# Auto Memory: Claude Code Remembers What You Teach It

Claude Code can remember preferences, decisions, and context across
sessions. This is not a plugin or an add-on. It is built in. Once you
know how to trigger it, Claude gets progressively more useful with
every session.

Companion repo for the article
[Auto Memory: Claude Code Remembers What You Teach It](https://fromaitochitta.com/cc-013) on From AI to Chitta.

---

## What You Will Learn

By working through the exercises in this repo, you will be able to:

- Trigger auto memory by telling Claude what to remember, and verify
  the memory file was created
- Structure MEMORY.md with a lightweight index and separate topic files
  to stay under the 200-line limit
- Prove that memory persists across sessions and shapes Claude's behavior
  without you repeating yourself

These are not theoretical outcomes. Complete the exercises and you will
have a working memory system in your own project.

## Prerequisites

- Claude Code v2.1.59 or later installed (`claude --version` prints a version)
- A Claude Pro, Team, or Enterprise subscription
- A project directory to practice on (this repo works fine)

No npm install, no Docker, no build step.

## Exercises

| # | Exercise | What It Covers |
|---|----------|---------------|
| 01 | [Trigger Memory](exercises/01-trigger-memory.md) | Make Claude remember something and verify it sticks |
| 02 | [Structure Memory](exercises/02-structure-memory.md) | MEMORY.md index and topic files, the 200-line limit |
| 03 | [Cross-Session Persistence](exercises/03-cross-session.md) | Prove memory accumulates and shapes behavior |

Start at `exercises/01-trigger-memory.md`. Each exercise links to the next.

## How to Use This Repo

**"Show me what it does":** Browse `exercises/` and read through
the steps. Understand the pattern before you run anything.

**"Let me actually do it":** Open Claude Code in this directory
and follow the exercises in order. Each one has an expected output
section so you know when you have succeeded.

```bash
git clone https://git.fromaitochitta.com/fromaitochitta/claude-code-auto-memory.git
cd claude-code-auto-memory
claude
```

Then open `exercises/01-trigger-memory.md` and follow the steps.

## A Note on Machine-Local Memory

Memory files are stored on your local machine under
`~/.claude/projects/<project-hash>/memory/`. They are not synced to
git, not shared with other machines, and not visible to anyone else.
If you clone this repo on a different machine, you start fresh.
This is by design.

## Domain

**Claude Code Memory and Instructions** - This repo is part of the
Claude Code Memory and Instructions series on From AI to Chitta.
See the full series for related concepts.

## About

Built by [Kjell Tore Guttormsen](https://fromaitochitta.com) as
part of the From AI to Chitta project, exploring the intersection
of AI tools and inner development.

MIT License.