# memory

A skill that keeps agent notes in SQLite with embeddings and pulls them back by meaning. Useful when project context has to survive across sessions.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · ★ 336
- Author: harperreed
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/harperreed/dotfiles/tree/HEAD/.claude/skills-archive/memory/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-15
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/harperreed-memory

## What it does

The skill exposes five MCP tools. `mcp__memory__store` writes a note with tags, `mcp__memory__search` runs a similarity lookup, `mcp__memory__list` shows recent entries, `mcp__memory__delete` drops one, and `mcp__memory__get_context` assembles context around a topic. Because matching happens on embeddings, your query wording does not have to mirror the stored text.

Everything lands in `~/.local/share/memory/memory.db`, a SQLite file with embeddings kept as BLOBs; the path follows `XDG_DATA_HOME`. When the MCP server is not reachable, the CLI still works: `memory add "..." --tag preference`, `memory search "..."`, `memory list`, `memory export -f markdown`.

Nothing gets remembered on its own. Entries appear only when a tool is called, so saving decisions and preferences is on you. Skip `mcp__memory__store` and the database stays empty, which leaves search with nothing to return.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill memory -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill memory -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill memory -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install harperreed/dotfiles memory
```

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

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill memory -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/harperreed/dotfiles --path .claude/skills-archive/memory
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill memory -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/harperreed/dotfiles/tree/HEAD/.claude/skills-archive/memory/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- carry user preferences from one session to the next
- find an earlier decision by meaning rather than exact wording
- load project context before starting a task
- export accumulated notes to markdown
- remove a stale entry from memory

## Example prompts
- Remember that I prefer TypeScript in this project and store it with the preferences tag
- Search memory for what I said about the build setup
- Get context on my coding preferences

## Similar
- [sqlite-graph-memory](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/sqlite-graph-memory.md) — MCP server · ★ 12
- [V3 Memory Unification](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/v3-memory-unification.md) — skill · 1100 installs
- [memory-bridge](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ruvnet-memory-bridge.md) — skill · 744 installs
- [memory-lancedb-pro](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/memory-lancedb-pro.md) — skill · 643 installs
- [Total Agent Memory](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/total-agent-memory.md) — MCP server · ★ 73
- [shodh-memory](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/shodh-memory.md) — MCP server · ★ 316

## Other versions with the same name
- [memory · yonatangross](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/orchestkit-memory.md) — 749 installs
- [memory · johnlindquist](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/johnlindquist-memory.md) — 362 installs
- [memory · plasma-ai](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/memory.md) — ★ 788

From the same set: [harperreed/dotfiles](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/harperreed/dotfiles.md) — 8 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