---
name: hierarchical-agent-memory-cc4bd9cb1f28
description: "Scoped CLAUDE.md memory system that reduces context token spend. Creates directory-level context files, tracks savings via dashboard, and routes agents to the right sub-context."
risk: safe
source: "https://github.com/kromahlusenii-ops/ham"
date_added: "2026-02-27"
---

# Hierarchical Agent Memory (HAM)

Scoped memory system that gives AI coding agents a cheat sheet for each directory instead of re-reading your entire project every prompt. Root CLAUDE.md holds global context (~200 tokens), subdirectory CLAUDE.md files hold scoped context (~250 tokens each), and a `.memory/` layer stores decisions, patterns, and an inbox for unconfirmed inferences.

## When to Use This Skill

- Use when you want to reduce input token costs across Claude Code sessions
- Use when your project has 3+ directories and the agent keeps re-reading the same files
- Use when you want directory-scoped context instead of one monolithic CLAUDE.md
- Use when you want a dashboard to visualize token savings, session history, and context health
- Use when setting up a new project and want structured agent memory from day one

## How It Works

### Step 1: Setup ("go ham")

Auto-detects your project platform and maturity, then generates the memory structure:

```
project/
├── CLAUDE.md              # Root context (~200 tokens)
├── .memory/
│   ├── decisions.md       # Architecture Decision Records
│   ├── patterns.md        # Reusable patterns
│   ├── inbox.md           # Inferred items awaiting confirmation
│   └── audit-log.md       # Audit history
└── src/
    ├── api/CLAUDE.md      # Scoped context for api/
    ├── components/CLAUDE.md
    └── lib/CLAUDE.md
```

### Step 2: Context Routing

The root CLAUDE.md includes a routing section that tells the agent exactly which sub-context to load:

```markdown
## Context Routing

→ api: src/api/CLAUDE.md
→ components: src/components/CLAUDE.md
→ lib: src/lib/CLAUDE.md
```

The agent reads root, then immediately loads the relevant subdirectory context — no guessing.

### Step 3: Dashboard ("ham dashboard")

Launches a web dashboard at localhost:7777 that visualizes:
- Token savings (HAM-on vs HAM-off sessions)
- Daily token and cost trends
- Per-directory session breakdown
- Context file health (missing/stale/inherited CLAUDE.md coverage)
- Routing compliance (how often the agent follows the routing map)
- Carbon/energy estimates

## Commands

| Trigger | What it does |
|---|---|
| `go ham` | Set up HAM — auto-detect platform, generate CLAUDE.md files |
| `ham savings` | Show token and cost savings report |
| `ham dashboard` | Launch the interactive web dashboard |
| `ham audit` | Health check on memory files |
| `ham insights` | Generate actionable insights from session data |
| `ham route` | Add/update Context Routing section in root CLAUDE.md |
| `ham carbon` | Show energy and carbon efficiency data |

## Examples

### Example 1: First-time setup

```
User: go ham

Agent: HAM setup complete. Created 8 files.
  - CLAUDE.md (root)
  - .memory/decisions.md
  - .memory/patterns.md
  - .memory/inbox.md
  - src/api/CLAUDE.md
  - src/components/CLAUDE.md
  - src/lib/CLAUDE.md
  - src/utils/CLAUDE.md

Baseline captured in .memory/baseline.json
Run "HAM savings" to see your token and cost savings.
```

### Example 2: Checking savings

```
User: ham savings

Agent:
  Before HAM: ~7,500 tokens/prompt
  After HAM:    ~450 tokens/prompt
  Savings:    7,050 tokens (94%)

  Monthly projection (1,500 prompts):
    Sonnet: ~$31.73 saved
    Opus:   ~$158.63 saved
```

## Best Practices

- Keep root CLAUDE.md under 60 lines / 250 tokens
- Keep subdirectory CLAUDE.md files under 75 lines each
- Run `ham audit` every 2 weeks to catch stale or missing context files
- Use `ham route` after adding new directories to keep routing current
- Review `.memory/inbox.md` periodically — confirm or reject inferred items

## Limitations

- Token estimates use ~4 chars = 1 token approximation, not a real tokenizer
- Baseline savings comparisons are estimates based on typical agent behavior
- Dashboard requires Node.js 18+ and reads session data from `~/.claude/projects/`
- Context routing detection relies on CLAUDE.md read order in session JSONL files
- Does not auto-update subdirectory CLAUDE.md content — you maintain those manually or via `ham audit`
- Carbon estimates use regional grid averages, not real-time energy data

## Related Skills

- `agent-memory-systems` — general agent memory architecture patterns
- `agent-memory-mcp` — MCP-based memory integration


---
Source attribution: Endsi3g
Original project: https://github.com/Endsi3g/M.Alfred-The-personal-assistant-of-Uprising-Studio-/blob/9d41adf0685abd7f610d931920fe1e9e96e590a1/modules/awesome_skills/skills/hierarchical-agent-memory/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Dave AI.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 Antigravity User

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
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furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Dave AI resource metadata

Creator / publisher: Endsi3g
Original project: https://github.com/Endsi3g/M.Alfred-The-personal-assistant-of-Uprising-Studio-/blob/9d41adf0685abd7f610d931920fe1e9e96e590a1/modules/awesome_skills/skills/hierarchical-agent-memory/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Development & Engineering
Roles: Backend Developer, Data Engineer, ML / AI Engineer
Specialties: Backend
Tools: Claude
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: 12a53a238106917a8049d83a8ad0988bd6c6f39ac78e8723a32de799985842b2