BMAD-METHOD/bmad-agent/memory/memory-organization-lifecycle.md

# BMAD Memory Organization and Lifecycle Methodology

## Overview

This methodology defines how to organize and manage the lifecycle of memories within IDE environments. It provides frameworks for memory categorization, retention policies, and automated lifecycle management that adapt to each platform's capabilities.

## Memory Organization Framework

### Hierarchical Organization Strategy

#### Domain-Based Organization
\.```yaml
domain_organization:
  technical_domains:
    architecture:
      - system_design_patterns
      - infrastructure_decisions
      - technology_choices
      - scalability_considerations
      
    development:
      - coding_patterns
      - debugging_techniques
      - testing_strategies
      - deployment_procedures
      
    project_management:
      - requirement_definitions
      - stakeholder_communications
      - timeline_decisions
      - resource_allocations
      
  business_domains:
    product:
      - feature_specifications
      - user_feedback
      - market_research
      - competitive_analysis
      
    operations:
      - process_improvements
      - workflow_optimizations
      - team_communications
      - performance_metrics
\.```

#### Contextual Organization
\.```yaml
contextual_organization:
  project_context:
    current_project:
      - active_features
      - current_sprint_items
      - immediate_decisions
      - ongoing_discussions
      
    related_projects:
      - shared_components
      - common_patterns
      - reusable_solutions
      - cross_project_learnings
      
  temporal_context:
    immediate: "last_24_hours"
    recent: "last_week"
    current: "current_month"
    historical: "older_than_month"
    
  importance_context:
    critical: "business_critical_decisions"
    important: "significant_technical_choices"
    useful: "helpful_patterns_and_tips"
    reference: "background_information"
\.```

### Tagging and Categorization Strategy

#### Multi-Dimensional Tagging
\.```yaml
tagging_strategy:
  functional_tags:
    - technology_stack
    - programming_language
    - framework_specific
    - tool_specific
    - methodology_related
    
  contextual_tags:
    - project_phase
    - team_member
    - stakeholder_group
    - decision_type
    - outcome_status
    
  quality_tags:
    - confidence_level
    - validation_status
    - source_reliability
    - update_frequency
    - review_status
    
  relationship_tags:
    - dependency_type
    - influence_level
    - connection_strength
    - interaction_frequency
    - collaboration_pattern
\.```

#### Tag Management Guidelines
\.```yaml
tag_management:
  creation_guidelines:
    - use_consistent_naming_conventions
    - avoid_redundant_tags
    - maintain_hierarchical_relationships
    - document_tag_meanings
    
  maintenance_procedures:
    - regular_tag_cleanup
    - merge_similar_tags
    - update_deprecated_tags
    - validate_tag_usage
    
  automation_opportunities:
    - auto_tag_based_on_content
    - suggest_tags_from_context
    - detect_tag_inconsistencies
    - recommend_tag_improvements
\.```

## Memory Lifecycle Management

### Lifecycle Stages Framework

#### Creation Stage
\.```yaml
creation_stage:
  triggers:
    - user_interaction
    - system_event
    - automated_extraction
    - import_operation
    
  processes:
    initial_assessment:
      - determine_memory_type
      - assess_importance_level
      - identify_relevant_context
      - establish_initial_relationships
      
    content_processing:
      - extract_key_information
      - generate_summary
      - create_embeddings
      - validate_content_quality
      
    metadata_assignment:
      - assign_creation_timestamp
      - set_initial_importance
      - apply_automatic_tags
      - establish_ownership
      
    storage_allocation:
      - select_storage_system
      - determine_retention_policy
      - set_access_permissions
      - create_backup_references
\.```

#### Consolidation Stage
\.```yaml
consolidation_stage:
  timing:
    - after_initial_creation_period
    - during_low_activity_periods
    - based_on_access_patterns
    - triggered_by_storage_pressure
    
  processes:
    content_refinement:
      - merge_duplicate_memories
      - enhance_content_quality
      - improve_summaries
      - update_relationships
      
    importance_reassessment:
      - analyze_access_patterns
      - evaluate_user_feedback
      - assess_contextual_relevance
      - update_importance_scores
      
    relationship_optimization:
      - strengthen_valid_connections
      - remove_weak_relationships
      - discover_new_connections
      - optimize_relationship_weights
      
    storage_optimization:
      - compress_large_content
      - optimize_storage_format
      - update_index_structures
      - improve_access_patterns
\.```

