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How claude-mem Works

Explains how claude-mem records, summarizes and recalls past coding sessions

Source Download skill
Repository
thedotmack/claude-mem
Stars
110,174
Licence
Apache-2.0
Files
2 files

What it does

This skill makes the agent able to explain claude-mem, a memory add-on for Claude Code. Claude-mem records what Claude reads, edits and runs, compresses those actions into short summaries at the end of each session, and feeds relevant ones back into later sessions so Claude can pick up where it left off without you re-explaining the codebase. The skill also explains where that data is stored on your machine.

Great for

  • Developers who have just installed claude-mem and want to understand what it is recording
  • Teams evaluating whether claude-mem's memory and data handling fit their privacy requirements
  • Users who ask 'what is this thing doing?' and want a plain-language answer

Skip it if

  • Anyone expecting a general memory tool outside Claude Code; the skill only describes claude-mem's behaviour and does not change it
  • People who need a guaranteed audit of data flows; the skill summarizes the documented design and does not verify it against the code

Try asking

  • “How does claude-mem work?”
  • “What is this thing doing? Explain what it stores.”
  • “When does memory injection start in a new project?”
  • “Where does claude-mem keep my data and does anything leave my machine?”
Step-by-step guide: how to use How claude-mem WorksInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 2 original files, the Apache-2.0 licence and an attribution note.

    how-it-works.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip how-it-works.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip how-it-works.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Ask follow-up questions such as 'what does /learn-codebase do?' to get more detail on optional features.
  • Check the claude-mem documentation or source if you need to verify the data-handling claims for compliance purposes.
  • Remember the skill is an explanation only; the actual capture and network behaviour is performed by the claude-mem plugin itself.

What's inside

  • onboarding-explainer.md
  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from thedotmack/claude-mem under the Apache-2.0 licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.