# Memory Vault Integration Model

## Purpose

Define a project-agnostic interface for reading, creating, searching, and validating the canonical Markdown memory.

Obsidian is the current human-facing implementation, but the workspace should not depend on Obsidian-specific behavior for core memory maintenance.

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## Layers

### Canonical Memory

The source of truth is plain Markdown under `vault/`.

Agents should edit canonical notes directly when precision matters because direct edits produce auditable diffs.

### Memory Interface

Use `scripts/memory/memory.sh` for vault-level operations:

- `root` prints the configured memory root
- `read <path>` reads a vault-relative note
- `search <query> [folder]` searches memory
- `create <type> <slug> [title]` creates a note in the canonical folder from the matching template
- `base-query <base-name> [format]` queries a structured view when supported
- `health` checks required files and optional navigation health

### Tool Adapter

The current adapter is Obsidian CLI through `scripts/obsidian/cli.sh`.

If Obsidian CLI is unavailable or fails, `scripts/memory/memory.sh` falls back to direct Markdown operations unless `AIW_MEMORY_BACKEND=obsidian` is explicitly set.

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## Configuration

- `AIW_MEMORY_VAULT_DIR`: canonical memory directory. Defaults to `<workspace-root>/vault`.
- `AIW_MEMORY_BACKEND`: `auto`, `files`, or `obsidian`. Defaults to `auto`.
- `AIW_OBSIDIAN_VAULT_DIR`: Obsidian-specific vault override, still supported by the adapter.
- `AIW_OBSIDIAN_VAULT_NAME`: Obsidian URI vault name override for URI wrappers.

Backend meanings:

- `auto`: use Obsidian CLI when useful and available; otherwise use direct Markdown.
- `files`: force direct Markdown behavior.
- `obsidian`: require Obsidian CLI for supported operations and fail if unavailable.

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## Note Type Routing

The memory interface owns type-to-folder routing:

- `daily` -> `vault/06-daily/`
- `work-item` -> `vault/02-work-items/`
- `person` -> `vault/04-people/`
- `decision` -> `vault/05-decisions/`
- `system` -> `vault/03-context/systems/`
- `workstream` -> `vault/03-context/workstreams/`
- `meeting-note` -> `vault/06-daily/`

Templates live in `vault/09-templates/`.

This gives agents an automatic destination for new notes without coupling the rule to Obsidian.

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## Agent Rules

- Use the memory interface when creating new canonical notes from a known type.
- Use the memory interface for broad search, Base queries, and vault health checks.
- Edit Markdown directly for precise memory curation, corrections, and content updates.
- Do not treat Obsidian CLI failure as project context.
- Do not require Obsidian to be running for core workspace operation.
- Keep raw evidence outside `vault/`; promote only curated memory.

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## Useful Obsidian CLI Operations

When available, Obsidian CLI improves human-facing memory workflows:

- `search:context` gives Obsidian-aware search context.
- `create path=... template=...` creates notes from templates.
- `base:query` reads Bases as structured views.
- `properties` and `property:*` inspect or update metadata.
- `unresolved`, `orphans`, `links`, `backlinks`, and `tags` support vault health checks.

These are optional enhancements. The canonical memory remains Markdown.