48 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
48 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
# 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
|