#### Active Use Stage
\.```yaml
active_use_stage:
  monitoring:
    - track_access_frequency
    - monitor_modification_patterns
    - analyze_relationship_usage
    - measure_user_satisfaction
    
  optimization:
    - cache_frequently_accessed
    - preload_related_memories
    - optimize_retrieval_paths
    - improve_search_rankings
    
  maintenance:
    - update_access_timestamps
    - refresh_stale_content
    - validate_relationship_integrity
    - monitor_storage_health
    
  enhancement:
    - enrich_content_based_on_usage
    - strengthen_useful_relationships
    - improve_search_metadata
    - optimize_for_common_queries
\.```

#### Aging Stage
\.```yaml
aging_stage:
  detection_criteria:
    - reduced_access_frequency
    - outdated_content_indicators
    - superseded_by_newer_memories
    - changed_contextual_relevance
    
  processes:
    relevance_assessment:
      - evaluate_current_applicability
      - check_for_superseding_information
      - assess_historical_value
      - determine_archival_worthiness
      
    content_summarization:
      - create_condensed_versions
      - extract_key_insights
      - preserve_essential_information
      - maintain_relationship_context
      
    storage_migration:
      - move_to_archival_storage
      - compress_content_format
      - update_access_mechanisms
      - maintain_retrieval_capability
      
    relationship_adjustment:
      - weaken_temporal_relationships
      - strengthen_conceptual_connections
      - update_relationship_metadata
      - preserve_important_links
\.```

#### Archival Stage
\.```yaml
archival_stage:
  criteria:
    - historical_significance
    - legal_retention_requirements
    - organizational_knowledge_value
    - reference_potential
    
  processes:
    content_preservation:
      - create_permanent_copies
      - ensure_format_longevity
      - maintain_metadata_integrity
      - document_archival_context
      
    access_optimization:
      - create_efficient_indices
      - maintain_search_capability
      - optimize_for_rare_access
      - preserve_relationship_context
      
    storage_efficiency:
      - apply_maximum_compression
      - use_cost_effective_storage
      - implement_retrieval_caching
      - maintain_backup_copies
\.```

#### Deletion Stage
\.```yaml
deletion_stage:
  triggers:
    - retention_policy_expiration
    - user_deletion_request
    - privacy_compliance_requirement
    - storage_optimization_need
    
  processes:
    deletion_validation:
      - verify_deletion_authorization
      - check_retention_requirements
      - assess_dependency_impact
      - confirm_backup_status
      
    relationship_cleanup:
      - remove_outgoing_relationships
      - update_incoming_references
      - notify_dependent_memories
      - maintain_relationship_integrity
      
    secure_deletion:
      - overwrite_sensitive_content
      - remove_all_copies
      - clear_cache_entries
      - update_index_structures
      
    audit_logging:
      - log_deletion_event
      - record_deletion_reason
      - document_impact_assessment
      - maintain_compliance_records
\.```

### Retention Policy Framework

#### Policy Definition Structure
\.```yaml
retention_policies:
  policy_dimensions:
    memory_type:
      working: "session_duration"
      short_term: "configurable_days"
      episodic: "configurable_months"
      semantic: "importance_based"
      procedural: "usage_based"
      long_term: "indefinite_or_archival"
      
    importance_level:
      critical: "extended_retention"
      important: "standard_retention"
      useful: "reduced_retention"
      reference: "minimal_retention"
      
    privacy_level:
      public: "standard_policies"
      shared: "group_policies"
      private: "user_controlled"
      sensitive: "strict_policies"
      
    access_patterns:
      frequent: "extended_active_period"
      occasional: "standard_active_period"
      rare: "accelerated_archival"
      never: "deletion_candidate"
\.```

