/distill - Memory Distillation
Transforms episodic session logs into refined semantic memory patterns.
Usage
code
/distill # Distill episodes at current scope /distill show # Show current memory without distilling /distill episodes # Show pending episodes awaiting distillation
How It Works
Episode Collection
During agent work, learnings are logged to .context/EPISODES.md:
markdown
## Session: 2026-01-10T14:30:00Z - **Task**: Fix authentication bug - **Outcome**: success - **Learnings**: - JWT tokens need refresh handling in middleware - Error messages should include request ID
Distillation Process
When /distill runs:
- •Extract patterns from each episode's learnings
- •Classify as pattern, pitfall, preference, or approach
- •Match against existing patterns in memory
- •Reinforce matching patterns (increases confidence)
- •Add new patterns with low initial confidence
- •Decay old patterns not recently reinforced
- •Prune patterns below confidence threshold
Memory Output
Results are saved to .context/MEMORY.md:
markdown
# Memory: [Scope] ## Patterns Observed - JWT tokens need refresh handling Confidence: high | Last reinforced: 2026-01-10 ## Pitfalls Discovered - Avoid storing tokens in localStorage Confidence: medium | Last reinforced: 2026-01-08
Implementation
When invoked, run:
bash
python3 ~/.claude/plugins/agent-swarm/context/memory.py distill .
For showing memory:
bash
python3 ~/.claude/plugins/agent-swarm/context/memory.py show .
For pending episodes:
bash
python3 ~/.claude/plugins/agent-swarm/context/memory.py episodes .
Logging Learnings
Agents can log learnings by including in their output:
code
LEARNING: [description of pattern, pitfall, or approach]
These are captured by post-task hooks and added to EPISODES.md.
Confidence Mechanics
| Confidence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0.0 - 0.2 | Uncertain, may be pruned |
| 0.2 - 0.4 | Low, needs reinforcement |
| 0.4 - 0.7 | Medium, established pattern |
| 0.7 - 0.95 | High, well-validated |
- •Reinforcement: Each observation increases confidence
- •Decay: Patterns not seen in 30+ days lose confidence
- •Pruning: Patterns below 0.2 are removed
Automatic Distillation
Distillation triggers automatically when:
- •Episode count exceeds threshold (default: 10)
- •Session ends (if configured)
- •Manually via
/distillcommand