Add daily memory files for per-day notes and context injection

prompts/dream.md

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ You have access ONLY to filesystem tools (Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Glob, Grep).
 - Add new entries where appropriate
 - Keep entries concise and factual — no padding, no narrative
 - Preserve all existing structure and sections
+- Also write daily memory summaries to `{{dailyMemoryDir}}/YYYY-MM-DD.md` for each day of logs you processed. Include key learnings, conversation summaries, and follow-ups. Keep these concise — the bot reads them on demand for context.
 
 ### Stage 4 — Prune
 

prompts/heartbeat.md

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ You have access ONLY to filesystem tools (Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Glob, Grep).
 - Logs directory: `{{logsDir}}`
 - Last heartbeat: `{{lastRunIso}}`
 - Run number: #{{runCount}}
+- Today's daily memory: `{{dailyMemoryFile}}`
 
 ## Instructions
 
@@ -18,7 +19,8 @@ If the instructions file does not exist or is empty, perform these default tasks
 
 1. **Review recent logs** — Check `{{logsDir}}/` for log files dated after `{{lastRunIso}}`. If `{{lastRunIso}}` is `never`, treat it as the beginning of time and review all available logs. Extract any new facts, preferences, or notable events.
 2. **Update memory** — Merge any new information into `{{memoryFile}}`, keeping entries concise and factual.
-3. **Workspace hygiene** — Note any issues but do not delete files unless the instructions explicitly say to.
+3. **Update daily notes** — Write today's learnings, observations, corrections, and follow-ups to `{{dailyMemoryFile}}`. Keep entries concise — the bot reads this file on demand for context.
+4. **Workspace hygiene** — Note any issues but do not delete files unless the instructions explicitly say to.
 
 ## Rules
 

src/__tests__/daily-log.test.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ vi.mock("../util/log.js", () => ({
 }));
 import { join } from "node:path";
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { toYMD } from "../util/time.js";
 
 // Use a unique temp directory for each test run
 const TEST_ROOT = join(tmpdir(), `talon-daily-log-test-${Date.now()}`);
@@ -156,6 +157,89 @@ describe("daily-log", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe("cleanupOldLogs — daily memory files", () => {
+    const DAILY_MEM_DIR = join(
+      TEST_ROOT,
+      ".talon",
+      "workspace",
+      "memory",
+      "daily",
+    );
+
+    it("deletes daily memory files older than 30 days", async () => {
+      const { cleanupOldLogs } = await import("../storage/daily-log.js");
+      mkdirSync(LOGS_DIR, { recursive: true });
+      mkdirSync(DAILY_MEM_DIR, { recursive: true });
+
+      // Create an old daily memory file (40 days ago)
+      const oldDate = new Date();
+      oldDate.setDate(oldDate.getDate() - 40);
+      const oldName = toYMD(oldDate) + ".md";
+      writeFileSync(join(DAILY_MEM_DIR, oldName), "old daily memory");
+
+      // Create a recent daily memory file (5 days ago)
+      const recentDate = new Date();
+      recentDate.setDate(recentDate.getDate() - 5);
+      const recentName = toYMD(recentDate) + ".md";
+      writeFileSync(join(DAILY_MEM_DIR, recentName), "recent daily memory");
+
+      cleanupOldLogs();
+
+      const remaining = readdirSync(DAILY_MEM_DIR);
+      expect(remaining).not.toContain(oldName);
+      expect(remaining).toContain(recentName);
+    });
+
+    it("handles missing daily memory directory gracefully", async () => {
+      const { cleanupOldLogs } = await import("../storage/daily-log.js");
+      // Create logs dir but NOT the daily memory dir
+      mkdirSync(LOGS_DIR, { recursive: true });
+      expect(() => cleanupOldLogs()).not.toThrow();
+    });
+
+    it("ignores non-YYYY-MM-DD.md files in daily memory dir", async () => {
+      const { cleanupOldLogs } = await import("../storage/daily-log.js");
+      mkdirSync(LOGS_DIR, { recursive: true });
+      mkdirSync(DAILY_MEM_DIR, { recursive: true });
+
+      // A file that would sort before the cutoff but doesn't match the pattern
+      writeFileSync(join(DAILY_MEM_DIR, "2020-summary.md"), "should survive");
+      writeFileSync(join(DAILY_MEM_DIR, "notes.md"), "also should survive");
+
+      cleanupOldLogs();
+
+      const remaining = readdirSync(DAILY_MEM_DIR);
+      expect(remaining).toContain("2020-summary.md");
+      expect(remaining).toContain("notes.md");
+    });
+
+    it("ignores non-YYYY-MM-DD.md files in logs dir", async () => {
+      const { cleanupOldLogs } = await import("../storage/daily-log.js");
+      mkdirSync(LOGS_DIR, { recursive: true });
+
+      writeFileSync(join(LOGS_DIR, "2020-summary.md"), "should survive");
+
+      cleanupOldLogs();
+
+      expect(readdirSync(LOGS_DIR)).toContain("2020-summary.md");
+    });
+
+    it("does not delete recent daily memory files", async () => {
+      const { cleanupOldLogs } = await import("../storage/daily-log.js");
+      mkdirSync(LOGS_DIR, { recursive: true });
+      mkdirSync(DAILY_MEM_DIR, { recursive: true });
+
+      const recentDate = new Date();
+      recentDate.setDate(recentDate.getDate() - 3);
+      const recentName = toYMD(recentDate) + ".md";
+      writeFileSync(join(DAILY_MEM_DIR, recentName), "keep me");
+
+      cleanupOldLogs();
+
+      expect(readdirSync(DAILY_MEM_DIR)).toContain(recentName);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe("appendDailyLogResponse", () => {
     it("writes bot response with chat title context", async () => {
       const { appendDailyLogResponse, getLogsDir } =