#### Dynamic Policy Adjustment
\.```yaml
dynamic_policies:
  adjustment_triggers:
    - storage_pressure
    - usage_pattern_changes
    - importance_reassessment
    - regulatory_changes
    
  adjustment_mechanisms:
    automatic_adjustment:
      - extend_retention_for_valuable_memories
      - accelerate_deletion_for_unused_content
      - adjust_based_on_storage_availability
      - respond_to_access_pattern_changes
      
    user_controlled_adjustment:
      - allow_retention_extension_requests
      - support_early_deletion_requests
      - enable_importance_reclassification
      - provide_policy_customization
      
    compliance_driven_adjustment:
      - enforce_regulatory_requirements
      - implement_legal_hold_procedures
      - apply_privacy_regulation_changes
      - maintain_audit_trail_requirements
\.```

### Automated Lifecycle Management

#### Automation Framework
\.```yaml
automation_framework:
  monitoring_systems:
    usage_monitoring:
      - track_access_patterns
      - monitor_modification_frequency
      - analyze_relationship_usage
      - measure_retrieval_success
      
    quality_monitoring:
      - assess_content_freshness
      - evaluate_relationship_validity
      - monitor_user_satisfaction
      - track_error_rates
      
    resource_monitoring:
      - monitor_storage_usage
      - track_performance_metrics
      - analyze_cost_implications
      - assess_scalability_needs
      
  decision_engines:
    lifecycle_decisions:
      - determine_consolidation_timing
      - assess_archival_readiness
      - evaluate_deletion_candidates
      - optimize_storage_allocation
      
    quality_decisions:
      - identify_improvement_opportunities
      - detect_content_degradation
      - recommend_relationship_updates
      - suggest_metadata_enhancements
      
    performance_decisions:
      - optimize_caching_strategies
      - adjust_indexing_approaches
      - modify_storage_configurations
      - improve_retrieval_algorithms
\.```

#### Automation Implementation Guidelines
\.```yaml
automation_implementation:
  gradual_automation:
    - start_with_simple_rules
    - gradually_increase_complexity
    - maintain_human_oversight
    - provide_override_mechanisms
    
  safety_mechanisms:
    - implement_rollback_capabilities
    - maintain_audit_trails
    - provide_manual_intervention
    - ensure_data_protection
    
  learning_integration:
    - learn_from_user_behavior
    - adapt_to_usage_patterns
    - improve_decision_accuracy
    - optimize_for_user_satisfaction
    
  performance_optimization:
    - run_during_low_activity_periods
    - batch_similar_operations
    - minimize_user_impact
    - optimize_resource_usage
\.```

## Memory Quality Management

### Quality Assessment Framework

#### Content Quality Metrics
\.```yaml
content_quality:
  completeness:
    - presence_of_required_fields
    - adequacy_of_content_detail
    - availability_of_context
    - sufficiency_of_metadata
    
  accuracy:
    - factual_correctness
    - temporal_accuracy
    - relationship_validity
    - source_reliability
    
  relevance:
    - contextual_appropriateness
    - current_applicability
    - user_value_assessment
    - usage_pattern_alignment
    
  consistency:
    - format_standardization
    - naming_convention_adherence
    - relationship_consistency
    - metadata_uniformity
\.```

#### Quality Improvement Processes
\.```yaml
quality_improvement:
  automated_enhancement:
    - content_enrichment
    - metadata_completion
    - relationship_discovery
    - format_standardization
    
  user_driven_improvement:
    - feedback_collection
    - correction_mechanisms
    - enhancement_suggestions
    - quality_rating_systems
    
  systematic_review:
    - periodic_quality_audits
    - comprehensive_content_review
    - relationship_validation
    - metadata_accuracy_checks
    
  continuous_monitoring:
    - quality_metric_tracking
    - degradation_detection
    - improvement_opportunity_identification
    - user_satisfaction_measurement
\.```

