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Memory Export/Import Scripts

Share your claude-mem knowledge with other users! These scripts allow you to export specific memories (observations, sessions, summaries, and prompts) and import them into another claude-mem installation.

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Use Cases

  • Share Windows compatibility knowledge with Windows users
  • Share bug fix patterns with contributors
  • Share project-specific learnings across teams
  • Backup specific memory sets for safekeeping

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How It Works

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Export Script

Searches the database using hybrid search (combines ChromaDB vector embeddings with FTS5 full-text search) and exports all matching:
  • Observations - Individual learnings and discoveries
  • Sessions - Session metadata
  • Summaries - Session summaries
  • Prompts - User prompts that led to the work
Output is a portable JSON file that can be shared.
Privacy Note: Export files contain all matching memory data in plain text. Review exports before sharing to ensure no sensitive information (API keys, passwords, private paths) is included.

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Import Script

Imports memories with duplicate prevention:
  • Checks if each record already exists before inserting
  • Skips duplicates automatically
  • Maintains data integrity with transactional imports
  • Reports what was imported vs. skipped
Duplicate Detection Strategy:
  • Sessions: By claude_session_id (unique)
  • Summaries: By sdk_session_id (unique)
  • Observations: By sdk_session_id + title + created_at_epoch (composite)
  • Prompts: By claude_session_id + prompt_number (composite)

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Usage

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Export Memories

# Export all Windows-related memories
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "windows" windows-memories.json

# Export bug fixes
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "bugfix" bugfixes.json

# Export specific feature work
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "progressive disclosure" progressive-disclosure.json
Parameters:
  1. <query> - Search query (uses hybrid semantic + full-text search)
  2. <output-file> - Output JSON file path
  3. --project=name - Optional: filter results to a specific project
Example Output: 
🔍 Searching for: "windows"
✅ Found 54 observations
✅ Found 12 sessions
✅ Found 12 summaries
✅ Found 7 prompts

📦 Export complete!
📄 Output: windows-memories.json
📊 Stats:
   • 54 observations
   • 12 sessions
   • 12 summaries
   • 7 prompts

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Import Memories

# Import from an export file
npx tsx scripts/import-memories.ts windows-memories.json
Parameters:
  1. <input-file> - Input JSON file (from export script)
Example Output: 
📦 Import file: windows-memories.json
📅 Exported: 2025-12-10T23:45:00.000Z
🔍 Query: "windows"
📊 Contains:
   • 54 observations
   • 12 sessions
   • 12 summaries
   • 7 prompts

🔄 Importing sessions...
   ✅ Imported: 12, Skipped: 0
🔄 Importing summaries...
   ✅ Imported: 12, Skipped: 0
🔄 Importing observations...
   ✅ Imported: 54, Skipped: 0
🔄 Importing prompts...
   ✅ Imported: 7, Skipped: 0

✅ Import complete!
📊 Summary:
   Sessions:     12 imported, 0 skipped
   Summaries:    12 imported, 0 skipped
   Observations: 54 imported, 0 skipped
   Prompts:      7 imported, 0 skipped

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Re-importing (Duplicate Prevention)

If you run the import again on the same file, duplicates are automatically skipped: 
🔄 Importing sessions...
   ✅ Imported: 0, Skipped: 12  ← All skipped (already exist)
🔄 Importing summaries...
   ✅ Imported: 0, Skipped: 12
🔄 Importing observations...
   ✅ Imported: 0, Skipped: 54
🔄 Importing prompts...
   ✅ Imported: 0, Skipped: 7

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Sharing Memories

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For Export Authors

  1. Export your memories: 
    npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "windows" windows-memories.json
  2. Share the JSON file via:
    • GitHub gist
    • Project repository (shared-memories/)
    • Direct file transfer
    • Package in releases
  3. Document what’s included:
    • What query was used
    • What knowledge is contained
    • Who might benefit from it

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For Import Users

  1. Download the export file to your local machine
  2. Review what’s in it (optional): 
    cat windows-memories.json | jq '.totalObservations, .totalSessions'
  3. Import into your database: 
    npx tsx scripts/import-memories.ts windows-memories.json
  4. Verify import by searching: 
    curl "http://localhost:37777/api/search?query=windows&format=index&limit=10"

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JSON Export Format

{
  "exportedAt": "2025-12-10T23:45:00.000Z",
  "exportedAtEpoch": 1733876700000,
  "query": "windows",
  "totalObservations": 54,
  "totalSessions": 12,
  "totalSummaries": 12,
  "totalPrompts": 7,
  "observations": [ /* array of observation objects */ ],
  "sessions": [ /* array of session objects */ ],
  "summaries": [ /* array of summary objects */ ],
  "prompts": [ /* array of prompt objects */ ]
}

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Safety Features

✅ Duplicate Prevention - Won’t re-import existing records ✅ Transactional - All-or-nothing imports (database stays consistent) ✅ Read-only Export - Export script opens database in read-only mode ✅ Dependency Ordering - Sessions imported before observations/summaries ✅ Validation - Checks database exists before starting

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Advanced Usage

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Export by Project

# Export only claude-mem project memories
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "bugfix" bugfixes.json --project=claude-mem

# Export all memories for a specific project
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "" all-project.json --project=my-app

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Export by Type

# Export only discoveries
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "type:discovery" discoveries.json

# Export only bug fixes
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "type:bugfix" bugfixes.json

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Export by Date Range

You can filter the export after exporting: 
# Export all memories, then filter manually with jq
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "" all-memories.json
cat all-memories.json | jq '.observations |= map(select(.created_at_epoch > 1700000000000))' > recent-memories.json

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Combine Multiple Exports

# Export different topics
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "windows" windows.json
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "linux" linux.json

# Import both
npx tsx scripts/import-memories.ts windows.json
npx tsx scripts/import-memories.ts linux.json

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Troubleshooting

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Database Not Found

❌ Database not found at: /Users/you/.claude-mem/claude-mem.db
Solution: Make sure claude-mem is installed and has been run at least once.

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Import File Not Found

❌ Input file not found: windows-memories.json
Solution: Check the file path. Use absolute paths if needed.

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Partial Import

If import fails mid-way, the transaction is rolled back - your database remains unchanged. Fix the issue and try again.

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Contributing Memory Sets

If you’ve exported valuable knowledge that others might benefit from:
  1. Create a PR to the shared-memories/ directory
  2. Include a README describing what’s in the export
  3. Tag with relevant keywords (windows, linux, bugfix, etc.)
  4. Community members can then import your knowledge!

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Examples of Useful Exports

Windows Compatibility Knowledge: 
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "windows compatibility installation" windows-fixes.json
Progressive Disclosure Architecture: 
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "progressive disclosure architecture token" pd-patterns.json
Bug Fix Patterns: 
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "bugfix error handling" bugfix-patterns.json
Performance Optimization: 
npx tsx scripts/export-memories.ts "performance optimization caching" perf-tips.json