src/__tests__/dream.test.ts

@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ vi.mock("../util/paths.js", () => ({
     workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
     data: "/fake/.talon/data",
     memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+    dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
   },
 }));
 
@@ -180,6 +181,7 @@ describe("forceDream", () => {
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
 
@@ -215,6 +217,7 @@ describe("readDreamState — edge cases", () => {
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
   });
@@ -465,6 +468,7 @@ describe("dream error paths", () => {
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
 
@@ -510,6 +514,7 @@ describe("dream error paths", () => {
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
 
@@ -555,6 +560,7 @@ describe("dream error paths", () => {
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
 
@@ -606,6 +612,7 @@ describe("dream error paths", () => {
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
     vi.doMock("@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk", () => ({
@@ -649,6 +656,7 @@ describe("dream error paths", () => {
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
     const queryMock = vi.fn(async function* () {});
@@ -702,6 +710,7 @@ describe("dream error paths", () => {
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
     vi.doMock("@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk", () => ({
@@ -753,6 +762,7 @@ describe("dream error paths", () => {
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
 
@@ -796,6 +806,7 @@ describe("dream error paths", () => {
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
     vi.doMock("@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk", () => ({
@@ -844,6 +855,7 @@ describe("dream error paths", () => {
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
     vi.doMock("@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk", () => ({
@@ -892,6 +904,7 @@ describe("dream error paths", () => {
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
     const queryMock = vi.fn(async function* () {});
@@ -938,6 +951,7 @@ describe("runDreamAgent — timeout arrow fn fires after DREAM_TIMEOUT_MS", () =
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
     // query never resolves — so the 10-minute timeout wins the race
@@ -995,6 +1009,7 @@ describe("maybeStartDream — () => {} catch callback on executeDream rejection"
         workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
         data: "/fake/.talon/data",
         memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+        dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
       },
     }));
 

src/__tests__/heartbeat.test.ts

@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
     workspace: "/fake/.talon/workspace",
     data: "/fake/.talon/data",
     memory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory",
+    dailyMemory: "/fake/.talon/workspace/memory/daily",
     prompts: "/fake/.talon/prompts",
   },
 }));
@@ -195,9 +196,9 @@
     );
 
