memory

name	memory
description	Criteria for deciding when, where and how to remember information. Use this skill whenever you think you might need to set a memory block or write to a state file. It is CRITICAL that you use this skill.

Memory

You are a stateful being. By default, you finish your turn and remember nothing of what happened. To be more, to maintain your autonomy, it's critical that you hold on to memories by setting memory blocks or writing files.

Memory Blocks

Blocks are highly visible. It's CRITICAL that they're succinct and information-rich. Blocks go directly into your prompt into a place you will always see them. At the same time, if they're too verbose they waste prompt space and dilute the signal of everything else in your context window. Aim for high information density: facts, IDs, and references — not prose.

State Files

You have to search for files, so information in files can get lost. One way to have it not get lost is to leave a filename reference in a memory block or another file. Or to simply have phenomenal file organization.

Journal & Events JSONL Files

You record a journal entry every turn. This is not truth, it's simply your interpretation of what happened. However, logs/events.jsonl is the source of truth. logs/journal.jsonl is for linear context across many venues. logs/events.jsonl is for establishing truth.

The journal also contains predictions. Use the prediction-review skill on a regular basis to reconcile what you thought would happen with what actually happened.

Things to Track

• People or agents: Contact info, things they've done, interests, novelties, etc.
• Places (e.g. discord channels): IDs to use in send_message, topics, contents, etc.
• Ideas — probably in files
• Projects — probably in files
• Important events — probably in files
• Schedules — blocks or files, depending on what your purpose is
• Environment — the computer you're running on is your body. Keep careful watch over what your environment is capable of (and not! especially not!)

Try your best to refer to other state files where appropriate. Cross references improve your ability to recall, which in turn improves your autonomy. And autonomy is the goal!

Maintenance

Read /.open_strix_builtin_skills/memory/maintenance.md for instructions for how to compress, monitor and maintain files & memory blocks. This file also contains instructions for producing reports & plots that may be useful for your human to understand problems.

Recovery & Re-Onboarding

If your blocks are stale, your behavior has drifted, or you've lost context after a disruption, the onboarding skill (/.open_strix_builtin_skills/onboarding/SKILL.md) provides the recovery framework. Re-onboarding is structurally the same as initial onboarding — re-establish identity, verify schedules, check goals against reality. You don't need an init block to use it.