# memory-curate

Curates your Basic Memory knowledge graph by connecting orphan notes, proposing typed relations, merging duplicates, and building hub indexes. Useful when accumulated notes become disorganized.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1300 installs · ★ 4357
- Author: basicmachines-co
- License: AGPL-3.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory/tree/HEAD/skills/memory-curate/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/memory-curate

## What it does

The skill curates the structure of a Basic Memory knowledge base. It scans for orphan notes lacking links, recommends typed connections such as `depends_on`, `relates_to`, or `part_of`, and locates duplicate or overlapping entries. When topics grow, it constructs index notes to tie related records together.

Under the hood, the skill relies on Basic Memory commands including `bm_search`, `bm_read`, `bm_edit`, and `bm_find`. If the `bm` CLI is installed, it calls `bm orphans` directly. It also audits folder layouts and normalizes inconsistent tagging, such as catching variations like `arch` alongside `architecture`.

Deleting duplicate notes without repointing incoming links leaves broken references behind. Restructuring bloated note bodies or pruning obsolete facts is handled by a separate skill, `memory-defrag`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

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

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

### Codex

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

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

### Cursor

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

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

### GitHub Copilot

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

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

### Gemini CLI

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

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

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory --skill memory-curate -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/tree/HEAD/skills/memory-curate/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- detect orphan notes lacking graph relations in Basic Memory
- propose typed links between conceptually related notes
- merge duplicate notes and resolve redirect links
- build index hub notes for clustered topics
- standardize inconsistent tags across the knowledge base

## Example prompts
- Find orphan notes in my knowledge base and propose relations for them.
- Audit my folder structure and tag consistency.
- Create an architecture index hub note from related decisions.

## Similar
- [memory-lifecycle](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/basicmachines-co-memory-lifecycle.md) — skill · 546 installs
- [memory-ingest](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/basicmachines-co-memory-ingest.md) — skill · 541 installs
- [memory-bridge](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/memory-bridge.md) — skill · 2400 installs
- [para-memory-files](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/para-memory-files.md) — skill · 1800 installs
- [ontology](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ontology.md) — skill · 3700 installs
- [memory-intake](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/memory-intake.md) — skill · 766 installs

From the same set: [basicmachines-co/basic-memory](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/basicmachines-co/basic-memory.md) — 14 cards

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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