Claude Code Memory Skill — Development skill for Claude Code

Memory Management Skill for Claude Code

Teach Claude Code how to efficiently manage its native auto-memory feature.

The Problem

Claude Code's auto-memory only loads the first **200 lines** of `MEMORY.md` at session start. If Claude dumps everything into one file, most context is invisible when you start working.

The Solution

This skill instructs Claude to:

1. Keep MEMORY.md as a concise index (< 200 lines)
2. Segment detailed notes into topic files (debugging.md, patterns.md, etc.)
3. Use pointers in MEMORY.md to reference topic files
4. Use grep before reading entire files
5. Maintain memory hygiene with regular audits

Installation

Option 1: Add to Project CLAUDE.md

Copy the contents of `CLAUDE-SNIPPET.md` into your project's `CLAUDE.md` or `.claude/CLAUDE.md`.

Option 2: Add as Rule File

Copy `memory-management-rule.md` to your project's `.claude/rules/` directory.

Option 3: User-Level (All Projects)

Add to `~/.claude/CLAUDE.md` to apply across all your projects.

Files

File	Purpose
SKILL.md	Full documentation and reference
CLAUDE-SNIPPET.md	Copy-paste snippet for CLAUDE.md
memory-management-rule.md	Ready-to-use rule file
MEMORY-TEMPLATE.md	Starter template for MEMORY.md

Key Concepts

• 200-line limit: Only first 200 lines of MEMORY.md are in system prompt
• Topic files: debugging.md, patterns.md, etc. are read on-demand
• Pointers: MEMORY.md points to topic files with → See file.md
• Grep first: Search before reading to minimize context usage

Example MEMORY.md Structure

# Project Index

## Commands
- Dev: `pnpm dev`
- Test: `pnpm test`

## Files
- Entry: `src/index.ts`
- Config: `src/config.ts`

## Topics
→ debugging.md (bug fixes)
→ patterns.md (conventions)
→ gotchas.md (known issues)

## Active Work
- Building auth flow

Credits

Created for the [Agent Architects](https://skool.com/agent-architects)