# memory-metadata-search

A Basic Memory skill that finds notes by frontmatter fields — status, priority, confidence — instead of free text.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 551 installs · ★ 23
- Author: basicmachines-co
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills/tree/HEAD/memory-metadata-search/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-04-20
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/basicmachines-co-memory-metadata-search

## What it does

Basic Memory keeps structure in YAML frontmatter. Every key you add beyond the standard set (`title`, `type`, `tags`, `permalink`, `schema`) is indexed as `entity_metadata` and can be queried. This skill shows the agent how to build those queries with `search_notes`.

Filters go into `metadata_filters` as a JSON dictionary. Supported conditions: equality, list membership with `$in`, comparisons `$gt`, `$gte`, `$lt`, `$lte`, inclusive ranges with `$between`, and nested keys via dot notation such as `{"schema.version": "2"}`. Several keys combine with AND. Shortcuts exist for `tags` and `status`. A text query is optional — you can narrow one with filters or skip it entirely.

Operators need the `$` prefix. Drop it and the filter is read as an exact-match key, returning nothing without an error: `{"confidence": {"gte": 0.7}}` fails where `$gte` works. Keys follow `[A-Za-z0-9_-]+`, an operator dict holds exactly one operator, and `$between` takes only `[min, max]`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills --skill memory-metadata-search -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/memory-metadata-search/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/memory-metadata-search/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills --skill memory-metadata-search -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/memory-metadata-search/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills --skill memory-metadata-search -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/memory-metadata-search/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills memory-metadata-search
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/memory-metadata-search/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills --skill memory-metadata-search -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills --path memory-metadata-search
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/memory-metadata-search/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills --skill memory-metadata-search -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills/tree/HEAD/memory-metadata-search/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- pull every note with `status: draft`
- list specs whose priority is `high` or `critical`
- select notes above a confidence threshold
- narrow a text search with a frontmatter field
- filter notes by a nested schema field

## Example prompts
- Find notes with `status: in-progress` and type `spec`
- Show notes where `confidence` is above 0.7
- Find notes tagged `security` with status `draft`

## Similar
- [setup-matt-pocock-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/setup-matt-pocock-skills.md) — skill · 1052851 installs
- [ask-matt](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ask-matt.md) — skill · 766587 installs
- [to-tickets](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/to-tickets.md) — skill · 711230 installs
- [writing-plans](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/writing-plans.md) — skill · 282859 installs
- [caveman-review](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/caveman-review.md) — skill · 411800 installs
- [caveman-compress](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/caveman-compress.md) — skill · 411500 installs

## Other versions with the same name
- [memory-metadata-search · basicmachines-co](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/memory-metadata-search.md) — 1200 installs

From the same set: [basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills.md) — 7 cards

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md