explaingit

ramennuts/obsidian-engram

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

1PythonAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5LicenseSetup · easy

TLDR

A two-layer memory system for Claude Code built on plain Obsidian markdown files, with no database or network calls needed.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((engram))
    What it does
      Persists agent memory
      Injects lean session context
      Writes structured handoffs
    Tech stack
      Python
      Markdown
      Obsidian vault
    Use cases
      Resume coding sessions with context
      Track active and blocked tasks
      Keep durable project facts loaded
    Audience
      Claude Code users
      Solo developers
    Memory layers
      Durable memory
      Working memory
      Session handoffs

Code map

Detail Auto

An interactive map of this repo's files and how they connect — its source is parsed live in your browser. Click Visualize to build it.

filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Let Claude Code resume a coding project with full context instead of starting from scratch each session.

USE CASE 2

Track active and blocked tasks in a simple markdown work queue.

USE CASE 3

Write a structured handoff note at the end of a session that loads automatically next time.

What is it built with?

PythonMarkdownObsidianClaude Code hooks

How does it compare?

ramennuts/obsidian-engram0xustaz/streamgatea-bissell/unleash-lite
Stars111
LanguagePythonPythonPython
Setup difficultyeasyhardhard
Complexity2/54/54/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperresearcher

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

No dependencies or network calls, a single install script seeds the vault and memory folders.

MIT license: free to use, modify, and distribute, including commercially, as long as the copyright notice is kept.

In plain English

Engram is a memory system for Claude Code, the AI coding agent, that helps it remember context between separate work sessions instead of starting fresh and forgetting everything each time. It is built entirely on plain markdown files stored in an Obsidian vault, a popular note taking app, so there is no database, no paid service, and no network calls involved. Everything can be opened and edited as an ordinary text file. The system splits memory into two layers based on how quickly things change. The first layer, durable memory, holds facts that stay true across all sessions, such as who the user is, their preferences, and background facts about the project. This layer loads at the start of every session. The second layer, working memory, tracks the current state of active work: a live status board, a queue of tasks that are active or blocked, and dated handoff notes written at the end of each session summarizing what was done and what is still open. Two small automated pieces tie this together. A hook that runs automatically when a session starts injects a short summary of the current state, so the agent already knows the context without being told to go read anything. A companion skill lets you write a detailed handoff note with one command at the end of a session, which then gets picked up automatically next time. A separate weekly script archives finished tasks out of the active queue so the injected summary stays short and useful as the vault grows over time. The toolkit also includes a script that checks the whole setup is wired together correctly, and another that checks the durable memory files for broken links or bad formatting. Installation takes about five minutes using a single setup script that seeds the two memory folders and installs the necessary pieces. The project is released under the MIT license.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Help me install Engram and set up the durable and working memory folders.
Prompt 2
Explain the difference between durable memory and working memory in this project.
Prompt 3
Show me how to write a handoff note using the /handoff skill.
Prompt 4
Walk me through what the SessionStart hook injects at the beginning of a session.

Frequently asked questions

What is obsidian-engram?

A two-layer memory system for Claude Code built on plain Obsidian markdown files, with no database or network calls needed.

What language is obsidian-engram written in?

Mainly Python. The stack also includes Python, Markdown, Obsidian.

What license does obsidian-engram use?

MIT license: free to use, modify, and distribute, including commercially, as long as the copyright notice is kept.

How hard is obsidian-engram to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is obsidian-engram for?

Mainly developer.

Open on GitHub → Explain another repo

This repo across BitVibe Labs

Verify against the repo before relying on details.