--- name: dory-memory description: File-based memory system for AI agents that forget between sessions. Implements the "Dory-Proof" pattern for continuity across context resets. Use when setting up agent memory, building workspace structure, implementing task tracking, or preventing context-loss errors. Triggers on "memory system", "remember between sessions", "Dory pattern", "agent continuity", or "workspace setup". ---

Dory-Proof Memory System

AI agents forget everything between sessions. This skill implements a file-based memory system that survives context resets.

Core Principle

Text > Brain. Write everything down. Files are memory. The agent only "remembers" what's on disk.

The Dory-Proof Pattern (Critical)

When the user gives a task:

1. IMMEDIATELY write their EXACT WORDS to state/ACTIVE.md
2. Then interpret what it means
3. Then do the work
4. Mark complete when done

Why: Paraphrasing introduces drift. Exact words preserve intent across context flushes.

Workspace Structure

workspace/
├── AGENTS.md        # Operating rules (system file, don't rename)
├── SOUL.md          # Identity + personality
├── USER.md          # About the human
├── MEMORY.md        # Curated long-term memory (<10KB)
├── LESSONS.md       # "Never again" safety rules
├── TOOLS.md         # Tool-specific notes
│
├── state/           # Active state (check every session)
│   ├── ACTIVE.md    # Current task (exact user words)
│   ├── HOLD.md      # Blocked items (check before acting!)
│   ├── STAGING.md   # Drafts awaiting approval
│   └── DECISIONS.md # Recent choices with timestamps
│
├── memory/          # Historical
│   ├── YYYY-MM-DD.md
│   ├── recent-work.md
│   └── archive/
│
└── ops/             # Operational
    └── WORKSPACE-INDEX.md

Boot Sequence (Every Session)

1. Read state/HOLD.md — what's BLOCKED
2. Read state/ACTIVE.md — current task
3. Read state/DECISIONS.md — recent choices
4. Read memory/recent-work.md — last 48 hours
5. Read MEMORY.md — long-term (main session only)

Output status line after boot:

📋 Boot: ACTIVE=[task] | HOLD=[n] items | STAGING=[n] drafts

State File Formats

state/ACTIVE.md

## Current Instruction
**User said:** "[exact quote]"
**Interpretation:** [what you think it means]
**Status:**
- [ ] Step 1
- [ ] Step 2

state/HOLD.md

[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM | session] Item — reason blocked

ALL agents must check before acting on anything that looks ready.

state/DECISIONS.md

[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM | session] Decision made

Conflict Resolution

When files conflict, priority (highest first):

1. state/HOLD.md — blocks override all
2. state/ACTIVE.md — current instruction
3. state/DECISIONS.md — recent choices
4. AGENTS.md — general rules

Memory Scoring (Before Saving to MEMORY.md)

Score on 4 axes (0–3 each):

| Axis | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |------|---|---|---|---| | Longevity | Gone tomorrow | Weeks | Months | Years+ | | Reuse | One-off | Occasional | Frequent | Every session | | Impact | Trivial | Nice to know | Changes outputs | Changes decisions | | Uniqueness | Obvious | Slightly helpful | Hard to rederive | Impossible without |

Save if: Total ≥ 8, OR any axis = 3 AND total ≥ 6.

Quick Setup

Copy template files from assets/templates/ to your workspace:

cp -r skills/dory-memory/assets/templates/* ~/.openclaw/workspace/

Then customize SOUL.md and USER.md for your agent.

References

• references/IMPLEMENTATION-GUIDE.md — Full setup walkthrough
• references/ANTI-PATTERNS.md — Common mistakes to avoid