The Problem: Claude Forgets Everything
Every new Claude Code conversation starts from scratch. Claude doesn't remember what you worked on yesterday, the decisions you made last week, or the architecture you spent an hour explaining.
The claude-mem plugin fixes that. It gives Claude Code persistent memory across sessions by storing observations, plans, and context in a local database. Future conversations can pick up right where you left off.
Setup takes about 60 seconds.
Step 1: Add the Plugin Marketplace
Open Claude Code and run this command:
/plugin marketplace add thedotmack/claude-memYou should see: Successfully added marketplace: thedotmack
Step 2: Install the Plugin
Now install claude-mem from that marketplace:
/plugin install claude-memYou should see: Installed claude-mem. Run /reload-plugins to activate.
Step 3: Reload Your Plugins
Activate the plugin by reloading:
/reload-pluginsThis loads claude-mem's tools and commands into your session. You'll see a confirmation showing the number of plugins, commands, and hooks loaded.
Step 4: Start Using It
You now have four new commands available:
- /make-plan creates a detailed, phased implementation plan with documentation discovery.
- /do executes a plan using subagents.
- /mem-search searches your persistent memory database across past sessions.
- /smart-explore does token-efficient structural code search without reading entire files.
What to Try First
Run /make-plan on your next feature and watch how it breaks the work into phased steps. Then run /do to let subagents carry out each phase.
After a few sessions, try /mem-search to pull up past context. It becomes especially useful when you come back to a project after a break.
Why This Matters
Memory changes the dynamic with Claude Code completely. Instead of re-explaining your project every session, Claude recalls past decisions, references earlier work, and builds on context that already exists. It's the difference between working with a new contractor every day versus a teammate who's been with you the whole time.
The plugin is open source and the memory stays local on your machine. No data leaves your environment.