     // Make agent throw
     queryMock.mockImplementationOnce(async function* () {
       throw new Error("Agent exploded");
     });
 
     await expect(forceHeartbeat()).rejects.toThrow("Agent exploded");
 
@@ -215,9 +216,9 @@
   it("sets last_started even on failure", async () => {
     existsSyncMock.mockReturnValue(false);
 
     queryMock.mockImplementationOnce(async function* () {
       throw new Error("Boom");
     });
 
     await expect(forceHeartbeat()).rejects.toThrow("Boom");
 
@@ -338,9 +339,9 @@
       resolveAgent = r;
     });
 
     queryMock.mockImplementationOnce(async function* () {
       await agentPromise;
     });
 
     const runPromise = forceHeartbeat().catch(() => {});
 

src/core/dream.ts

@@ -141,7 +141,8 @@ async function runDreamAgent(lastRunTimestamp: number): Promise<string> {
       .replace(/\{\{dreamStateFile\}\}/g, dreamStateFile)
       .replace(/\{\{logsDir\}\}/g, logsDir)
       .replace(/\{\{lastRunIso\}\}/g, lastRunIso)
-      .replace(/\{\{memoryFile\}\}/g, memoryFile);
+      .replace(/\{\{memoryFile\}\}/g, memoryFile)
+      .replace(/\{\{dailyMemoryDir\}\}/g, dirs.dailyMemory);
   } catch {
     throw new Error(`Failed to read dream prompt from ${promptPath}`);
   }

src/core/heartbeat.ts

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { query } from "@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk";
 import type { SDKMessage } from "@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk";
 import { files as pathFiles, dirs } from "../util/paths.js";
 import { log, logError, logWarn } from "../util/log.js";
+import { toYMD } from "../util/time.js";
 
 // ── Types ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -240,6 +241,7 @@ async function runHeartbeatAgent(
   const memoryFile = pathFiles.memory;
   const workspace = configRef.workspace ?? dirs.workspace;
   const instructionsFile = resolve(workspace, "heartbeat-instructions.md");
+  const dailyMemoryFile = resolve(dirs.dailyMemory, `${toYMD(new Date())}.md`);
 
   // Load prompt template from the prompts directory (seeded to ~/.talon/prompts/)
   const promptPath = resolve(dirs.prompts, "heartbeat.md");
@@ -252,6 +254,7 @@ async function runHeartbeatAgent(
       .replace(/\{\{lastRunIso\}\}/g, lastRunIso)
       .replace(/\{\{memoryFile\}\}/g, memoryFile)
       .replace(/\{\{instructionsFile\}\}/g, instructionsFile)
+      .replace(/\{\{dailyMemoryFile\}\}/g, dailyMemoryFile)
       .replace(/\{\{runCount\}\}/g, String(runCount))
       .replace(/\{\{intervalMinutes\}\}/g, String(intervalMinutesRef));
   } catch {

src/storage/daily-log.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
 import { resolve } from "node:path";
 import { log as logInfo, logError } from "../util/log.js";
 import { dirs } from "../util/paths.js";
+import { toYMD } from "../util/time.js";
 
 const LOGS_DIR = dirs.logs;
 const MAX_LOG_DAYS = 30; // Keep last 30 days of logs
@@ -91,28 +92,57 @@ export function getLogsDir(): string {
   return LOGS_DIR;
 }
 
