Agent memory systems

Agent Memory Systems

Memory is the cornerstone of intelligent agents. Without it, every interaction starts from zero. This skill covers the architecture of agent memory: short-term (context window), long-term (vector stores), and the cognitive architectures that organize them.

Key insight: Memory isn't just storage - it's retrieval. A million stored facts mean nothing if you can't find the right one. Chunking, embedding, and retrieval strategies determine whether your agent remembers or forgets.

The field is fragmented with inconsistent terminology. We use the CoALA cognitive architecture framework: semantic memory (facts), episodic memory (experiences), and procedural memory (how-to knowledge).

Detailed Guide

Read [the detailed guide](references/detailed-guide.md) before executing this skill. It retains the complete procedure and reference material. Treat its safety, prerequisites, and validation requirements as mandatory. For focused work, load the relevant sections; for end-to-end work, read the guide completely.

When to Use

• User mentions or implies: agent memory
• User mentions or implies: long-term memory
• User mentions or implies: memory systems
• User mentions or implies: remember across sessions
• User mentions or implies: memory retrieval
• User mentions or implies: episodic memory
• User mentions or implies: semantic memory
• User mentions or implies: vector store
• User mentions or implies: rag
• User mentions or implies: langmem
• User mentions or implies: memgpt
• User mentions or implies: conversation history

Example

User request:

Use @agent-memory-systems for this task: Memory is the cornerstone of intelligent agents.

Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.