### Memory Deduplication Strategy

#### Duplicate Detection
\.```yaml
duplicate_detection:
  content_similarity:
    - text_similarity_analysis
    - semantic_similarity_comparison
    - structural_pattern_matching
    - metadata_similarity_assessment
    
  contextual_similarity:
    - temporal_proximity_analysis
    - source_similarity_evaluation
    - relationship_pattern_comparison
    - usage_context_matching
    
  automated_detection:
    - similarity_threshold_configuration
    - machine_learning_based_detection
    - pattern_recognition_algorithms
    - anomaly_detection_techniques
    
  manual_validation:
    - user_confirmation_processes
    - expert_review_mechanisms
    - quality_assurance_procedures
    - false_positive_handling
\.```

#### Deduplication Strategies
\.```yaml
deduplication_strategies:
  merge_strategy:
    - combine_complementary_content
    - preserve_unique_information
    - merge_relationship_networks
    - consolidate_metadata
    
  reference_strategy:
    - maintain_primary_copy
    - create_reference_links
    - preserve_context_differences
    - maintain_access_paths
    
  archive_strategy:
    - preserve_historical_versions
    - maintain_audit_trail
    - enable_version_comparison
    - support_rollback_capability
    
  deletion_strategy:
    - remove_inferior_duplicates
    - preserve_highest_quality_version
    - maintain_relationship_integrity
    - update_reference_links
\.```

## IDE-Specific Lifecycle Implementation

### Claude Code Lifecycle Management
\.```yaml
claude_code_lifecycle:
  file_based_management:
    - use_file_timestamps_for_aging
    - implement_directory_based_organization
    - use_git_history_for_lifecycle_tracking
    - maintain_markdown_metadata_for_policies
    
  conversation_context_lifecycle:
    - manage_session_based_working_memory
    - persist_important_insights_to_files
    - archive_old_conversation_contexts
    - maintain_cross_session_continuity
    
  automation_approaches:
    - use_file_system_watchers
    - implement_scheduled_cleanup_scripts
    - create_automated_archival_processes
    - maintain_backup_and_recovery_procedures
\.```

### Cursor AI Lifecycle Management
\.```yaml
cursor_ai_lifecycle:
  workspace_integration:
    - integrate_with_workspace_lifecycle
    - use_project_events_for_triggers
    - maintain_workspace_scoped_policies
    - implement_cross_workspace_coordination
    
  extension_based_automation:
    - use_extension_apis_for_automation
    - implement_background_processing
    - create_user_configurable_policies
    - maintain_performance_optimization
    
  version_control_integration:
    - track_memory_changes_with_vcs
    - use_commit_history_for_lifecycle
    - implement_branch_based_organization
    - maintain_merge_conflict_resolution
\.```

### V0 Lifecycle Management
\.```yaml
v0_lifecycle:
  browser_storage_management:
    - implement_storage_quota_management
    - use_browser_apis_for_cleanup
    - maintain_cross_tab_coordination
    - implement_offline_capability
    
  component_lifecycle_integration:
    - tie_memory_to_component_lifecycle
    - implement_component_based_organization
    - use_react_lifecycle_for_triggers
    - maintain_state_synchronization
    
  cloud_integration:
    - implement_cloud_backup_strategies
    - use_cloud_storage_for_archival
    - maintain_sync_across_devices
    - implement_conflict_resolution
\.```

### JetBrains Lifecycle Management
\.```yaml
jetbrains_lifecycle:
  plugin_integration:
    - use_plugin_lifecycle_events
    - implement_ide_event_based_triggers
    - maintain_project_scoped_policies
    - integrate_with_ide_indexing
    
  project_model_integration:
    - tie_memory_to_project_structure
    - use_psi_events_for_lifecycle
    - implement_module_based_organization
    - maintain_dependency_tracking
    
  background_processing:
    - use_ide_background_tasks
    - implement_progress_indication
    - maintain_cancellation_support
    - optimize_for_ide_performance
\.```

This methodology provides comprehensive guidance for organizing and managing memory lifecycles within any IDE environment while adapting to platform-specific capabilities and constraints.