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Why Memory Matters

A support agent that starts from zero every session cannot build rapport, track progress, or respect your preferences. Continuity is care — and memory is how OpenCouch delivers it.

Without memory
I had a rough day at work again.
I'm sorry to hear that. Can you tell me more about your work situation?
I already told you about my boss last week...
I understand. What's been happening with your boss?
With memory
I had a rough day at work again.
Last time you mentioned your boss being difficult about deadlines. Was it the same issue today, or something new?
Same thing, but worse now.
That sounds exhausting. The breathing exercise helped last session — would you like to try it again, or would you rather just talk through it?
◆
Fact Notebook
semantic memory
relationshipUser worries about work — "my boss is terrible"
copingUser uses fluoxetine — "I take it daily"
relationshipUser knows Sarah — "my sister visited last week"
○
Session Diary
episodic memory
apr 18Panic attack at work. Tried box breathing. Mood: anxious → calmer.
apr 15Sleep trouble and the move. Open loop: apartment search.
apr 12Work stress, argument with partner. Resolved: apologized.
■
Style Guide
procedural memory
ruleDon't suggest meditation — makes user more anxious.
ruleKeep responses short and direct.
ruleAvoid phrases like "I understand" — feels dismissive.
🔒
You own your data
Inspect, delete, or wipe anything. No hidden stores.
🛡️
Private by default
Guest mode stores nothing. Persistent mode keeps data local on your machine.
⚡
Safety overrides memory
Crisis responses ignore all style rules. Safety is hardcoded.
💬You speak
→
🛡️Safety check
→
🧠Load memory
→
✨Generate reply
→
📝Learn from turn
→
📚Session end

The difference memory makes​

The contrast above shows the same conversation with and without memory. With memory, the agent references your history, recalls what helped before, and never asks you to repeat yourself. Without it, every session feels like talking to a stranger.

Three notebooks​

OpenCouch carries three kinds of memory between sessions:

  • Fact Notebook — specific things you share: names, jobs, worries, coping strategies. Stored as structured triples so the agent can connect them to future context.
  • Session Diary — a brief summary written at the end of each session: themes, mood arc, and open threads. Powers the "last time we talked about..." continuity on your next visit.
  • Style Guide — quiet rules the agent follows without mentioning them. "Don't suggest meditation" or "keep it short" — these shape how the agent talks, not what it knows.

Common questions​

Can I use OpenCouch without memory? Yes — a no-memory session stores nothing to disk (same responses, no continuity). It is called incognito mode in the web app and guest mode in the TUI.

What if the agent remembers something wrong? Delete individual facts, sessions, or rules anytime. On the Memory page in the web app, each card has its own "forget" button (with a confirm step). In the TUI, use /memory forget <n>.

What happens to old sessions? Summaries older than 30 days stop appearing in active context but remain stored for your review.

Can I export my data? Durable memory lives in the configured local backend you control. With the recommended Postgres path, back up the local database; with the legacy SQLite fallback, copy, back up, or inspect with any SQLite tool.