Version History

A comprehensive history of Claude Memory's evolution, documenting major milestones, features, and improvements across all versions.

Version Timeline

v1.0.0 - Initial Release (May 2025)

The Beginning

Claude Memory was born from the need to give AI assistants persistent context across conversations. The initial release established the foundation:

• Core memory system with JSON storage
• Basic session management
• Task tracking functionality
• Decision logging
• Simple pattern recognition
• Manual backup commands

This version proved the concept: AI assistants could maintain context between conversations, dramatically improving productivity.

v1.1.0 - Enhanced Patterns (May 2025)

Learning from Experience

• Pattern System Overhaul: Added effectiveness ratings and priority levels
• Pattern Resolution: Track which patterns have been addressed
• Search Capabilities: Find patterns by description or effectiveness
• Better Organization: Patterns now categorized by type and status

v1.2.0 - Import/Export (May 2025)

Portability and Sharing

• Full Export: Complete memory dumps to JSON
• Export Command: Export memory to JSON file
• Sanitized Export: Share memory without sensitive data
• Migration Support: Move between machines easily

v1.3.0 - Stats Enhancement (May 2025)

Better Visibility

• Detailed Statistics: Memory usage, token counts, growth trends
• Performance Metrics: Session duration, task velocity
• Visual Improvements: Colored output, formatted tables
• Health Indicators: Warnings for large memory files

v1.4.0 - Context Command (May 2025)

AI Integration

• JSON Context Output: Direct integration with AI tools
• Selective Context: Choose what to include
• Token Counting: See exactly how much context you're using
• Optimized Format: Designed for LLM consumption

v1.5.0 - Pattern Management (May 2025)

Advanced Pattern Features

• Subcommands: add, list, search, resolve
• Knowledge System: Store and retrieve project information
• Categorization: Organize knowledge by type
• Effectiveness Tracking: Monitor which patterns help most

v1.6.0 - AI Handoffs (June 2025)

Team Collaboration

• Handoff Summaries: Comprehensive context for transitions
• Multiple Formats: Human-readable and JSON
• Selective Handoffs: Choose what information to share
• Session Continuity: Seamless AI assistant switching

v1.7.0 - Multi-File Context (June 2025)

Scaling Without Limits

Revolutionary change in how memory is stored:

• Context Directory: Separate files for different memory types
• No Truncation: Full information preserved
• Token Optimization: Main file stays small
• Git-Friendly: Better version control integration

File structure:

.claude/context/
├── knowledge.md    # Complete knowledge base
├── patterns.md     # All patterns with history
├── decisions.md    # Full decision log
└── tasks.md        # Detailed task information

v1.8.0 - Public Release (June 2025)

Ready for the World

First official public release on NPM:

• Production Ready: Extensive testing completed
• Documentation: Comprehensive guides and examples
• Auto Features: Session rotation, backups, optimization
• Zero Config: Works perfectly out of the box

v1.8.1 - Housekeeping (June 2025)

Polish and Refinement

• Version Clarity: Clear version attribution
• Duration Display: Better session time formatting
• JSON Formatting: Improved readability
• Bug Fixes: Minor issues resolved

v1.8.2 - Knowledge Enhancement (June 2025)

Better Knowledge Management

• Pagination: Handle large knowledge bases
• Long Values: Support for detailed information
• Display Improvements: Truncation with full access
• Performance: Faster knowledge operations

v1.9.0 - CLI Enhancement (June 2025)

Developer Experience

Major improvements to command-line interface:

• Global Flags:

  • --dry-run: Preview changes
  • --config: Custom configurations
  • --force: Skip confirmations
  • --debug: Troubleshooting
  • --version: Version info

• Code Refactoring:

  • Modular architecture
  • 37% smaller main file
  • Better maintainability
  • Enhanced testing

Version Comparison

Feature Evolution

Feature	v1.0	v1.5	v1.8	v1.9
Sessions	Manual	Manual	Auto	Auto
Backups	Manual	Manual	Auto	Auto
Patterns	Basic	Advanced	Advanced	Advanced
Knowledge	❌	✅	✅	✅
Multi-file	❌	❌	✅	✅
Token Opt	❌	Basic	Advanced	Advanced
CLI Flags	❌	❌	❌	✅

Performance Improvements

• v1.0: ~500ms startup time
• v1.5: ~400ms with caching
• v1.8: ~300ms with optimization
• v1.9: ~250ms with modular loading

Size Comparison

• v1.0: Single 3,500 line file
• v1.5: Single 4,200 line file
• v1.8: Single 2,800 line file
• v1.9: Modular, main file 1,770 lines

Breaking Changes

v1.0 → v1.5

• Pattern command syntax changed
• Knowledge system added new required parameters

v1.5 → v1.7

• Context files moved to subdirectory
• Memory format restructured

v1.7 → v1.8

• Auto-features enabled by default
• Config format expanded

Migration Guides

Upgrading to v1.7+

# Backup existing memory
cmem export pre-v1.7-backup.json

# Update and reinitialize
npm update -g claude-memory
cmem init

# Import if needed
# Manually restore from backup
cp .claude/backups/backup-timestamp.json .claude/memory.json

Upgrading to v1.9

No breaking changes - seamless upgrade:

npm update -g claude-memory

Version Support

• Latest (v1.9.x): Full support, recommended
• v1.8.x: Security fixes only
• v1.7.x: Critical fixes only
• < v1.7: End of life

Future Versions

v1.10.0 (Planned)

• Enhanced decision tracking
• Version control integration
• Team collaboration features
• Performance optimizations

v2.0.0 (Concept)

• Plugin system
• Cloud sync options
• AI model integration
• Enterprise features

Version Philosophy

Claude Memory follows semantic versioning:

• Patch (x.x.X): Bug fixes, no API changes
• Minor (x.X.0): New features, backward compatible
• Major (X.0.0): Breaking changes

Our commitment:

• Backward compatibility within major versions
• Clear migration paths
• Comprehensive change documentation
• User-focused improvements

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See also:

• Changelog - Recent changes
• Roadmap - Future plans
• Release-Process - How we release