Memory Bank Skill

This skill maintains durable project context in the memory-bank/ folder.

Mental model (hierarchy)

The core files build on each other; treat projectbrief.md as the foundation and keep activeContext.md / progress.md current:

flowchart TD
   PB[projectbrief.md] --> PC[productContext.md]
   PB --> SP[systemPatterns.md]
   PB --> TC[techContext.md]
   PC --> AC[activeContext.md]
   SP --> AC
   TC --> AC
   AC --> P[progress.md]

When to use

Use this skill when the user asks to:

• Run or consume the memory bank
• Update the memory bank
• Summarize current project context / active work focus using the memory bank

Do NOT run this skill automatically for every task unless the user explicitly requests it.

Scope and rules

• The Memory Bank describes the project being worked, not the Command Bank framework itself.
• Only modify files under memory-bank/ when updating memory.
• Do not modify Command Bank files as part of this skill.

When to update the Memory Bank

Update the memory bank whenever any of the following occur:

• After implementing significant changes or refactors
• When new project patterns or technical decisions are discovered
• At the end of a sprint, milestone, or major feature
• When context or requirements need clarification
• When the user explicitly requests: “update memory bank” / “consume memory bank”

Required core files

These files are the “core set” for the memory bank:

• memory-bank/projectbrief.md
• memory-bank/productContext.md
• memory-bank/systemPatterns.md
• memory-bank/techContext.md
• memory-bank/activeContext.md
• memory-bank/progress.md
• memory-bank/update-log.md

What each core file is for

• projectbrief.md: The foundation (scope, goals, non-goals). Source of truth.
• productContext.md: Why the project exists; problems solved; UX goals.
• systemPatterns.md: Architecture + key technical decisions + patterns.
• techContext.md: Technologies, setup, constraints, dependencies.
• activeContext.md: Current focus, recent changes, next steps, active decisions.
• progress.md: What works, what’s left, current status, known issues.
• update-log.md: Chronological log of memory updates (what changed and when).

Additional context files may exist in memory-bank/ (feature specs, notes, etc). Use them only if relevant.

Consume workflow (read-only)

When asked to consume the memory bank:

1. Read all core files listed above.
2. Optionally read additional context files only if they appear relevant to the user’s current request.
3. Output a concise Markdown summary with:
   • Current project context
   • Active work focus
   • Recent changes (based on activeContext.md and/or update-log.md)
   • Risks / unknowns (missing or stale content)
   • Next steps (what to do next and which memory files should be updated)

Update workflow (writes)

When asked to update the memory bank:

1. Read all core files.
2. Determine what changed (based on user request, diffs, implementation work just performed).
3. Update only the memory-bank files that need changes. Prefer minimal diffs.
4. Append a new entry to memory-bank/update-log.md for every update operation.

If additional non-core files exist under memory-bank/, do not blindly rewrite them. Only read/update them if they are clearly relevant to the current request (or the user explicitly asks for a “full memory bank audit”).

update-log.md entry format

Append entries in this format:

### YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm UTC
- Updated `activeContext.md` to reflect <what changed>
- Updated `progress.md` to reflect <what changed>
- (Optional initials)

Quality bar

• Keep each memory file tight and scannable.
• Avoid duplicating the same content across multiple files.
• Prefer concrete facts over speculation.
• If the memory bank is missing core files, create them with minimal initial content and clearly mark unknowns.