normal `willow.md` path. Default boot with MCP available is the compact 7-step loop: (1) `markdownai-read_file("willow.md")`; (2) establish local operating context with agent, namespace, repo root, branch, and a compact repo diff summary; (3) `fleet_status`; (4) `handoff_latest`; (5) `grove_get_history` on the agent channel/inbox; (6) `kb_search` on the current task/topic; (7) stop on degraded base or proceed to act. Keep step 2 compact: branch, clean/dirty, staged/unstaged/untracked counts, ahead/behind if known, and a short diff note, not a full patch. SessionStart already ran status/handoff/flags and wrote `$WILLOW_HOME/session_anchor_${WILLOW_AGENT_NAME}.json` (`~/github/.willow`; `~/.willow` alias OK). Re-run the deeper recovery steps below only if the anchor is missing, stale (`written_at` > **2h**), or live MCP boot is degraded. Stack position: this skill belongs to the **boot persistence** layer. See the Persistent memory section in `willow.md` for the full 4-layer stack. ## Steps 1. Read anchor JSON (path above). 2. **Postgres — live probe, not anchor copy.** The anchor field `postgres` can be `unknown` when SessionStart could not reach MCP. Do **not** report that as the truth. Prefer `fleet_status`: `postgres` is a **dict** ⇒ up. If MCP is missing, times out, or return