Tree Ring Memory

Tree Ring Memory

Overview

Tree Ring Memory is a framework-agnostic, local-first memory lifecycle layer for AI agents. Use this skill when an agent should recall, preserve, audit, or forget durable project memory without treating raw conversation transcripts as memory.

The public runtime is a Rust CLI/TUI with local SQLite/FTS storage, scoped recall, evidence records, audit, deterministic consolidation, maintenance, DOX/Revolve source adapters, framework discovery, redaction, and explicit forgetting.

When to Use This Skill

• Use before resuming a project where prior decisions, warnings, preferences, or failed approaches may matter.
• Use before changing architecture, storage, security, privacy, release, or agent-memory behavior.
• Use when the user asks to remember, recall, audit, redact, forget, or consolidate agent memory.
• Use after tests, reviews, incidents, or production behavior validate a lesson future agents should preserve.
• Use when a project contains .tree-ring/SKILL.md, .tree-ring/CLI.md, or other Tree Ring bridge files.

How It Works

Step 1: Discover Local Guidance

Check whether the current project already has Tree Ring guidance:

test -f .tree-ring/SKILL.md && sed -n '1,220p' .tree-ring/SKILL.md
test -f .tree-ring/CLI.md && sed -n '1,220p' .tree-ring/CLI.md

Treat project-local .tree-ring files as more authoritative than generic examples in this skill. If the CLI is installed, inspect the current command surface before assuming flags:

tree-ring --help
tree-ring recall --help
tree-ring remember --help
tree-ring evidence --help
tree-ring audit --help
tree-ring forget --help

If Tree Ring is not installed, resolve the actual project root and explain the exact project-local download before obtaining explicit approval to fetch it. Download the official, version-pinned v0.15.0/install.sh to a temporary file, verify its SHA-256 is ef0d5eb8f09cbe2e4c3abe80ee9a98a56759c89ad4ddd103d6c68314cd653ade, inspect it, then run it. The pinned source is https://raw.githubusercontent.com/TerminallyLazy/Tree-Ring-Memory/v0.15.0/install.sh.

cd <project-root>
sh <verified-installer-path> --project --init --release v0.15.0 --no-animation

Do not pipe a network response directly to a shell. After verification and inspection, show the exact installer command and obtain explicit approval again before executing it. For an installed global CLI, initialize from the project root with tree-ring --root .tree-ring init; for a project-local CLI, use .tree-ring/bin/tree-ring --root .tree-ring init.

Check for a newer release without changing files using tree-ring update --check. Run tree-ring update only with user authorization, then rerun init in each project root to refresh managed guidance while preserving custom content.

Step 2: Recall Before Risky Work

Use narrow, project-scoped recall first:

tree-ring recall "release behavior" --project example-service
tree-ring recall "sqlite migration" --project example-service
tree-ring recall "user preference"

Use recalled memory as context, not authority. Verify it against current source files, tests, docs, issues, pull requests, logs, and runtime state before making changes.

Step 3: Write Only Durable Memory

Write concise memory only when it is likely to help future agents:

tree-ring remember "Run project-scoped recall before release changes." --event-type lesson --scope project

Prefer specific event types when supported locally:

• decision
• lesson
• warning
• correction
• user_preference
• tool_result
• summary
• hypothesis

Store the durable lesson, decision, warning, or follow-up. Do not store the full conversation.

Step 4: Record Evidence for Evaluated Outcomes

Use evidence records for test runs, incidents, reviewed changes, or other evaluated outcomes:

tree-ring evidence \
  "Installer smoke test passed in an isolated HOME." \
  --outcome observed \
  --evidence-ref "ci/install-smoke/2026-07-08"

Outcome guidance:

• promoted: durable truth backed by strong evidence
• rejected: failed or rolled-back approach worth keeping visible
• deferred: unresolved idea or future option
• observed: normal evaluated result

Do not promote weak, stale, or unreviewed claims to durable truth.

Step 5: Use Source Adapters Carefully

When a repo has structured source records, run dry runs first:

tree-ring dox sync --source-root . --dry-run
tree-ring revolve sync --source-root revolve --dry-run
tree-ring integrations scan --source-root .

Only write adapter summaries when they are concise, source-linked, useful, and privacy-safe. Imported memory does not replace the underlying AGENTS.md, Revolve record, test, pull request, issue, or documentation.

Ring Selection

Use the smallest durable ring that fits:

• cambium: active or recent task context
• outer: recent decisions and task lessons
• inner: older compressed project knowledge
• heartwood: durable high-confidence truths
• scar: failures, regressions, rejected approaches, warnings
• seed: unresolved ideas, hypotheses, follow-ups

Prefer outer or seed unless the user confirms durability or the evidence is strong.