# Cognition

> Practical memory architecture for OpenClaw agents. Use when an agent needs to remember commitments across sessions, retrieve prior context, prevent repeat mistakes, stage durable-memory updates safely, compile reusable procedures, or improve memory hygiene over time. Supports a 3-tier adoption path: Core, Recommended, and Advanced.

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-zurbrick-cognition-cognition`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [zurbrick](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/zurbrick)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Agent Skills](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/agent-skills)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [zurbrick](https://github.com/zurbrick)
- **Source:** https://github.com/zurbrick/cognition
- **Website:** https://github.com/zurbrick/cognition

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-zurbrick-cognition-cognition
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Cognition

Cognition gives an OpenClaw agent a practical memory architecture: raw logs, durable knowledge, commitments, and reusable procedures.

Use it to make memory operational, not decorative.

## Start Here

Install the scaffolding:

```bash
bash {baseDir}/scripts/install.sh
```

Then adopt it in 3 tiers.

## Tier 1 — Core

Adopt this first. It is the smallest useful subset.

### Core behavior
1. Log important work to `memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md`
2. Keep durable facts in `MEMORY.md` and deeper detail in `memory/bank/*.md`
3. Track commitments in `memory/FUTURE_INTENTS.md`
4. Add the protocol blocks from `{baseDir}/references/protocols.md` to your AGENTS.md

### What Core gives you
- recent-session continuity
- a compact durable memory index
- fewer dropped promises
- a default place to put important facts instead of hoping the model remembers

## Tier 2 — Recommended

Adopt this once Core is part of normal use.

### Add these pieces
- nightly staged consolidation via `{baseDir}/references/consolidation-prompt.md`
- reusable procedures in `memory/procedures/`
- procedure registry in `memory/procedures/index.yaml`
- importance tagging from `{baseDir}/references/protocols.md`

### Safety model
- consolidation stages proposals before durable mutation
- daily logs stay append-only
- uncertain items stay tagged `[NEEDS_REVIEW]`
- new procedures start as `draft`
- promote procedures cautiously: `draft` → `reviewed` → `trusted`

## Tier 3 — Advanced

Only adopt this if Core and Recommended are already working.

### Optional overlays
- `memory/bank/cross-references.md` for linked retrieval
- `memory/KNOWLEDGE_MAP.md` for coarse confidence tracking
- `memory/meta/gap_tracker.json` for repeated retrieval misses
- `memory/meta/retrieval_log.json` for retrieval analytics
- weekly reflection via `{baseDir}/references/weekly-reflection-prompt.md`
- hybrid retrieval tuning via `{baseDir}/references/config.md`

Advanced is for sharper retrieval and maintenance, not for replacing the Core system.

## Core File Map

### Always-on files
- `memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md` — daily session log
- `MEMORY.md` — durable fact index
- `memory/bank/*.md` — deeper topic files
- `memory/FUTURE_INTENTS.md` — commitments and deferred actions

### Recommended files
- `memory/consolidation/YYYY-MM-DD-staged.md` — staged memory proposals
- `memory/procedures/index.yaml` — procedure registry
- `memory/procedures/*.md` — reusable procedures

### Advanced files
- `memory/KNOWLEDGE_MAP.md`
- `memory/bank/cross-references.md`
- `memory/meta/gap_tracker.json`
- `memory/meta/retrieval_log.json`
- `memory/summaries/YYYY-WNN.md`

## Reference Map

Read only what you need:

- `{baseDir}/references/protocols.md` — protocol blocks to copy into AGENTS.md
- `{baseDir}/references/consolidation-prompt.md` — nightly staged consolidation
- `{baseDir}/references/weekly-reflection-prompt.md` — weekly reflection without direct mutation
- `{baseDir}/references/architecture.md` — core systems, overlays, retrieval tiers, safety notes, file structure
- `{baseDir}/references/config.md` — advanced hybrid retrieval tuning
- `{baseDir}/references/cognitive-science.md` — theory appendix

## Guardrails

- Prefer staged proposals over silent durable-memory edits
- Keep raw logs append-only
- Keep `MEMORY.md` compact; move detail into `memory/bank/`
- Treat procedure promotion as earned, not automatic
- If retrieval fails, log the gap instead of inventing certainty

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [zurbrick](https://github.com/zurbrick)
- **Source:** [zurbrick/cognition](https://github.com/zurbrick/cognition)
- **License:** MIT
- **Homepage:** https://github.com/zurbrick/cognition

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-zurbrick-cognition-cognition
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/zurbrick
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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