mem-search

Search persistent cross-session memory to answer questions about previous work and past solutions. Three-layer workflow: search for IDs and metadata (50–100 tokens per result), optionally view timeline context around interesting results, then batch-fetch full details only for filtered IDs Search parameters include query text, project name, observation type (bugfix, feature, decision, discovery, change), and date range filtering Timeline tool shows observations, sessions, and prompts interleaved chronologically around an anchor point to understand context Batch get_observations call retrieves complete details (500–1000 tokens each) for multiple IDs in a single request, avoiding N individual fetches

INSTALLATION
npx skills add https://github.com/thedotmack/claude-mem --skill mem-search
Run in your project or agent environment. Adjust flags if your CLI version differs.

SKILL.md

Memory Search

Search past work across all sessions. Simple workflow: search -> filter -> fetch.

When to Use

Use when users ask about PREVIOUS sessions (not current conversation):

  • "Did we already fix this?"
  • "How did we solve X last time?"
  • "What happened last week?"

3-Layer Workflow (ALWAYS Follow)

NEVER fetch full details without filtering first. 10x token savings.

Step 1: Search - Get Index with IDs

Use the search MCP tool:

search(query="authentication", limit=20, project="my-project")

Returns: Table with IDs, timestamps, types, titles (~50-100 tokens/result)

| ID | Time | T | Title | Read |

|----|------|---|-------|------|

| #11131 | 3:48 PM | 🟣 | Added JWT authentication | ~75 |

| #10942 | 2:15 PM | 🔴 | Fixed auth token expiration | ~50 |

Parameters:

  • query (string) - Search term
  • limit (number) - Max results, default 20, max 100
  • project (string) - Project name filter
  • type (string, optional) - "observations", "sessions", or "prompts"
  • obs_type (string, optional) - Comma-separated: bugfix, feature, decision, discovery, change
  • dateStart (string, optional) - YYYY-MM-DD or epoch ms
  • dateEnd (string, optional) - YYYY-MM-DD or epoch ms
  • offset (number, optional) - Skip N results
  • orderBy (string, optional) - "date_desc" (default), "date_asc", "relevance"

Step 2: Timeline - Get Context Around Interesting Results

Use the timeline MCP tool:

timeline(anchor=11131, depth_before=3, depth_after=3, project="my-project")

Or find anchor automatically from query:

timeline(query="authentication", depth_before=3, depth_after=3, project="my-project")

Returns: depth_before + 1 + depth_after items in chronological order with observations, sessions, and prompts interleaved around the anchor.

Parameters:

  • anchor (number, optional) - Observation ID to center around
  • query (string, optional) - Find anchor automatically if anchor not provided
  • depth_before (number, optional) - Items before anchor, default 5, max 20
  • depth_after (number, optional) - Items after anchor, default 5, max 20
  • project (string) - Project name filter

Step 3: Fetch - Get Full Details ONLY for Filtered IDs

Review titles from Step 1 and context from Step 2. Pick relevant IDs. Discard the rest.

Use the get_observations MCP tool:

get_observations(ids=[11131, 10942])

**ALWAYS use get_observations for 2+ observations - single request vs N requests.**

Parameters:

  • ids (array of numbers, required) - Observation IDs to fetch
  • orderBy (string, optional) - "date_desc" (default), "date_asc"
  • limit (number, optional) - Max observations to return
  • project (string, optional) - Project name filter

Returns: Complete observation objects with title, subtitle, narrative, facts, concepts, files (~500-1000 tokens each)

Examples

Find recent bug fixes:

search(query="bug", type="observations", obs_type="bugfix", limit=20, project="my-project")

Find what happened last week:

search(type="observations", dateStart="2025-11-11", limit=20, project="my-project")

Understand context around a discovery:

timeline(anchor=11131, depth_before=5, depth_after=5, project="my-project")

Batch fetch details:

get_observations(ids=[11131, 10942, 10855], orderBy="date_desc")

Why This Workflow?

  • Search index: ~50-100 tokens per result
  • Full observation: ~500-1000 tokens each
  • Batch fetch: 1 HTTP request vs N individual requests
  • 10x token savings by filtering before fetching

Knowledge Agents

Want synthesized answers instead of raw records? Use /knowledge-agent to build a queryable corpus from your observation history. The knowledge agent reads all matching observations and answers questions conversationally.

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