Memory - Long-term Context
Read the current session's long-term memory files to access historical context preserved across compacts.
Background
Claude Code's /compact compresses conversations to save context. Repeated compaction causes "memory decay" - important early details gradually get lost.
Max's memory system automatically saves accumulated content to files during each compact, ensuring important information is never lost.
Memory Files
| File | Content | Priority |
|---|---|---|
errors.md | Error fix records | Highest - Avoid repeating mistakes |
context.md | User messages + technical concepts | Medium - Full background |
files.md | Code file references | Low - Only when needed |
Instructions
Use the memory.py script to read files with automatic truncation (large files are trimmed to last ~15000 chars to save context):
# Read errors.md only (default, recommended)
cd /path/to/skills/memory && uv run memory.py errors.md
# Read specific files
cd /path/to/skills/memory && uv run memory.py errors.md context.md
# Read all files
cd /path/to/skills/memory && uv run memory.py all
The script automatically:
- Reads from
~/.claude/projects/$MAX_PROJECT_ID/max/$MAX_SESSION_ID/memory/ - Truncates files > 15000 chars (keeps most recent content)
- Skips non-existent files
When to Read Memory
After compact - When you see "Earlier details saved to..." in the summary:
- Always read
errors.mdfirst - Critical to avoid repeating past mistakes
On demand - Read specific files based on the situation:
| Situation | Command |
|---|---|
| Encountering errors / Tests failing | uv run memory.py errors.md |
| Need to recall previous discussions | uv run memory.py context.md |
| Reusing code patterns / Finding files | uv run memory.py files.md |
Notes
- Memory files are automatically updated during each
/compact - Files are appended with timestamps, newest content at the bottom
- Large files are truncated to ~15000 chars (≈3% of context) to prevent context overflow