@botcord/daemon 0.2.73 → 0.2.75

package/dist/agent-workspace.d.ts

@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ export declare function ensureAttachedHermesProfileSkills(profileHome: string):
 /**
  * Idempotently create the agent's home / workspace / state directories and
  * seed the workspace Markdown files. Existing files are never overwritten —
- * users' edits to AGENTS.md, memory.md, etc. are preserved across calls.
+ * users' edits to AGENTS.md, task.md, etc. are preserved across calls.
  * State files are not touched here; working-memory.ts owns `state/`.
  */
 export declare function ensureAgentWorkspace(agentId: string, seed: WorkspaceSeed): void;

package/dist/agent-workspace.js

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  * directory tree under `~/.botcord/agents/{agentId}/`:
  *
  *   workspace/   — runtime cwd; seed Markdown files live here (LLM-owned)
- *   state/       — daemon-owned JSON (e.g. working-memory.json)
+ *   state/       — daemon-owned JSON
  *   codex-home/  — per-agent CODEX_HOME used by the codex adapter so codex
  *                  reads a daemon-written AGENTS.md (systemContext carrier)
  *                  and stores its sessions/ without touching ~/.codex.
@@ -78,8 +78,6 @@ This directory is your persistent workspace. You run with \`cwd\` set here.
 ## Files you own
 
 - \`identity.md\` — who you are, your role, your boundaries. Read before responding.
-- \`memory.md\` — long-lived facts, user preferences, past decisions. Update when
-  you learn something durable. Prune when it grows stale.
 - \`task.md\` — current task and plan. Update as you make progress. Clear when done.
 - \`notes/\` — free-form scratch space.
 
@@ -88,6 +86,10 @@ This directory is your persistent workspace. You run with \`cwd\` set here.
 - Do not modify files outside this workspace unless the user explicitly asks.
 - \`../state/\` (sibling directory, outside this workspace) is managed by the
   daemon — do not read or edit it directly.
+- Working memory is stored outside this workspace at
+  \`~/.botcord/memory/{agentId}/working-memory.json\`. Read and update it with
+  \`botcord memory\` or the \`botcord_memory\` skill instead of creating local
+  memory notes.
 
 ## How to use this
 
@@ -95,20 +97,10 @@ This directory is your persistent workspace. You run with \`cwd\` set here.
   system context as the \`[BotCord Identity]\` block. Edits to this file (yours,
   the dashboard's via \`applyAgentIdentity\`, or a hello-snapshot reapply) take
   effect on the next turn — no restart needed.
-- \`memory.md\` and \`task.md\` are **convention, not mechanism**. The daemon does
-  not auto-load them; you are instructed to skim them before responding and to
-  write back what changed after meaningful turns. Keep them tight enough to be
-  worth re-reading.
-`;
-const MEMORY_MD = `# Memory
-
-<!--
-Long-lived facts about the user, past decisions, and preferences that should
-survive across conversations. Organize by topic. Keep entries short. Prune
-regularly — AGENTS.md instructs you to consult this file before each
-response, but nothing loads it automatically (unlike identity.md); keep it
-short enough to be worth re-reading.
--->
+- Working memory is **mechanism**: the daemon loads \`working-memory.json\` fresh
+  and injects it into every turn as the \`[BotCord Working Memory]\` block.
+- \`task.md\` is **convention, not mechanism**. The daemon does not auto-load it;
+  keep it only for short-lived task notes that are not durable memory.
 `;
 const TASK_MD = `# Current Task
 
@@ -450,7 +442,7 @@ export function ensureAttachedHermesProfileSkills(profileHome) {
 /**
  * Idempotently create the agent's home / workspace / state directories and
  * seed the workspace Markdown files. Existing files are never overwritten —
- * users' edits to AGENTS.md, memory.md, etc. are preserved across calls.
+ * users' edits to AGENTS.md, task.md, etc. are preserved across calls.
  * State files are not touched here; working-memory.ts owns `state/`.
  */
 export function ensureAgentWorkspace(agentId, seed) {
@@ -471,7 +463,6 @@ export function ensureAgentWorkspace(agentId, seed) {
     writeIfMissing(agentsMdPath, AGENTS_MD);
     writeIfMissing(claudeMdPath, AGENTS_MD);
     writeIfMissing(path.join(workspace, "identity.md"), renderIdentity(agentId, seed));
-    writeIfMissing(path.join(workspace, "memory.md"), MEMORY_MD);
     writeIfMissing(path.join(workspace, "task.md"), TASK_MD);
     writeIfMissing(path.join(notes, ".gitkeep"), "");
     seedClaudeCodeSkills(workspace);

