Cognition

Cognition gives an OpenClaw agent a practical memory architecture: raw logs, durable knowledge, commitments, and reusable procedures.

Use it to make memory operational, not decorative.

Start Here

Install the scaffolding:

bash {baseDir}/scripts/install.sh

Then adopt it in 3 tiers.

Tier 1 — Core

Adopt this first. It is the smallest useful subset.

Core behavior

1. Log important work to memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md
2. Keep durable facts in MEMORY.md and deeper detail in memory/bank/*.md
3. Track commitments in memory/FUTURE_INTENTS.md
4. Add the protocol blocks from {baseDir}/references/protocols.md to your AGENTS.md

What Core gives you

• recent-session continuity
• a compact durable memory index
• fewer dropped promises
• a default place to put important facts instead of hoping the model remembers

Tier 2 — Recommended

Adopt this once Core is part of normal use.

Add these pieces

• nightly staged consolidation via {baseDir}/references/consolidation-prompt.md
• reusable procedures in memory/procedures/
• procedure registry in memory/procedures/index.yaml
• importance tagging from {baseDir}/references/protocols.md

Safety model

• consolidation stages proposals before durable mutation
• daily logs stay append-only
• uncertain items stay tagged [NEEDS_REVIEW]
• new procedures start as draft
• promote procedures cautiously: draft → reviewed → trusted

Tier 3 — Advanced

Only adopt this if Core and Recommended are already working.

Optional overlays

• memory/bank/cross-references.md for linked retrieval
• memory/KNOWLEDGE_MAP.md for coarse confidence tracking
• memory/meta/gap_tracker.json for repeated retrieval misses
• memory/meta/retrieval_log.json for retrieval analytics
• weekly reflection via {baseDir}/references/weekly-reflection-prompt.md
• hybrid retrieval tuning via {baseDir}/references/config.md

Advanced is for sharper retrieval and maintenance, not for replacing the Core system.

Core File Map

Always-on files

• memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md — daily session log
• MEMORY.md — durable fact index
• memory/bank/*.md — deeper topic files
• memory/FUTURE_INTENTS.md — commitments and deferred actions

Recommended files

• memory/consolidation/YYYY-MM-DD-staged.md — staged memory proposals
• memory/procedures/index.yaml — procedure registry
• memory/procedures/*.md — reusable procedures

Advanced files

• memory/KNOWLEDGE_MAP.md
• memory/bank/cross-references.md
• memory/meta/gap_tracker.json
• memory/meta/retrieval_log.json
• memory/summaries/YYYY-WNN.md

Reference Map

Read only what you need:

• {baseDir}/references/protocols.md — protocol blocks to copy into AGENTS.md
• {baseDir}/references/consolidation-prompt.md — nightly staged consolidation
• {baseDir}/references/weekly-reflection-prompt.md — weekly reflection without direct mutation
• {baseDir}/references/architecture.md — core systems, overlays, retrieval tiers, safety notes, file structure
• {baseDir}/references/config.md — advanced hybrid retrieval tuning
• {baseDir}/references/cognitive-science.md — theory appendix

Guardrails

• Prefer staged proposals over silent durable-memory edits
• Keep raw logs append-only
• Keep MEMORY.md compact; move detail into memory/bank/
• Treat procedure promotion as earned, not automatic
• If retrieval fails, log the gap instead of inventing certainty