retrieveMemories
Semantically search stored coding memories to pre-load relevant context at session start or mid-session, returning top matches ranked by relevance, recency, and importance.
Instructions
Semantically search stored memories and return the top matches ranked by a weighted combination of relevance, recency, and importance. Read-only; no side effects.
WHEN TO CALL: (1) At the start of every session — pass the current task or file as the query to pre-load relevant context. (2) Mid-session whenever a new topic, file, or decision area arises that may have prior context. Do NOT call on every user turn.
WHEN NOT TO CALL: If you already retrieved memories for this topic this session. Use getMemory if you have a specific memoryId. Use listMemories only to audit the full store, not for context loading.
Returns up to limit results (default 20). mode='auto' is the standard startup path; mode='on-demand' signals an explicit mid-session lookup. depth='deep' runs a broader semantic sweep at higher latency — use when the topic is unfamiliar. Phrase query as what you need to recall, not what you are about to do.
NOTE: this tool updates access-pattern counters on the memories it returns (used to boost frequently-recalled memories in future ranking), so it is NOT side-effect-free despite being a lookup.
Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| mode | No | 'auto' for the standard startup context-load path. 'on-demand' for an explicit mid-session retrieval triggered by a specific task or question. | auto |
| tags | No | Optional tag filter. When provided, only return memories that have ALL listed tags. | |
| depth | No | 'default' for standard semantic search. 'deep' for a broader sweep that surfaces less-similar memories — use when the topic is new or unfamiliar. | default |
| limit | No | Maximum number of memories to return. Integer 1-100, default 20. Increase for broad topic sweeps; keep at default for focused lookups. | |
| query | Yes | Natural-language description of what you need to recall. Phrase as a topic or question (e.g. 'database connection settings', 'auth flow decisions') — not an action ('store info about...'). | |
| includeHistory | No | Include superseded facts for historical questions. Omit for current facts only. |