# memory-metadata-search

Search Basic Memory notes by YAML frontmatter fields, from status and tags to nested values. Useful when a text query alone cannot narrow the results.

- 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-metadata-search/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/memory-metadata-search

## What it does

This skill lets you filter Basic Memory notes using their frontmatter. Match a field exactly, test a numeric range, check array values, or target a nested key. Multiple conditions are combined with AND, and custom YAML keys can be queried too.

Use `bm_search` for ranked matches or `bm_find` to locate files with selected fields. Filters can stand alone or narrow a text search. There’s a firm boundary: metadata filters apply to Markdown notes, so PDFs and images won’t appear as matches.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

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

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

## When to use it
- find notes by status or priority
- select notes above a numeric threshold
- filter by tags or nested YAML keys
- narrow a text search with frontmatter conditions

## Example prompts
- Find notes whose status is `draft` and priority is high.
- Show notes with `confidence` greater than `0.7`.
- Search for notes tagged `security` and `oauth` with active status.

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## Other versions with the same name
- [memory-metadata-search · basicmachines-co](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/basicmachines-co-memory-metadata-search.md) — 551 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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