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How claude-mem Works Explainer

An explainer skill that tells users how claude-mem captures observations, when memory injection starts, and where data is stored.

UtilitiesBeginner★ 92,898⑂ 8,168AI score 6/10Last updated: Sep 1, 2026

What it does

  • Explains that every Read, Edit, and Bash action becomes a compressed observation, summarized at session end.
  • States the activation timing: auto-injected memory begins on your second session in a project.
  • Documents data locality: SQLite DB, vector index, logs, and settings all live in ~/.claude-mem, with nothing leaving the machine except calls to the configured compression provider (Claude / OpenRouter / Gemini).
  • Points to related commands: /learn-codebase for a one-pass repo preload (~5 min) and npx claude-mem uninstall for clean removal.

Who it's for

  • New claude-mem users wondering what the tool is actually doing.
  • Developers who must explain data storage and privacy boundaries to teammates.
  • Anyone confused about why no memory appears during the first session.

Usage examples

  1. Ask "how does claude-mem work?" → get the capture → summarize → auto-inject pipeline explained.
  2. Ask "does my code leave my machine?" → get the local-only ~/.claude-mem policy plus the compression-provider exception.
  3. Ask "why isn't memory showing up yet?" → learn injection starts on session two, and that /learn-codebase can front-load context.

· · · Install guide · · ·

Try it now, no install

Paste this into Claude to use the skill without installing anything.

Read the instructions in this file and follow them to help me:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/thedotmack/claude-mem/HEAD/plugin/skills/how-it-works/SKILL.md

What I want: (describe your task here)

If Claude can't open the link, open it yourself and paste the contents instead.

↓ If it works for you, download the ZIP below and install it. Then it runs on its own — no pasting each time.

Install in the Claude app (no terminal)
  1. Download the ZIP with the button below.
  2. In Claude, open Settings → Capabilities and turn on 'Code execution and file creation'. (one time)
  3. Go to Customize → Skills → + → 'Upload a skill' and upload the ZIP.
↓ Download ZIP
Install in Claude Code

Let Claude do it — paste this into Claude Code

Install the skill I found on Claude Skill Mart.
Copy the plugin/skills/how-it-works folder from the GitHub repo thedotmack/claude-mem into my ~/.claude/skills/how-it-works/.
When it's done, tell me in one line what this skill can do.

Install with a command instead

git clone https://github.com/thedotmack/claude-mem.git && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r claude-mem/plugin/skills/how-it-works ~/.claude/skills/

⚠ This is a third-party skill. Check the source repository before installing.

  1. Open a terminal.
  2. Clone the repo: git clone https://github.com/thedotmack/claude-mem.git
  3. Create the skills directory: mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
  4. Copy the skill: cp -r claude-mem/plugin/skills/how-it-works ~/.claude/skills/
  5. Restart Claude Code and ask "how does claude-mem work?" to confirm the skill triggers.
  6. (Optional) To use the actual memory features, install claude-mem itself following the repo README.
View source on GitHub ↗License: Apache-2.0