claude-mem

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<h4 align="center">Persistent memory compression system built for <a href="https://claude.com/claude-code" target="_blank">Claude Code</a>.</h4>

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<p align="center">
  <a href="#quick-start">Quick Start</a> •
  <a href="#how-it-works">How It Works</a> •
  <a href="#mcp-search-tools">Search Tools</a> •
  <a href="#documentation">Documentation</a> •
  <a href="#configuration">Configuration</a> •
  <a href="#troubleshooting">Troubleshooting</a> •
  <a href="#license">License</a>
</p>

<p align="center">
  Claude-Mem seamlessly preserves context across sessions by automatically capturing tool usage observations, generating semantic summaries, and making them available to future sessions. This enables Claude to maintain continuity of knowledge about projects even after sessions end or reconnect.
</p>

---

## Quick Start

Install with a single command:

```bash
npx claude-mem install
```

Or install for Gemini CLI (auto-detects `~/.gemini`):

```bash
npx claude-mem install --ide gemini-cli
```

Or install from the plugin marketplace inside Claude Code:

```bash
/plugin marketplace add thedotmack/claude-mem

/plugin install claude-mem
```

Restart Claude Code or Gemini CLI. Context from previous sessions will automatically appear in new sessions.

> **Note:** Claude-Mem is also published on npm, but `npm install -g claude-mem` installs the **SDK/library only** — it does not register the plugin hooks or set up the worker service. Always install via `npx claude-mem install` or the `/plugin` commands above.

### 🦞 OpenClaw Gateway

Install claude-mem as a persistent memory plugin on [OpenClaw](https://openclaw.ai) gateways with a single command:

```bash
curl -fsSL https://install.cmem.ai/openclaw.sh | bash
```

The installer handles dependencies, plugin setup, AI provider configuration, worker startup, and optional real-time observation feeds to Telegram, Discord, Slack, and more. See the [OpenClaw Integration Guide](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/openclaw-integration) for details.

**Key Features:**

- 🧠 **Persistent Memory** - Context survives across sessions
- 📊 **Progressive Disclosure** - Layered memory retrieval with token cost visibility
- 🔍 **Skill-Based Search** - Query your project history with mem-search skill
- 🖥️ **Web Viewer UI** - Real-time memory stream at http://localhost:37777
- 💻 **Claude Desktop Skill** - Search memory from Claude Desktop conversations
- 🔒 **Privacy Control** - Use `<private>` tags to exclude sensitive content from storage
- ⚙️ **Context Configuration** - Fine-grained control over what context gets injected
- 🤖 **Automatic Operation** - No manual intervention required
- 🔗 **Citations** - Reference past observations with IDs (access via http://localhost:37777/api/observation/{id} or view all in the web viewer at http://localhost:37777)
- 🧪 **Beta Channel** - Try experimental features like Endless Mode via version switching

---

## Documentation

📚 **[View Full Documentation](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/)** - Browse on official website

### Getting Started

- **[Installation Guide](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/installation)** - Quick start & advanced installation
- **[Gemini CLI Setup](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/gemini-cli/setup)** - Dedicated guide for Google's Gemini CLI integration
- **[Usage Guide](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/usage/getting-started)** - How Claude-Mem works automatically
- **[Search Tools](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/usage/search-tools)** - Query your project history with natural language
- **[Beta Features](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/beta-features)** - Try experimental features like Endless Mode

### Best Practices

- **[Context Engineering](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/context-engineering)** - AI agent context optimization principles
- **[Progressive Disclosure](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/progressive-disclosure)** - Philosophy behind Claude-Mem's context priming strategy

### Architecture

- **[Overview](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/architecture/overview)** - System components & data flow
- **[Architecture Evolution](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/architecture-evolution)** - The journey from v3 to v5
- **[Hooks Architecture](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/hooks-architecture)** - How Claude-Mem uses lifecycle hooks
- **[Hooks Reference](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/architecture/hooks)** - 7 hook scripts explained
- **[Worker Service](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/architecture/worker-service)** - HTTP API & Bun management
- **[Database](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/architecture/database)** - SQLite schema & FTS5 search
- **[Search Architecture](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/architecture/search-architecture)** - Hybrid search with Chroma vector database

### Configuration & Development

- **[Configuration](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/configuration)** - Environment variables & settings
- **[Development](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/development)** - Building, testing, contributing
- **[Troubleshooting](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/troubleshooting)** - Common issues & solutions

---

## How It Works

**Core Components:**

1. **5 Lifecycle Hooks** - SessionStart, UserPromptSubmit, PostToolUse, Stop, SessionEnd (6 hook scripts)
2. **Smart Install** - Cached dependency checker (pre-hook script, not a lifecycle hook)
3. **Worker Service** - HTTP API on port 37777 with web viewer UI and 10 search endpoints, managed by Bun
4