---
title: /memory:compact
sidebar_label: /memory:compact
sidebar_position: 6
description: Compact session memory into structured text for recovery
---

# /memory:compact

Compress current session working memory into structured text optimized for session recovery and persistent storage.

## Overview

The `/memory:compact` command compresses the current session's working memory into structured text, extracting critical information and saving it to persistent storage via MCP `core_memory` tool.

**Parameters**:
- `--description="..."`: Custom session description
- `--tags=<tag1,tag2>`: Add custom tags
- `--force`: Override existing memory without confirmation

**Execution Flow**:
1. Session Analysis → 2. Structure Extraction → 3. Text Generation → 4. MCP Import

## Features

- **Session Compression** - Extracts key information from working memory
- **Structured Format** - Organizes content for easy recovery
- **Critical State Capture** - Preserves objectives, plans, and decisions
- **Tag Support** - Add custom tags for organization
- **Persistent Storage** - Saves via MCP core_memory tool
- **Session Recovery** - Enables resuming from compacted state

## Usage

```bash
# Compact current session
/memory:compact

# With custom description
/memory:compact --description="User authentication implementation"

# With tags
/memory:compact --tags=auth,security,api

# Force overwrite
/memory:compact --force
```

## Execution Flow

### Phase 1: Session Analysis

Analyze current session state to extract:
- Session objectives and goals
- Implementation plan
- Files modified
- Key decisions made
- Constraints and requirements
- Current state

### Phase 2: Structure Extraction

```javascript
const sessionAnalysis = {
  objective: extract_objective(session),
  plan: extract_plan(session),
  files: extract_files(session),
  decisions: extract_decisions(session),
  constraints: extract_constraints(session),
  state: extract_state(session),
  notes: extract_notes(session)
};
```

### Phase 3: Structured Text Generation

```text
# Session: {session_id}

## Objective
{objective}

## Implementation Plan
{plan}

## Files Modified
{files}

## Key Decisions
{decisions}

## Constraints
{constraints}

## Current State
{state}

## Notes
{notes}
```

### Phase 4: MCP Import

```javascript
mcp__ccw-tools__core_memory({
  operation: "import",
  text: structuredText
})
```

## Output Format

```json
{
  "operation": "import",
  "id": "CMEM-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS",
  "message": "Created memory: CMEM-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS"
}
```

## Structured Text Template

```markdown
# Session: {session_id}

**Date**: {timestamp}
**Description**: {custom_description or auto-generated}
**Tags**: {tags}

---

## Objective

{session_objective}

---

## Implementation Plan

{implementation_plan}

---

## Files Modified

| File | Changes |
|------|---------|
| {file1} | {changes1} |
| {file2} | {changes2} |

---

## Key Decisions

1. {decision1}
2. {decision2}
3. {decision3}

---

## Constraints

- {constraint1}
- {constraint2}

---

## Current State

{current_state}

---

## Notes

{additional_notes}
```

## Examples

### Basic Usage

```bash
# Compact current session
/memory:compact

# Output:
# Analyzing session...
# Extracting key information...
# Generating structured text...
# Importing to core memory...
# ✅ Memory compacted: CMEM-20250203-143022
```

### With Custom Description

```bash
# Compact with description
/memory:compact --description="OAuth2 implementation"

# Description is saved with the memory
```

### With Tags

```bash
# Compact with tags
/memory:compact --tags=oauth,authentication,security

# Tags help with organization and retrieval
```

## Recovery

To recover a compacted session:

```bash
# List available memories
mcp__ccw-tools__core_memory({ operation: "list" })

# Export specific memory
mcp__ccw-tools__core_memory({ operation: "export", id: "CMEM-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS" })

# Search for memories
mcp__ccw-tools__core_memory({ operation: "search", query: "oauth" })
```

## Use Cases

1. **Session Handoff** - Preserve context for later continuation
2. **Knowledge Base** - Store insights and decisions for reference
3. **Team Sharing** - Share session state with team members
4. **Documentation** - Generate structured records of work sessions
5. **Recovery** - Restore session state after interruption

## Related Commands

- **/memory:load** - Load project context into memory
- **/memory:update-full** - Update all CLAUDE.md files
- **/memory:update-related** - Update changed CLAUDE.md files

## Notes

- **Persistent storage** - Saved via MCP core_memory tool
- **Structured format** - Optimized for readability and parsing
- **Automatic ID generation** - Format: CMEM-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS
- **Force option** - Override existing memory without confirmation
- **Tag support** - Add custom tags for organization and search
- **Custom description** - Add meaningful description for easy identification