Project Memory

Project Memory Skill

A Claude Code skill that enables multi-developer ticket tracking with automatic duplicate detection. Prevents wasted effort by checking if features have already been implemented before starting new work.

Overview

Project Memory solves a common problem in software development: multiple developers accidentally implementing the same feature, or not knowing that similar functionality already exists in the codebase.

This skill:

• Tracks which features/tickets have been implemented
• Automatically detects duplicate or similar work before implementation
• Maps features to the files that implement them
• Syncs via Git so all developers share the same memory

When to Use

This skill activates when you:

• Say /execute TICKET-ID description to implement a feature
• Say /init-memory to set up project memory
• Ask "what features exist" or "has this been built"
• Say "implement ticket" or reference ticket IDs
• Say /memory-status to see all tracked features
• Say /memory-search query to find specific features

Core Workflow

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     /execute TICKET-123 Add user auth           │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                 │
                                 ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  STEP 1: Parse Input                                            │
│  • Extract ticket ID: TICKET-123                                │
│  • Extract description: "Add user auth"                         │
│  • Generate keywords: ["user", "auth", "authentication"]        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                 │
                                 ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  STEP 2: Load Memory                                            │
│  • Read .claude/memory/features.json                            │
│  • If missing, prompt to run /init-memory                       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                 │
                                 ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  STEP 3: Check Exact Match                                      │
│  • Search for TICKET-123 in features.json                       │
│  • If found: Show status and offer options                      │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                 │
                                 ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  STEP 4: Check Similar Features (Fuzzy Match)                   │
│  • Calculate keyword overlap with existing features             │
│  • If similarity >= 70%: Alert and offer options                │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                 │
                                 ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  STEP 5: Implement Feature                                      │
│  • Mark as "in_progress" in features.json                       │
│  • Implement the requested feature                              │
│  • Track all files created/modified                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                 │
                                 ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  STEP 6: Update Memory                                          │
│  • Update status to "implemented"                               │
│  • Add file list to feature entry                               │
│  • Prompt to commit changes                                     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Memory Structure

features.json

{
  "version": "1.0",
  "last_updated": "2025-01-27T10:30:00Z",
  "features": {
    "TICKET-123": {
      "summary": "User authentication with OAuth",
      "keywords": ["user", "authentication", "oauth", "login"],
      "files": ["src/auth/oauth.ts", "src/auth/middleware.ts"],
      "status": "implemented",
      "dev": "John Doe",
      "date": "2025-01-27"
    }
  }
}

project.md

Contains project context:

• Project name and purpose
• Tech stack summary
• Directory structure
• Key patterns/conventions

Keyword Extraction Rules

When processing a feature description:

1. Tokenize: Split description into words
2. Lowercase: Convert all to lowercase
3. Remove stop words: Filter out common words (a, an, the, and, or, but, in, on, at, to, for, of, with, by, from, as, is, was, etc.)
4. Keep technical terms: Preserve nouns, verbs, and technical terminology
5. Limit: Keep 3-5 most significant keywords

Stop Words List

a, an, the, and, or, but, in, on, at, to, for, of, with, by, from, as, is,
was, are, were, been, be, have, has, had, do, does, did, will, would, could,
should, may, might, must, shall, can, need, dare, ought, used, this, that,
these, those, i, you, he, she, it, we, they, what, which, who, whom, whose,
where, when, why, how, add, create, implement, make, build, update, fix

Similarity Matching Algorithm

Calculate similarity between new feature keywords and existing feature keywords:

similarity = (matching_keywords / total_new_keywords) * 100

Threshold: 70%

If similarity >= 70%, alert the user about potential duplicate work.

Example

New feature: "Add user login with Google OAuth" Keywords: ["user", "login", "google", "oauth"]

Existing feature: "User authentication with OAuth" Keywords: ["user", "authentication", "oauth", "login"]

Matching: ["user", "login", "oauth"] = 3 Total new: 4

Similarity = 3/4 * 100 = 75% >= 70% threshold

Result: Alert user about similar feature

Commands Reference

/init-memory

Initialize project memory for a new project. Run once per repository.

