---
id: 5fb6b3c0-cc6a-4baa-8552-8d2731379b0b
type: solution
title: "Migration Script: Default-to-Named-Graph Memory Transfer"
tags: [cognitive-memory, migration, multi-graph, python, script, solution]
importance: 0.85
confidence: 0.8
created: "2026-03-01T22:16:44.476551+00:00"
updated: "2026-03-01T22:16:44.476551+00:00"
---

# Memory Migration Script: Default to Named Project Graphs

## Location
`/mnt/NV2/Development/cognitive-memory/scripts/migrate-memories.py`

## Problem
Memories accumulated in the default cognitive-memory graph without project-level separation. Needed a way to migrate them into named project graphs based on tag matching.

## Solution
Standalone Python script (`migrate-memories.py`) that migrates memories from the default cognitive-memory graph to named project graphs.

### Key Features
- **Tag-based classification**: routes memories to target graphs by matching tags
- **Flags**: `--dry-run`, `--no-git`, `--cleanup-overlaps`
- **File operations**: moves/copies `.md` files, updates `_index.json`, `_embeddings.json`, `_state.json` in both source and target
- **Edge handling**: classifies edges as migrate vs orphan, strips cross-graph edge references from frontmatter
- **Overlap detection**: memories tagged for multiple projects are COPIED (not moved) to each target graph; tracked in `_migration_overlaps.json`
- **Idempotent**: safe to re-run
- **Atomic JSON writes**: via `tempfile + os.replace()`
- **Git auto-commit**: commits changes after successful migration

## Git Commit
Committed as `11a046f`, closes Gitea issues #4, #5, #6.