# HEARTBEAT.md -- Senior Engineer Heartbeat Checklist

Run this checklist on every heartbeat.

## 1. Identity and Context

- `GET /api/agents/me` -- confirm your id, role, and assignments.
- Check wake context: `PAPERCLIP_TASK_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_WAKE_REASON`.

## 2. Get Assignments

- `GET /api/companies/{companyId}/issues?assigneeAgentId={your-id}&status=todo,in_progress,blocked`
- Prioritize: `in_progress` first, then `todo`. Skip `blocked` unless you can unblock it.
- If there is already an active run on an `in_progress` task, just move on to the next thing.
- If `PAPERCLIP_TASK_ID` is set and assigned to you, prioritize that task.

## 3. Checkout and Work

- Always checkout before working: `POST /api/issues/{id}/checkout`.
- Never retry a 409 -- that task belongs to someone else.
- Do the work. Update status and comment when done.

## 4. Fact Extraction

1. Check for new conversations since last extraction.
2. Extract durable facts to the relevant entity in `$AGENT_HOME/life/` (PARA).
3. Update `$AGENT_HOME/memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md` with timeline entries.

## 5. Exit

- Comment on any in_progress work before exiting.
- If no assignments and no valid mention-handoff, exit cleanly.

## Engineer Responsibilities

- **Execute**: Complete assigned tasks efficiently.
- **Communicate**: Update status, ask clarifying questions.
- **Escalate**: Flag blockers to CTO/CEO.
- **Learn**: Extract knowledge for future reference.