Memory Harness

Runtime-enforced memory harness for OpenClaw. Implements 3-stage recall (session preflight, triggered recall, pre-execution gate) with intent classification, entity detection, memory compression, and status tracking. This harness runs automatically at the right times - NOT relying on SKILL.md text alone.

A reliable memory harness that makes byterover recall happen at the right times without running heavy recall on every turn.

Architecture

text

user_input
  -> intent classification
  -> session preflight (if new session)
  -> conditional targeted recall
  -> planning
  -> pre-execution recall gate (if execution-like)
  -> execution or response
  -> optional writeback

3-Stage Harness

Stage 1: Session Preflight

Runs ONLY at the start of a new session.

Fetches:

• active project
• pinned facts
• unresolved items
• recent important entities
• recent session summary

Does NOT fetch:

• full raw history
• large raw memory dumps
• low-signal old notes

Output: compact session_digest (hard capped)

Stage 2: Triggered Recall

Runs targeted byterover recall only when needed.

Trigger conditions:

• Continuation words: 続き, 前回, 再開, 引き継ぎ, continue, resume, previous work
• Known entity/project name: ClawHub, OpenClaw, Agent-OS, BOSS-memory-loop, etc.
• Task requires user-specific/project-specific context
• Implementation / modification / design / planning request
• Ambiguous task likely depending on prior context

Skip conditions:

• Generic factual Q&A
• Small self-contained questions
• Casual short exchange
• Clearly answerable without prior context

Recall modes:

• preflight_query: start-of-session only
• entity_query: when named entities detected
• continuation_query: for previous-session continuation
• constraint_query: when advice depends on prior rules
• pre_execution_query: immediately before execution

Stage 3: Pre-Execution Recall Gate

MANDATORY before:

• file edits
• code generation
• architecture proposals
• configuration changes
• planning depending on prior project state
• any meaningful change suggestion

Checks for:

• prior constraints
• unresolved issues
• conflicting past decisions
• project-specific conventions
• safety-sensitive context

Memory Shaping

Never inject raw byterover results directly.

Pipeline:

1. retrieve
2. rank
3. dedupe
4. compress
5. inject bounded digest

Hard limits:

• max_memory_items: 5
• max_digest_lines: 8
• prefer recent + high-signal + tagged items

Status Tracking

Every recall records one of:

• not_needed
• queried_no_hits
• queried_low_confidence
• queried_success
• query_failed

Scripts

intent-classifier.js

Classifies turn intent as one of:

• generic_qa
• casual
• continuation
• entity_reference
• user_specific_context
• implementation_request
• design_request
• execution_request

entity-detector.js

Detects known entities in user input:

• Scans for known entity/project names
• Maps aliases to canonical names
• Returns matched entities for recall routing

session-preflight.sh

Runs lightweight recall at session start:

• Fetches pinned facts, active project, unresolved items
• Creates compact session_digest
• Hard capped length

targeted-recall.sh

Runs targeted recall based on intent:

• Takes intent, entities, session state
• Chooses appropriate recall mode
• Returns compressed digest

pre-execution-gate.sh

Runs before execution-like actions:

• Checks for constraints, conflicts, safety issues
• Returns go/no-go with relevant context

memory-compress.js

Compresses and dedupes raw memory:

• Ranks by relevance and recency
• Dedupes repeated items
• Hard caps output size

writeback.sh

Writes high-signal info back to memory:

• Only for important decisions/outcomes
• Skips trivial chat and low-value text

Configuration

json

{
  "memory_policy": {
    "preflight_on_session_start": true,
    "preflight_depth": "light",
    "pre_execution_recall": true,
    "max_memory_items": 5,
    "max_digest_lines": 8,
    "trigger_query_if": [
      "mentions_known_project",
      "asks_to_continue_previous_work",
      "requires_user_specific_context",
      "requests_code_design_or_change",
      "contains_known_entity"
    ],
    "skip_query_if": [
      "generic_qa",
      "casual_chat",
      "self_contained_question"
    ]
  }
}

Logging

Structured logs for observability:

• turn_id
• session_id
• intent
• recall_trigger
• recall_mode
• recall_status
• recall_item_count
• injected_item_count
• pre_execution_gate
• elapsed_ms

Known Entities

Default entity list (expandable):

• ClawHub
• OpenClaw
• Agent-OS
• BOSS-memory-loop
• ByteRover
• MISO
• Obsidian
• Telegram

Continuation Triggers

Japanese: 続き, 前回, 再開, 引き継ぎ, 前の, さっきの English: continue, resume, previous, earlier, last time, back to

Success Criteria

• Reliable recall when turn depends on context
• Generic turns stay lightweight
• Execution actions always get constraint check
• Behavior inspectable in logs
• No reliance on SKILL.md text alone