# memory-tasks

Keeps work-in-progress as notes in the Basic Memory knowledge graph, so you can find active tasks and resume them after compaction or a restart.

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

## What it does

This skill stores tasks as notes with `type: Task`. They sit in the Basic Memory knowledge graph, are checked against the `schema/Task.md` schema, and outlive context compaction. Fields such as `status`, `assigned_to`, `current_step` and `steps` go into both metadata and observations: metadata drives `bm_search` filters, observations drive `bm_schema(command="validate")`.

A task is created with `bm_write` using `note_type="Task"` and a metadata block. The body carries Observations, a Steps list with checkboxes, and a Context section. Write that context as if explaining the work to someone who knows nothing about it — file paths, decisions already made, what you tried. After a session is compacted, the skill searches for active tasks with `bm_search(note_types=["task"], filters={"status": "active"})` and picks up from `current_step`.

Before editing, read the task as JSON and pass its checksum as `expected_checksum`. Two sessions often touch the same task, for instance during a pre-compaction flush. A revision conflict means the other session wrote first, so re-read before writing. The skill advises one task per unit of work and closing finished ones instead of leaving them `active`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

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

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

### Codex

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

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

### Cursor

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

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

### GitHub Copilot

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

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

### Gemini CLI

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

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

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

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

## When to use it
- open a task for multi-step work and keep it across context compaction
- find active tasks after a restart and resume from the right step
- write down context before compaction so the work is not lost
- filter tasks by status, assignee or blockers
- validate tasks against the schema and spot drift in the notes

## Example prompts
- Create a task for refactoring the auth module, three steps, status active
- Find all active tasks and resume from the current step
- Update the context of active tasks before compaction

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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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