AI hit a rate limit halfway through a refactor
A refactor creates partial state: files changed, tests maybe failing, decisions half-applied. The limit hurts, but the real moat is the vendor boundary: can the work move to another AI with trust intact?
Why this hurts.
Waiting for reset can leave the work stale. Starting fresh without repo state can make the next AI overwrite or repeat partial edits. A native resume only helps inside the same vendor wall; ShardStitch turns the interrupted refactor into portable project state.
How ShardStitch solves it.
Stop retries that cannot make progress
Stop requesting retries while the provider is rate-limited; save the partial diff before the run ends.
Inspect the partial refactor
Mark risky files and dependency impact.
Record the verification boundary
Include verification state so the next AI knows whether it is fixing, finishing, or rolling back.
Choose wait, resume, or switch
Move the task to another tool while preserving the same working state.
What the next AI receives.
- Partial refactor diff
- Changed files
- Risky dependencies
- Finish or verify next step
What stays out.
- Old prompt history
- Generic refactor advice
- Irrelevant exploration
- Claims not visible in repo state
Pause a refactor safely at a rate limit
FAQ.
Does a ShardStitch packet reset my provider rate limit?
No. It carries project context; the AI provider controls its own usage limits and reset schedule.
Can I switch tools in the middle of a refactor?
You can hand off the task, but first reconcile the active checkout, partial diff, and test state. Make clear which workspace is authoritative to avoid duplicate or conflicting edits.