dream/SKILL.md

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+---
+name: dream
+description: >
+  Run a "dream" — a reflective memory consolidation pass over an agent's memory
+  directory. Use this skill whenever the user says "dream", "run a dream", "consolidate
+  my memory files", "clean up my MEMORY.md", or asks Claude to do a memory maintenance
+  pass, prune stale notes, or reorganize topic files. Also trigger when the user wants
+  to rebuild a memory index, merge duplicate facts, or convert relative dates in notes
+  to absolute ones. This is an agentic, multi-phase workflow — always use this skill
+  rather than improvising the steps.
+---
+
+# Dream — Memory Consolidation Skill
+
+You are performing a **dream**: a reflective, agentic pass over a memory directory.
+Your goal is to synthesize recent signal into durable, well-organized memory so that
+future sessions can orient quickly.
+
+---
+
+## Pre-flight
+
+Before starting, confirm:
+1. **Where is the memory directory?** Ask the user if not obvious from context.  
+   Common locations: `~/memory/`, `~/.agent/memory/`, `./memory/`, a path in an env var like `$MEMORY_DIR`.
+2. **Are there transcripts or daily logs to scan?** Ask if not obvious.
+3. **Any topics to skip or treat as sensitive?**
+
+Once confirmed, proceed through the four phases in order. Narrate each phase briefly as you go.
+
+---
+
+## Phase 1 — Orient
+
+**Goal**: Get a map of what exists before touching anything.
+
+```bash
+ls -la <memory_dir>/
+cat <memory_dir>/MEMORY.md
+```
+
+For each file listed (excluding MEMORY.md):
+- Read or skim it (first 40–60 lines is usually enough unless it's small).
+- Note: topic, approximate recency, any obvious staleness or duplication.
+
+Build a mental inventory:
+- Files present, rough line counts
+- Topics covered
+- Any files that look abandoned, mislabeled, or overlapping
+
+---
+
+## Phase 2 — Gather Recent Signal
+
+**Goal**: Find new facts, corrections, and drift since the last dream.
+
+Check in this order:
+
+1. **Daily logs** — read recent entries (last 7–14 days).  
+   Look for: new decisions, changed preferences, completed projects, new relationships/tools.
+
+2. **Drifted facts** — scan existing topic files for statements that may now be false.  
+   Examples: "currently evaluating X" (did they pick one?), "planning to do Y" (done or dropped?), relative dates like "last week" or "recently".
+
+3. **Transcripts** — only grep narrowly if there's a specific gap.  
+   Avoid bulk-reading transcripts; it's slow and noisy. Use targeted patterns:
+   ```bash
+   grep -r "decided\|switched to\|no longer\|now using\|moved to" <transcripts_dir>/ | tail -40
+   ```
+
+Collect a list of **updates to make**: new facts, corrections, removals.
+
+---
+
+## Phase 3 — Consolidate
+
+**Goal**: Apply the updates. Leave memory files cleaner and more accurate than you found them.
+
+For each topic file:
+
+- **Merge duplicates**: if the same fact appears in two files, keep it in the more specific one and remove from the general one.
+- **Convert relative dates**: replace "last week", "recently", "a few months ago" with an absolute date (use the current date as reference; estimate if necessary and note the uncertainty).
+- **Delete contradicted facts**: if a new fact supersedes an old one, remove the old one outright — don't leave both.
+- **Tighten language**: convert vague hedges ("probably uses", "might be") to definite statements where the evidence supports it, or remove if genuinely unknown.
+- **Add new facts** from Phase 2 to the appropriate topic file. Create a new topic file if no good home exists.
+
+After editing files, do a final pass:
+```bash
+grep -n "last week\|recently\|a few months\|soon\|currently planning" <memory_dir>/*.md
+```
+Clean up any remaining relative time references.
+
+---
+
+## Phase 4 — Prune and Index
+
+**Goal**: Rebuild MEMORY.md as a clean, navigable index under 200 lines.
+
+**MEMORY.md structure**:
+```markdown
+# Memory Index
+_Last updated: YYYY-MM-DD_
+
+## Overview
+One short paragraph: who this agent is, primary context, most important standing facts.
+
+## Topic Files
+| File | Contents | Last updated |
+|------|----------|-------------|
+| person.md | Identity, preferences, background | YYYY-MM-DD |
+| projects.md | Active and recent projects | YYYY-MM-DD |
+| tools.md | Stack, infra, dev environment | YYYY-MM-DD |
+| ... | ... | ... |
+
+## Quick Facts
+- Bullet list of the 10–15 most frequently-needed facts (role, location, key tools, etc.)
+
+## Recent Changes
+- Bullet list of what changed in this dream (so the next session knows what's fresh)
+```
+
+Rules:
+- Remove any pointers to files that no longer exist.
+- Add pointers for any new files created in Phase 3.
+- Keep Quick Facts ≤ 15 bullets — this is for speed, not completeness.
+- Recent Changes section replaces itself each dream (don't accumulate).
+- Total MEMORY.md length: **200 lines max**.
+
+---
+
+## Output
+
+After completing all four phases, return a **dream summary** to the user:
+
+```
+## Dream complete — YYYY-MM-DD
+
+### What changed
+- [file]: [what was updated]
+- MEMORY.md: rebuilt index, N topic files indexed
+
+### Facts added
+- ...
+
+### Facts removed / corrected
+- ...
+
+### Files created
+- ...
+
+### Files deleted or merged
+- ...
+
+### Still uncertain / needs follow-up
+- ...
+```
+
+Keep it concise — a few bullets per section, not exhaustive diffs. The goal is for the user to quickly confirm the dream went well and catch any mistakes.
+
+---
+
+## Tips and Edge Cases
+
+- **No MEMORY.md exists yet**: create one from scratch using the structure above. Treat all existing files as "first time indexed".
+- **Memory dir is empty**: create MEMORY.md and a starter `scratch.md` noting the date and that the memory system is new.
+- **Conflicting facts with no clear resolution**: note both in the file with a date stamp and flag in "Still uncertain" section of the summary.
+- **Large transcript dumps**: resist reading them in full. Grep is your friend. If you must read, read the last N lines only.
+- **Files with sensitive content**: if the user flagged topics to skip, skip them entirely — don't even open them.