name: engram-recall
description: |
Recall past work from Claude Code history before starting new tasks.
Use when: (1) starting work on a codebase, (2) asked about previous decisions,
(3) need context about why code exists.
category: memory
disable-model-invocation: false
user-invocable: true
allowed-tools: Read, Bash, Glob

Engram Recall

Before diving into implementation, recall relevant context from past sessions.

When to Use

• Starting work on an existing codebase
• Asked "why was this done this way?"
• Need to understand previous decisions
• Continuing work from a previous session

Workflow

Step 1: Check for engram database

ls .engram/memory.db 2>/dev/null || echo "No engram database found"

If no database exists, ingest Claude Code history:

npx engram ingest-claude --days 14

Step 2: Search for relevant context

Before implementing, search for related decisions:

npx engram search "your task keywords" --json

Step 3: Review file-specific context

If working on a specific file:

npx engram context get --file path/to/file.ts --json

Step 4: Document new decisions

After making significant decisions, add context:

npx engram context add --file path/to/file.ts --note "Chose X over Y because..."

Integration with Other Skills

This skill chains well with:

Output Format

When recalling context, format findings as:

## Relevant Context Found

**From session [date]:**
- [Summary of decision or discussion]
- Related files: [list]

**Recommendation:** [How this affects current task]

Important

• Don't blindly follow past decisions if they were wrong
• Context is for understanding, not for copy-paste
• Update context when decisions change