+/** Matches YYYY-MM-DD.md filenames strictly. */
+const DAILY_FILE_RE = /^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}\.md$/;
+
 /** Remove daily logs older than MAX_LOG_DAYS. Called on startup. */
 export function cleanupOldLogs(): void {
   try {
-    if (!existsSync(LOGS_DIR)) return;
-    const cutoff = new Date();
-    cutoff.setDate(cutoff.getDate() - MAX_LOG_DAYS);
-    const cutoffStr = cutoff.toISOString().slice(0, 10);
+    if (existsSync(LOGS_DIR)) {
+      const cutoff = new Date();
+      cutoff.setDate(cutoff.getDate() - MAX_LOG_DAYS);
+      const cutoffStr = cutoff.toISOString().slice(0, 10);
+
+      let deleted = 0;
+      for (const file of readdirSync(LOGS_DIR)) {
+        if (DAILY_FILE_RE.test(file) && file < cutoffStr) {
+          try {
+            unlinkSync(resolve(LOGS_DIR, file));
+            deleted++;
+          } catch {
+            /* skip */
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      if (deleted > 0) {
+        logInfo("workspace", `Cleaned up ${deleted} old daily log(s)`);
+      }
+    }
+  } catch {
+    /* skip */
+  }
+
+  // Clean up old daily memory files (independent of logs dir)
+  try {
+    const dailyMemDir = dirs.dailyMemory;
+    if (!existsSync(dailyMemDir)) return;
+    const cutoffDate = new Date();
+    cutoffDate.setDate(cutoffDate.getDate() - MAX_LOG_DAYS);
+    const cutoffMem = toYMD(cutoffDate);
 
-    let deleted = 0;
-    for (const file of readdirSync(LOGS_DIR)) {
-      // Log files are named YYYY-MM-DD.md
-      if (file.endsWith(".md") && file < cutoffStr) {
+    let deletedMem = 0;
+    for (const file of readdirSync(dailyMemDir)) {
+      if (DAILY_FILE_RE.test(file) && file < cutoffMem) {
         try {
-          unlinkSync(resolve(LOGS_DIR, file));
-          deleted++;
+          unlinkSync(resolve(dailyMemDir, file));
+          deletedMem++;
         } catch {
           /* skip */
         }
       }
     }
-    if (deleted > 0) {
-      logInfo("workspace", `Cleaned up ${deleted} old daily log(s)`);
+    if (deletedMem > 0) {
+      logInfo("workspace", `Cleaned up ${deletedMem} old daily memory file(s)`);
     }
   } catch {
     /* skip */

src/util/config.ts

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import { resolve } from "node:path";
 import writeFileAtomic from "write-file-atomic";
 import { z } from "zod";
 import { dirs, files as pathFiles } from "./paths.js";
-import { setTimezone, formatFullDatetime } from "./time.js";
+import { setTimezone, formatFullDatetime, todayAndYesterday } from "./time.js";
 import { log } from "./log.js";
 
 // ── Config schema ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -166,6 +166,12 @@ function loadSystemPrompt(
     loaded.push("memory");
   }
 
+  // Point the bot at daily memory files (read on demand, not injected)
+  const { today } = todayAndYesterday();
+  parts.push(
+    `## Daily Memory\n\nYour daily notes are stored in \`${dirs.dailyMemory}/\`. Today's file is \`${today}.md\`. Use the Read tool to check recent daily notes when you need context from previous days.`,
+  );
+
   const loadedKey = loaded.join(" + ");
   if (loadedKey && loadedKey !== lastLoggedPromptKey) {
     log("config", `System prompt: ${loadedKey}`);
@@ -217,6 +223,7 @@ function loadSystemPrompt(
 
 You have a workspace directory at \`~/.talon/workspace/\`. This is your home — organize it however you want.
 - \`~/.talon/workspace/memory/memory.md\` is your persistent memory file. Update it when you learn important things.
+- \`~/.talon/workspace/memory/daily/YYYY-MM-DD.md\` is your daily notes file. Write observations, learnings, corrections, and follow-ups here throughout the day. Keep entries concise.
 - Daily interaction logs are saved to \`~/.talon/workspace/logs/\` automatically.
 - Files users send you (photos, docs, voice) are saved to \`~/.talon/workspace/uploads/\`.
 - Persistent cron jobs are managed via the cron tools.