Project Timeline Report
thedotmack/claude-mem
Writes a narrative Journey Into report on a project's whole development history, built from the timeline that claude-mem has recorded.
Defragment and reorganize agent memory files: split bloated files, merge duplicates, remove stale information, and restructure the memory hierarchy.
Install Memory Defrag
$ npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory --skill memory-defrag -a claude-codeProject install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.
$ gh skill install basicmachines-co/basic-memory memory-defrag --agent claude-codeProject scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/memory-defrag .claude/skills/memory-defrag && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.
Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/
Install the "memory-defrag" agent skill from https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory/tree/main/skills/memory-defrag into .claude/skills/memory-defrag/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "memory-defrag", then confirm the skill loads.Claude Code copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$skill-installer install https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory/tree/main/skills/memory-defragType this inside Codex. $skill-installer <name> installs a curated skill from openai/skills. The installer writes to $CODEX_HOME/skills (default ~/.codex/skills). Restart Codex if the skill does not show up.
$ npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory --skill memory-defrag -a codexProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.
$ gh skill install basicmachines-co/basic-memory memory-defrag --agent codexProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/memory-defrag .agents/skills/memory-defrag && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.
Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/
Install the "memory-defrag" agent skill from https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory/tree/main/skills/memory-defrag into .agents/skills/memory-defrag/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "memory-defrag", then confirm the skill loads.Codex copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory --skill memory-defrag -a cursorProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.
$ gh skill install basicmachines-co/basic-memory memory-defrag --agent cursorProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/memory-defrag .cursor/skills/memory-defrag && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.cursor/skills/ instead of .cursor/skills for a personal install.
Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/
Install the "memory-defrag" agent skill from https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory/tree/main/skills/memory-defrag into .cursor/skills/memory-defrag/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "memory-defrag", then confirm the skill loads.Cursor copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gemini skills install https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory.git --path skills/memory-defrag--scope user (default) or --scope workspace; --path is the subfolder of the repo that holds the skill; --consent skips the security confirmation prompt.
$ npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory --skill memory-defrag -a gemini-cliProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.
$ gh skill install basicmachines-co/basic-memory memory-defrag --agent gemini-cliProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/memory-defrag .gemini/skills/memory-defrag && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.gemini/skills/ instead of .gemini/skills for a personal install, then run /skills reload.
Gemini CLI skills documentation · loads skills from .gemini/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "memory-defrag" agent skill from https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory/tree/main/skills/memory-defrag into .gemini/skills/memory-defrag/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "memory-defrag", then confirm the skill loads.Gemini CLI copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gh skill install basicmachines-co/basic-memory memory-defragInstalls for Copilot at project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Preview a skill first with gh skill preview. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory --skill memory-defrag -a github-copilotProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/memory-defrag .github/skills/memory-defrag && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.copilot/skills/ instead of .github/skills for a personal install. Commit .github/skills so cloud agent and code review can use it.
GitHub Copilot skills documentation · loads skills from .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "memory-defrag" agent skill from https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory/tree/main/skills/memory-defrag into .github/skills/memory-defrag/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "memory-defrag", then confirm the skill loads.GitHub Copilot copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory --skill memory-defrag -a opencodeOpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.
$ gh skill install basicmachines-co/basic-memory memory-defrag --agent opencodeProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/memory-defrag .opencode/skills/memory-defrag && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.config/opencode/skills/ instead of .opencode/skills for a personal install.
OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "memory-defrag" agent skill from https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory/tree/main/skills/memory-defrag into .opencode/skills/memory-defrag/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "memory-defrag", then confirm the skill loads.OpenCode copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
Facts
- Skill name
memory-defrag- GitHub stars
- 4.1k
- Used in
- 1 other repo
- Token cost
- ~896 tokens
- SKILL.md length
- 339 words
- Files
- 1
- Skills in repo
- 49
- Repo updated
- First seen
- Licence
- AGPL-3.0
At a glance
Defragment and reorganize agent memory files: split bloated files, merge duplicates, remove stale information, and restructure the memory hierarchy.
- Works in 5 steps: Audit Current State → Identify Problems → Plan Changes → …
- Memory files have grown unwieldy
- SKILL.md covers When to Run, Process and Guidelines
- Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md
What it does
Memory Defrag is an agent skill from basicmachines-co/basic-memory. Defragment and reorganize agent memory files: split bloated files, merge duplicates, remove stale information, and restructure the memory hierarchy. Use when memory files have grown unwieldy, contain redundancies, or need reorganization. Run periodically (weekly) or on demand.
Its SKILL.md is about 900 tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.
It sits in Agent Workflows, covering Agent memory. The repository describes itself as: AI conversations that actually remember. Never re-explain your project to your AI again. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/tyvKNccgqN. The licence is AGPL-3.0.
