Shared Memory

Read and write shared state for ANY AI agent with a dual-layer model: durable cross-agent knowledge (.agents/memory + optional private local layer) and real-time cross-worktree runtime memory (.trellis/shared symlinked to <git-common-dir>/trellis-shared). Use for project memory, handoffs, and multi-worktree coordination.

Shared Memory — durable knowledge + real-time worktree state

Use one skill for two different concerns:

1. Durable knowledge memory for cross-agent reuse over time
2. Real-time runtime memory for cross-worktree coordination now

Keep these concerns separate in storage and mutation rules.

Layer model

Layer K0: global private memory (machine-wide)

• Path: ~/.shared-memory/global/
• Purpose: reusable operating preferences and lessons that apply across projects
• Format: markdown files + MEMORY.md index
• Read its index at the start of every session; load entries on demand

Layer K1: shared durable knowledge (git-tracked)

• Path: <repo>/.agents/memory/
• Purpose: project facts, decisions, conventions, glossary
• Format: markdown files + MEMORY.md index

Layer K2: private durable knowledge (machine-local)

• Path: ~/.shared-memory/<project-slug>/
• Purpose: personal notes or sensitive details not suitable for git
• Format: same structure as K1

Layer R: real-time worktree runtime memory

• In worktree: <repo>/.trellis/shared (symlink)
• Target: <git-common-dir>/trellis-shared/
• Required subdirs:
  • handoffs/ (cross-worktree handoff files)
  • knowledge/ (append-only runtime discoveries)
  • agents/ (one append-only log per agent)
  • events/ (timestamped event stream)

Operation 1 — Locate memory at session start

bash

REPO_ROOT="$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || pwd)"
SLUG="$(basename "$REPO_ROOT" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')"

# Durable layers
K0="$HOME/.shared-memory/global"
K1="$REPO_ROOT/.agents/memory"
K2="$HOME/.shared-memory/$SLUG"

[ -f "$K0/MEMORY.md" ] && cat "$K0/MEMORY.md"
[ -f "$K1/MEMORY.md" ] && cat "$K1/MEMORY.md"
[ -f "$K2/MEMORY.md" ] && cat "$K2/MEMORY.md"

# Runtime layer pointer
[ -L "$REPO_ROOT/.trellis/shared" ] && ls -1 "$REPO_ROOT/.trellis/shared/handoffs" 2>/dev/null || true

Read indexes first, then load specific files on demand.

Operation 2 — Write durable memory (K1/K2)

Classify each write as:

• global -> K0 (~/.shared-memory/global) for machine-wide private lessons
• shared -> K1 (.agents/memory) and enters git
• private -> K2 (~/.shared-memory/<slug>) and stays local

Required frontmatter:

markdown

---
name: some-memory
description: one-line retrieval hook
metadata:
  type: user | feedback | project | reference | engineering
  scope: shared | private
  created: 2026-07-23
  updated: 2026-07-23
---

Update MEMORY.md after every new memory file.

Operation 3 — Enable runtime layer (R) for worktrees

Run:

bash

bash skills/shared-memory/templates/link_shared_memory.sh

Script contract:

• Resolves absolute git common dir
• Creates trellis-shared/{handoffs,knowledge,agents,events}
• Creates .trellis/shared symlink if missing
• Fails loudly on conflicting existing path
• Never rm -rf user content implicitly

Also ensure .gitignore has:

gitignore

.trellis/shared

Install the Skill Genie session-start rules so every new agent session runs the idempotent linker before it reads handoffs. Merely installing this skill does not make a client invoke it automatically.

Operation 4 — Write runtime state (R)

Handoffs

• Location: .trellis/shared/handoffs/
• Suggested name: YYYY-MM-DD-<stream>-<agent>.md
• Mutable only by owning stream; others append notes in their own files

Agent logs

• Location: .trellis/shared/agents/<agent>.jsonl
• One JSON object per line
• Append-only

Events

• Location: .trellis/shared/events/YYYY/MM/DD.jsonl
• Append-only timestamped entries

Runtime knowledge

• Location: .trellis/shared/knowledge/
• Prefer append-only files or timestamped entry blocks

Operation 5 — Boundary enforcement

Use this checklist before every write:

1. Is this long-lived, reusable project knowledge? -> K1/K2
2. Is this active coordination/handoff/runtime state? -> R
3. Is this secret or credential? -> refuse shared write; route to private notes

Never mix layers in one file.

Anti-patterns

• Writing handoffs only under branch-local .trellis/handoffs/ when runtime layer exists
• Storing project knowledge exclusively in tool-specific private stores
• Putting secrets in K1 or R
• Overwriting another agent's runtime file instead of append-only or per-agent ownership

Cross-references

• session-handoff: structured handoff generation
• handoff-receiver: strict handoff continuation
• Framework spec: skills/shared-memory/references/worktree-shared-framework.md