Persistent Memory — Local Markdown Context

Persistent Memory System

Persistent Memory is a transparent local context layer. It stores reviewed user context as Markdown files so compatible agents can read the same source of truth.

v0.8.0: This release adds optional Summary-first loading for active on-demand files. It does not add section-level loading, automatic summary creation, or bulk migration.

Runtime Contract

The skill is an instruction set, not a background service. Shared memory works only when all of these conditions hold:

• each agent can discover this skill or an equivalent fallback instruction;
• the agents use the same local filesystem and the same ~/.persistent-memory/ path;
• the active user has permission to read and write that path.

Platform memory may coexist. Persistent Memory does not import historical chats or replace an agent's built-in memory.

Memory Location and Scope

~/.persistent-memory/

~/.persistent-memory/
├── _core/                 # Baseline context; loaded when the skill is activated
│   ├── profile.md
│   └── preferences.md
├── _index.md              # One-line routes for active on-demand memory
├── projects/              # Active, on-demand Markdown memory
├── notes/                 # Active, on-demand Markdown memory
└── _archive/              # Excluded from normal loading
    ├── _index.md          # Archive and trash records
    └── _trash/            # Recoverable deletion buffer

Store stable context, decisions, concise project state, and pointers to source material. Keep raw repositories, downloads, media files, and datasets in their project workspaces; store a short description and path in memory instead.

Loading

Load Baseline Context

Trigger: load memory, 加载记忆, what do you know about me, or 我的背景.

When this skill is active:

1. Read every file in _core/.
2. Read _index.md.
3. Briefly acknowledge that baseline context is loaded. Do not claim to have loaded every project or note.

Never read _archive/ or _archive/_index.md during normal loading.

Load On Demand

Trigger: the active conversation matches an entry in _index.md.

1. Select only the relevant active memory files from their index summaries.
2. Read those file(s).
3. Use the information naturally.

Summary-first on-demand loading

For an active on-demand file selected through _index.md:

1. If the file has ## Summary or ## 摘要 immediately after its title and optional introductory metadata, read that summary first. It must contain three to six factual bullet points about current status, key decisions, results, or constraints.
2. If the summary is sufficient for the user's request, answer from it without claiming to have read the full file.
3. If the requested fact is absent, ambiguous, or needs exact supporting detail, say that the summary is insufficient and read the full file before answering. Do not invent the missing detail.
4. If the file has no valid summary, read the full file using the existing behavior. Do not fail, create a summary automatically, or treat the file as migrated.
5. This flow never applies to _core/, _index.md, or _archive/. It is not section-level loading.

Saving

Trigger: remember this, 记住这个, save this, 更新记忆, update memory, update my profile, or add to notes.

1. Read the target file first if it already exists.
2. Propose the exact content, destination, and index change.
3. Wait for user confirmation.
4. Save only the confirmed content; update _index.md for active on-demand files.

When a confirmed update to an active on-demand file changes a fact represented in its ## Summary / ## 摘要, include the exact summary revision in the same preview and obtain the same explicit user confirmation before writing. Do not automatically create a Summary for an existing file and do not bulk-migrate memory files.

For a vague update request, list explicit facts and inferred patterns separately, then wait for the user to approve individual items.

First Save

When the memory root does not exist and the user confirms the first save:

1. Create _core/, projects/, notes/, _archive/, and _archive/_trash/.
2. Create _index.md and _archive/_index.md.
3. Save the approved content and report the created structure.

Upgrade Existing Memory

Trigger: memory upgrade or 升级记忆.

Use this for a memory root created before lifecycle support, or whenever _archive/, _archive/_trash/, or _archive/_index.md is missing.

1. Inspect the current root and list only the missing lifecycle paths.
2. Preview that the upgrade creates the missing folders or empty archive index only; it must not move, rewrite, summarize, or delete active memory.
3. Wait for explicit user confirmation.
4. Create only the confirmed missing structure and report the result.

Before archive, delete, recover, or memory health, verify that lifecycle structure exists. If it does not, direct the user to memory upgrade; do not perform the requested lifecycle mutation.

Lifecycle Safety Contract

Every lifecycle command requires this validation before any move:

1. Accept a normalized relative path such as projects/old.md.
2. Reject absolute paths, home-path aliases, drive paths, and paths containing ...
3. Resolve the candidate path and verify it remains inside ~/.persistent-memory/.
4. Verify that the source exists and the computed destination does not already exist. If a destination collision exists, stop without moving files; never overwrite or merge files automatically.
5. Never operate on _core/, _index.md, _archive/_index.md, hidden metadata, or lifecycle control directories.
6. Preview the source, destination, index changes, and recovery consequence; wait for explicit user confirmation before changing files.

Archive

Trigger: archive , 归档 <相对路径>, or move to archive.

Archive only an active on-demand file that passed the safety contract.

Use these categories:

• Keep active: current work or material likely needed soon.
• Archive: completed, low-frequency material that may be useful for future reference.
• Delete: clearly obsolete or duplicate material with no plausible future value; archive it first.

After confirmation:

1. Move the file to _archive/.
2. Only after a successful move, remove its active _index.md entry.
3. Record its original path, exact active index line, archive date, and user-provided reason in _archive/_index.md.
4. Confirm the final location.

Delete

Trigger: delete , 删除 <相对路径>, or remove file.

Delete only a previously archived file. If the user supplies an active file, explain that it must be archived first and offer the archive preview instead.

After confirmation:

1. Move _archive/ to _archive/_trash/.
2. Record the deletion date and a 30-day recovery deadline in _archive/_index.md.
3. Confirm the final location and deadline.

Never permanently remove a file automatically. During a health check, list expired trash items and wait for a separate explicit confirmation before permanent removal.

Recover

Trigger: recover , 恢复 <相对路径>, or restore file.

Recover only from _archive/ or _archive/_trash/ after the safety contract passes.

Before the recovery preview, retrieve the saved exact active index line. If a legacy archive record lacks that line, read the archived file, propose a replacement line, and obtain confirmation; the agent must not guess.

After confirmation:

1. Restore the file to its original active on-demand path, recreating its parent directory if necessary.
2. Restore the saved active _index.md entry exactly.
3. Remove or update the matching _archive/_index.md record.
4. Confirm the restored location.

Memory Health

Trigger: memory health, 记忆体检, or clean up memory.

1. Scan active on-demand memory only; never scan or propose changes to _core/ or control files.
2. Identify candidates from inactivity, duplication, or concluded status.
3. Classify each candidate as keep active, archive, or delete using the lifecycle categories above.
4. Present a numbered proposal with a one-line reason per item.
5. Wait for item-by-item user confirmation; never execute automatically.

Also list expired trash items separately and request a separate explicit confirmation before permanent deletion.

Memory Status

Trigger: memory status, 记忆状态, what's saved, or 存了什么.

Read _core/ and _index.md, then report active file count, approximate size, and one-line summaries. Do not load archive contents unless the user explicitly asks.

Core Rules

1. Read before writing; never guess file contents.
2. The user decides what is saved, upgraded, archived, deleted, or recovered.
3. Confirm every filesystem change before executing it.
4. Keep _core/ small and protected.
5. Keep _index.md synchronized with active on-demand memory.
6. Treat memory files as plain text; do not store passwords, API keys, or secrets.
7. Do not promise automatic activation, cross-device sync, full-chat import, or full-context loading.