# memory-lifecycle

Automates note status transitions in Basic Memory. It archives completed work into appropriate folders and updates frontmatter without deleting records.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1200 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-lifecycle/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/memory-lifecycle

## What it does

The skill handles status changes for entities in Basic Memory when you mark work as finished, cancelled, or reopened. Its core approach relies on archiving rather than deleting. Deleting a note via `bm_delete` destroys observations and turns incoming references into broken links. Instead, the workflow locates the target file with `bm_search` and moves it to the appropriate folder using `bm_move`.

Once relocated, the note receives updated frontmatter fields via `bm_edit` using the `set_metadata` command. The main body text stays untouched. If a file contains `locked: true` in its frontmatter, it moves to the destination path, but metadata edits are refused. You must unlock such files manually. Permalinks survive directory changes by default unless the project sets `update_permalinks_on_move`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

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

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

### Codex

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

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

### Cursor

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

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

### GitHub Copilot

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

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

### Gemini CLI

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

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

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

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

## When to use it
- archive completed tasks and entities without breaking links
- update frontmatter status and completion timestamps safely
- reactivate previously archived notes back into active directories
- keep historical context and observations inside the knowledge graph

## Example prompts
- Mark the quarterly report task as completed and archive it
- We cancelled the migration ticket, move it out of active
- Reopen the client onboarding note and restore it to active

## Similar
- [memory-ingest](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/basicmachines-co-memory-ingest.md) — skill · 541 installs
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## Other versions with the same name
- [memory-lifecycle · basicmachines-co](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/basicmachines-co-memory-lifecycle.md) — 546 installs

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