When your agent uses it
- Memory files have grown unwieldy
- Contain redundancies
- Need reorganization
Example prompts
- “/memory-defrag”
Workflow steps
5 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.
What it can do on your machine
Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 6982cfc. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.
Tool permissions
Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.
From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.
Runs code
No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md (its code samples are markdown).
From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.
Network
No URLs in SKILL.md.
From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.
Credentials
Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.
From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.
Context cost
Memory Defrag loads about 896 tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 73 tokens; SKILL.md has 339 words of instructions outside code blocks.
Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.
Safety
Auto-check passed
The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.
Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.
SKILL.md
The full file from basicmachines-co/basic-memory at commit 6982cfc, republished under its AGPL-3.0 licence (© basicmachines-co). 339 words, ~896 tokens.
Download SKILL.mdSave it as
.claude/skills/memory-defrag/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).- name
- memory-defrag
- description
- Defragment and reorganize agent memory files: split bloated files, merge duplicates, remove stale information, and restructure the memory hierarchy. Use when memory files have grown unwieldy, contain redundancies, or need reorganization. Run periodically (weekly) or on demand.
Memory Defrag
Reorganize memory files for clarity, efficiency, and relevance. Like filesystem defragmentation but for knowledge.
When to Run
- Periodic: Weekly or biweekly via cron (recommended)
- On demand: User asks to clean up, reorganize, or defrag memory
- Threshold: When MEMORY.md exceeds ~500 lines or daily notes accumulate without consolidation
Process
1. Audit Current State
Inventory all memory files:
MEMORY.md — long-term memory
memory/ — daily notes, tasks, topical files
memory/tasks/ — active and completed tasksFor each file, note: line count, last modified, topic coverage, staleness.
2. Identify Problems
Look for these common issues:
| Problem | Signal | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Bloated file | >300 lines, covers many topics | Split into focused files |
| Duplicate info | Same fact in multiple places | Consolidate to one location |
| Stale entries | References to completed work, old dates, resolved issues | Remove or archive |
| Orphan files | Files in memory/ never referenced or updated | Review, merge, or remove |
| Inconsistencies | Contradictory information across files | Resolve to ground truth |
| Poor organization | Related info scattered across files | Restructure by topic |
3. Plan Changes
Before making edits, write a brief plan:
## Defrag Plan
- [ ] Split MEMORY.md "Key People" section → memory/people.md
- [ ] Remove completed tasks past the retention window from memory/tasks/
- [ ] Merge memory/bm-marketing-ideas.md into memory/competitive/
- [ ] Update stale project status entries in MEMORY.md4. Execute
Apply changes one at a time:
- Split: Extract sections from large files into focused topical files
- Merge: Combine related small files into coherent documents
- Prune: Remove information that is no longer relevant or accurate
- Restructure: Move files to appropriate directories, rename for clarity
- Update: Fix outdated facts, dates, statuses
5. Verify & Log
After changes:
- Verify no information was lost (compare before/after)
- Update any cross-references between files
- Log what was done in today's daily note:
## Memory Defrag (HH:MM)
- Files reviewed: N
- Split: [list]
- Merged: [list]
- Pruned: [list]
- Net result: X files, Y total lines (was Z lines)Guidelines
- Preserve raw daily notes. Don't delete or modify
memory/YYYY-MM-DD.mdfiles — they're the audit trail. - Target 15-25 focused files. Too few means bloated files; too many means fragmentation. Aim for the sweet spot.
- File names should be scannable. Use descriptive names:
people.md,project-status.md,competitive-landscape.md— notnotes-2.md. - Don't over-organize. One level of directories is usually enough.
memory/tasks/andmemory/competitive/are fine;memory/work/projects/active/basic-memory/notes/is not. - Completed tasks: Tasks with
status: doneolder than 14 days can be removed. Their insights should already be in MEMORY.md via reflection. - Ask before destructive changes. If uncertain whether information is still relevant, keep it with a
(review needed)tag rather than deleting.
© basicmachines-co, AGPL-3.0. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file
Files
Just SKILL.md in skills/memory-defrag of basicmachines-co/basic-memory.
Open the folder on GitHubat commit 6982cfc
Used in 1 other repository
We found 1 copy of this SKILL.md (exact, near-identical or edited) in other folders, from 1 other GitHub owner. This page covers the copy in basicmachines-co/basic-memory, which our catalogue first saw on October 7, 2026.