Usage:

/init-memory

Example Session:

User: /init-memory

Claude: Initializing project memory...
✓ Created .claude/memory/features.json
✓ Created .claude/memory/project.md
✓ Analyzed project structure

Project memory initialized! You can now use:
- /execute TICKET-ID description - to implement features
- /memory-status - to see tracked features
- /memory-search query - to find features

/execute TICKET-ID description

Implement a feature with automatic duplicate detection. Checks for existing similar work before starting.

Usage:

/execute TICKET-123 Add user authentication with OAuth
/execute BUG-456 Fix login redirect issue
/execute FEAT-789 Implement dark mode toggle

Example Session (No Duplicates):

User: /execute AUTH-101 Add password reset via email

Claude: Checking project memory...
✓ No exact match for AUTH-101
✓ No similar features found (0% overlap)

Proceeding with implementation...
[implements feature]

✓ Feature implemented
✓ Memory updated with AUTH-101
Files modified:
  - src/auth/password-reset.ts
  - src/email/templates/reset.html
  - tests/auth/password-reset.test.ts

Commit these changes? (y/n)

Example Session (Duplicate Detected):

User: /execute AUTH-202 User login with Google

Claude: Checking project memory...
⚠ Similar feature detected!

AUTH-101: "User authentication with OAuth"
├─ Status: implemented
├─ Files: src/auth/oauth.ts, src/auth/middleware.ts
├─ Developer: Jane Smith
├─ Date: 2025-01-15
└─ Similarity: 75% match

Keywords matching: ["user", "login", "oauth"]

Options:
1. View existing implementation
2. Extend existing feature
3. Proceed anyway (different scope)
4. Cancel

What would you like to do?

/memory-status

Display all tracked features with their current status.

Usage:

/memory-status

Example Session:

User: /memory-status

Claude: Project Memory Status
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════

 ✓ IMPLEMENTED (3)
 ─────────────────
 AUTH-101  User authentication with OAuth
           Files: src/auth/oauth.ts, src/auth/middleware.ts
           Dev: Jane Smith | 2025-01-15

 UI-205    Dashboard layout with responsive grid
           Files: src/components/Dashboard.tsx, src/styles/grid.css
           Dev: John Doe | 2025-01-20

 API-301   REST API rate limiting
           Files: src/middleware/rateLimit.ts, src/config/limits.ts
           Dev: Jane Smith | 2025-01-22

 ⏳ IN PROGRESS (1)
 ─────────────────
 FEAT-402  Real-time notifications
           Files: src/notifications/websocket.ts
           Dev: John Doe | Started: 2025-01-27

 ○ PLANNED (2)
 ─────────────────
 PERF-501  Database query optimization
 SEC-601   Two-factor authentication

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Total: 6 features | 3 implemented | 1 in progress | 2 planned

/memory-search query

Search tracked features by keyword or description.

Usage:

/memory-search auth
/memory-search "user login"
/memory-search dashboard

Example Session:

User: /memory-search auth

Claude: Search Results for "auth"
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Found 2 matching features:

1. AUTH-101: User authentication with OAuth
   ├─ Status: ✓ implemented
   ├─ Keywords: user, authentication, oauth, login
   ├─ Files: src/auth/oauth.ts, src/auth/middleware.ts
   └─ Match reason: keyword "authentication"

2. SEC-601: Two-factor authentication
   ├─ Status: ○ planned
   ├─ Keywords: security, 2fa, authentication, totp
   ├─ Files: (none yet)
   └─ Match reason: keyword "authentication"

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Use /execute TICKET-ID to view full details or extend a feature.

Example Session (No Results):

User: /memory-search payment

Claude: Search Results for "payment"
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════

No features found matching "payment".

Suggestions:
- Check spelling or try related terms
- Use /memory-status to see all features
- This might be a new feature to implement

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Multi-Developer Workflow

1. Developer A runs /init-memory and commits
2. Developer B pulls and runs /execute TICKET-123 Add user auth
3. Memory detects no duplicates, marks as "in_progress"
4. Developer B implements feature, memory updates to "implemented"
5. Developer B commits features.json
6. Developer C pulls and runs /execute TICKET-456 User authentication
7. Memory detects 75% similarity with TICKET-123
8. Developer C sees warning and decides to extend or proceed differently

Git Integration

Always commit memory files after changes:

git add .claude/memory/features.json
git commit -m "feat(TICKET-XXX): description"
git push

Pull before starting new work to get latest memory state.