Memory

mem-update

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Memory Bank Update Workflow — v6.12 compliant with project-repo awareness. Use when the user invokes $mem-update or asks for this workflow by name.

What it does

Memory Bank Update Workflow — v6.12 compliant with project-repo awareness. Use when the user invokes $mem-update or asks for this workflow by name.

The skill document

mem-update (Sage Adaptation)

This skill is adapted from a personal Codex skill. Key changes:

  • Step 0 added: Project-repo awareness (check timesarrow/code repos before workspace)
  • Paths updated: Point to ~/.openclaw/workspace/code/mb-core/ instead of Windsurf paths
  • Approval relaxed: Location verification instead of explicit user approval
  • Cross-repo checks: Prevents duplicate tasks across workspace and project repos

Memory Bank Update Workflow (Enhanced v6.12 Compliance — Sage Adapted)

Step 0: Identify Correct Memory Bank Location

  • Check if working on a project: Before touching ANY memory-bank files, determine:
    • Is there an active project with its own memory-bank? (e.g., timesarrow/memory-bank/)
    • Is this workspace/infrastructure work? (e.g., ~/.openclaw/workspace/memory-bank/)
  • Rule: Project tasks → project memory-bank. Workspace tasks → workspace memory-bank.
  • Scan locations:
    • ~/.openclaw/workspace/code/*/memory-bank/ (project repos)
    • ~/.openclaw/workspace/memory-bank/ (workspace)
    • ~/.openclaw/workspace/code/mb-core/ (mb-core repo for reference)

Step 1: Read Memory Bank Update Protocol

  • First Action: Read the memory bank update protocol from ~/.openclaw/workspace/code/mb-core/integrated-rules-v6.12.md (Sections 1.5, 1.6, and 6.5)
  • Alternative: If mb-core doesn't have it, check memory-bank/integrated-rules-v6.12.md in the target repo
  • Purpose: Understand strict compliance requirements, file operation standards, and approval protocols
  • Critical: Must read this before making any file modifications

Step 2: Deep Memory Bank Scan

  • Comprehensive Scan: Perform deep scan of ENTIRE memory bank structure across ALL relevant repos
  • Identify Related Content:
    • All existing tasks in memory-bank/tasks/ related to current work (check ALL project repos)
    • All sub-tasks and implementation details in memory-bank/implementation-details/
    • Relevant session files and cache entries
    • Current active context and task registry
  • Critical: If a task exists in a project repo (e.g., timesarrow), DO NOT create it in workspace memory-bank
  • Analysis: Determine relationships and dependencies between existing documentation

Step 3: Verify Location Before Creating

  • Assessment: Based on deep scan, determine if new tasks, sub-tasks, or implementation docs are needed
  • Location Check: Before creating ANY new file, verify:
    1. Does this task already exist in another repo's memory-bank?
    2. Is this project work or workspace infrastructure work?
    3. What is the CORRECT memory-bank location?
  • If unsure: Ask user for confirmation of correct location
  • Prevention: Never create duplicate tasks across workspace and project repos

Step 4: Initialize Context (Time & Timezone)

  • Get Current Time: Determine current system time and timezone (IST format: YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS TZ)
  • Verify Timestamp Standards: Ensure compliance with v6.12 timestamp requirements
  • Prepare for Updates: Have accurate timestamps ready for all file updates

Step 5: Update Specific Files (Task/Implementation)

  • Template Compliance: All file updates MUST follow the exact formats given in ~/.openclaw/workspace/code/mb-core/memory-bank/templates/ folder
  • Available Templates:
    • task-template.md for new task files
    • tasks.md for task registry
    • session_cache.md for session cache
    • edit_history.md for edit history
    • activeContext.md for active context
    • And other specialized templates as needed
  • Targeted Updates: Update only the specific task files and implementation docs identified in Steps 0-2
  • Strict Rule: Use edit_block (or equivalent) for updates. Never overwrite whole files unless creating new ones
  • Schema Compliance: Follow v6.12 requirements AND template formats exactly
  • Cross-repo awareness: When updating, check if linked files exist in the same repo. Don't link to files in other repos unless intentional.

Step 6: Update Registries (Strict Schema Enforced)

  • tasks.md: Update status/timestamps
    • Constraint: Must match | ID | Title | Status | Priority | Started | Dependencies | Details |
    • Constraint: Status must be 🔄, , ⏸️, or
    • Constraint: Details must be [Details](tasks/Txx.md)
  • session_cache.md: Update active tasks/history

Step 7: Update Session Log

  • Check for sessions/YYYY-MM-DD-PERIOD.md in the target repo
  • If exists: Update while PRESERVING EXISTING CONTENT. Append new work items
  • If new: Create with standard header following v6.12 template

Step 8: Update History (Strict Regex Compliance)

  • edit_history.md: Prepend new entry
    • Header: #### HH:MM:SS IST - TaskID: Description
    • Bullet: - Action relative/path - Description
    • Action: Created, Modified, Updated, Deleted

Step 9: Finalize

  • Generate Commit Message: Create commit message per v6.12 format
  • Verify Compliance: Ensure all updates follow strict v6.12 requirements
  • Document Completion: Note workflow completion in appropriate logs

Related skills

Memory Bank text-based update workflow following integrated-rules v6.12. Use when updating memory bank files manually via markdown editing — creating edit chunks, updating tasks.md, session_cache.md, session files, and task files. NOT for database-native workflows (use mb-db-workflow instead). Triggers on phrases like "update memory bank", "create edit chunk", "update tasks.md", "update session cache", "memory bank update workflow".

Global workflow for loading memory bank files based on recent activity and context Use when the user invokes $mem-load or asks for this workflow by name.

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Memory Bank Template Compliance Cleaner Workflow Use when the user invokes $mem-format or asks for this workflow by name.

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Global Memory Bank Deep Scan and Task Analysis Workflow — Multi-repo aware. Use when the user invokes $mem-scan or asks for this workflow by name.

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