Compare with similar skills
Memory Defrag next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.
| Skill | Stars | Used in | Tokens | Auto-check | Licence | Repo updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memory Defrag this skillbasicmachines-co/basic-memory | 4.1k | 1 repos | ~896 | Automated safety check: Pass | AGPL-3.0 | |
| Project Timeline Reportthedotmack/claude-mem | 97k | 1 repos | ~3.1k | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 | |
| Neat-Freak Knowledge CloseoutKKKKhazix/khazix-skills | 21k | — | ~1.9k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Beads Task Memorygastownhall/beads | 28k | — | ~1.2k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| MemPalace Memory SearchMemPalace/mempalace | 59k | — | ~1.4k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Reflect on Session Learningscursor/plugins | 10k | 5 repos | ~1.2k | Automated safety check: Pass | None |
Similar skills
Neat-Freak Knowledge Closeout
KKKKhazix/khazix-skills
Brings project docs, agent rule files, authorized memory and leftover workspace files back in line with what the code and runtime actually do at the end of a work session.
Beads Task Memory
gastownhall/beads
Tracks multi-session work with dependencies in the bd issue tracker so the agent can find ready tasks and recover its context after conversation compaction.
MemPalace Memory Search
MemPalace/mempalace
Mines project files and conversation exports into a local, searchable memory palace and recalls past work by semantic search through the mempalace CLI.
- Official
Reflect on Session Learnings
cursor/plugins
Starts three parallel reviewer subagents over the current conversation transcript, then turns their findings into concrete edits to existing skills.
Compound Learning Writer
EveryInc/compound-engineering-plugin
Records one solved and verified problem as a durable learning in the repository, but only when the reasoning is not already clear from the final code, tests or docs.
More from basicmachines-co/basic-memory
All 49 skills in this repocmux Settings Editor
basicmachines-co/basic-memory
Views, sets, unsets and validates cmux settings in ~/.config/cmux/cmux.json with a helper script that checks keys against the schema.
cmux Window and Pane Control
basicmachines-co/basic-memory
End-user control of cmux topology and routing (windows, workspaces, panes/surfaces, focus, moves, reorder, identify, trigger flash). Use when automation needs…
Cmux Markdown Viewer Panel
basicmachines-co/basic-memory
Opens markdown files in a formatted cmux panel beside the terminal that re-renders on every change, handy for plans and task lists.
cmux Workspace Scoping
basicmachines-co/basic-memory
Keeps agent actions scoped to the cmux workspace and terminal that invoked it, and lays out pane and surface commands that avoid disrupting the user's own focus.
Basic Memory Repo Images
basicmachines-co/basic-memory
Produces PR, changelog and two-week retro images for the Basic Memory repository from evidence in PR bodies, saved to fixed paths under docs/assets/infographics.
Logfire Instrumentation
basicmachines-co/basic-memory
Adds Pydantic Logfire tracing, logging and metrics to Python, JavaScript or TypeScript and Rust projects, with the correct setup order and library extras.
Related
Categories
Questions about Memory Defrag
What does Memory Defrag do?
Defragment and reorganize agent memory files: split bloated files, merge duplicates, remove stale information, and restructure the memory hierarchy. Memory Defrag is an agent skill from basicmachines-co/basic-memory. Defragment and reorganize agent memory files: split bloated files, merge duplicates, remove stale information, and restructure the memory hierarchy.
When should I use Memory Defrag?
Memory Defrag fits situations like: memory files have grown unwieldy; contain redundancies; need reorganization.
How do I install Memory Defrag in Claude Code?
Run `npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory --skill memory-defrag -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/memory-defrag in basicmachines-co/basic-memory) into .claude/skills/memory-defrag in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.
How do I install Memory Defrag in Codex?
Run `npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory --skill memory-defrag -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/memory-defrag in basicmachines-co/basic-memory) into .agents/skills/memory-defrag in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.
Can I use Memory Defrag in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?
Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory --skill memory-defrag -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/memory-defrag, .gemini/skills/memory-defrag, .github/skills/memory-defrag and .opencode/skills/memory-defrag in your project.
What does Memory Defrag need to run?
SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Memory Defrag is instructions for the agent only.
Does Memory Defrag access the network?
SKILL.md contains no URLs. Any network use would come from the scripts or tools the agent runs. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.
Is Memory Defrag safe to install?
Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.
What licence does Memory Defrag use?
Memory Defrag is published under the AGPL-3.0 licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.
How many tokens does Memory Defrag use?
About 896 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 3.6k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.
What are the alternatives to Memory Defrag?
Skills that share tags, products or a category with Memory Defrag: Project Timeline Report (thedotmack/claude-mem, 97k stars), Neat-Freak Knowledge Closeout (KKKKhazix/khazix-skills, 21k stars), Beads Task Memory (gastownhall/beads, 28k stars) and MemPalace Memory Search (MemPalace/mempalace, 59k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.
Who maintains Memory Defrag?
basicmachines-co (a GitHub organization) maintains it in basicmachines-co/basic-memory, which has 4,107 GitHub stars. The repository holds 49 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 7, 2026.
Source: basicmachines-co/basic-memory on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.