---
title: "Claude Code Memory Auto-Load"
description: "How MEMORY.md symlinks to cognitive memory CORE.md provide automatic context injection into every Claude Code session. Covers the symlink mechanism, daily refresh via systemd, and manual refresh commands."
type: guide
domain: development
tags: [claude-code, cognitive-memory, symlinks, systemd, automation]
---

# Claude Code Memory Auto-Load (CORE.md Symlinks)

## Problem
Claude Code's CLAUDE.md can instruct the AI to load files at session start, but this relies on the model choosing to follow the instruction — which it often doesn't.

## Solution
Claude Code has a built-in auto-memory feature: each project gets a `MEMORY.md` file at `~/.claude/projects/<project-path>/memory/MEMORY.md` that is **automatically injected into the system prompt** every session. No tool calls needed.

We symlink every project's `MEMORY.md` to our cognitive memory `CORE.md` (`~/.claude/memory/CORE.md`), which is an auto-curated summary of the most relevant memories (~1,000-1,100 tokens).

## How It Works

```
~/.claude/projects/<project>/memory/MEMORY.md  →  ~/.claude/memory/CORE.md
```

- CORE.md is regenerated daily by `cognitive-memory-daily.service`
- Symlinks are refreshed daily by the same service (catches new projects)
- Cost: ~1% of 200k context window — negligible

## Files

| File | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `~/.local/bin/claude-memory-symlinks` | Script that creates/refreshes symlinks for all projects |
| `~/.config/systemd/user/cognitive-memory-daily.service` | Daily timer that runs decay → core → embed → symlinks |
| `~/.claude/memory/CORE.md` | Auto-curated cognitive memory summary (symlink target) |

## Manual Refresh

```bash
# Regenerate CORE.md and refresh symlinks
claude-memory core && claude-memory-symlinks

# Just refresh symlinks (e.g., after creating a new project)
claude-memory-symlinks
```

## What Changed

- **Removed** from `~/.claude/CLAUDE.md`: "Session start: Load CORE.md" instruction
- **Added** to `~/.claude/CLAUDE.md`: "CORE.md auto-loads via MEMORY.md symlinks"
- **Migrated** project-specific MEMORY.md content (major-domo, strat-gameplay-webapp) into cognitive memory before replacing with symlinks
- **Added** `claude-memory-symlinks` step to daily systemd service

## Date
2026-02-16