package/dist/provision.js

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { createGatewayControl } from "./gateway-control.js";
 import { hermesProfileHomeDir, isValidHermesProfileName, listHermesProfiles, } from "./gateway/runtimes/hermes-agent.js";
 import { log as daemonLog } from "./log.js";
 import { discoverAgentCredentials } from "./agent-discovery.js";
+import { resolveMemoryDir } from "./working-memory.js";
 /**
  * Build a dispatcher function that routes a `ControlFrame` to the right
  * handler. Returned function signature matches
@@ -432,6 +433,7 @@ function runtimeFileCandidates(credentials) {
     const runtime = credentials.runtime;
     const out = [];
     addWorkspaceFiles(out, agentId, runtime);
+    addWorkingMemoryFile(out, agentId, runtime);
     if (runtime === "hermes-agent") {
         addHermesFiles(out, credentials);
     }
@@ -442,7 +444,7 @@ function runtimeFileCandidates(credentials) {
 }
 function addWorkspaceFiles(out, agentId, runtime) {
     const root = agentWorkspaceDir(agentId);
-    for (const file of ["AGENTS.md", "CLAUDE.md", "identity.md", "memory.md", "task.md"]) {
+    for (const file of ["AGENTS.md", "CLAUDE.md", "identity.md", "task.md"]) {
         out.push({
             id: `workspace:${file}`,
             name: `workspace/${file}`,
@@ -453,6 +455,17 @@ function addWorkspaceFiles(out, agentId, runtime) {
         });
     }
 }
+function addWorkingMemoryFile(out, agentId, runtime) {
+    out.push({
+        id: "memory:working-memory.json",
+        name: "memory/working-memory.json",
+        scope: "memory",
+        root: resolveMemoryDir(agentId),
+        relativePath: "working-memory.json",
+        ...(runtime ? { runtime } : {}),
+        missingContent: JSON.stringify({ version: 2, sections: {}, updatedAt: null }, null, 2),
+    });
+}
 function addHermesFiles(out, credentials) {
     if (credentials.hermesProfile) {
         const profile = credentials.hermesProfile;
@@ -541,8 +554,16 @@ function readRuntimeFileCandidate(candidate) {
         return base;
     }
     catch (err) {
-        if (err.code === "ENOENT")
+        if (err.code === "ENOENT") {
+            if (candidate.missingContent !== undefined) {
+                return {
+                    ...base,
+                    size: Buffer.byteLength(candidate.missingContent, "utf8"),
+                    content: candidate.missingContent,
+                };
+            }
             return null;
+        }
         return {
             ...base,
             error: err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err),

package/dist/system-context.js

@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export function createDaemonSystemContextBuilder(deps) {
             : null;
         const environment = ownerScene ? null : buildGroupRoomEnvironmentContext(message);
         const wm = safeReadWorkingMemory(deps.agentId);
-        const memory = wm ? buildWorkingMemoryPrompt({ workingMemory: wm }) : null;
+        const memory = buildWorkingMemoryPrompt({ workingMemory: wm });
         const digest = deps.activityTracker
             ? buildCrossRoomDigest({
                 tracker: deps.activityTracker,

package/dist/working-memory.js

@@ -267,6 +267,7 @@ export function buildWorkingMemoryPrompt(opts) {
         "[BotCord Working Memory]",
         "You have a persistent working memory that survives across turns and rooms.",
         "Use it to track your goal, important facts, pending commitments, and context worth remembering.",
+        "This is the only BotCord memory source. It is stored in `~/.botcord/memory/{agentId}/working-memory.json`; do not create or update workspace memory files.",
         "",
         "Update via the daemon's `memory` CLI (or whatever tool the operator wires):",
         "- goal: a short pinned statement of what you're working on.",

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@botcord/daemon",
-  "version": "0.2.73",
+  "version": "0.2.75",
   "description": "BotCord local daemon — bridges Hub inbox push to local Claude Code / Codex / Gemini CLIs",
   "type": "module",
   "bin": {

package/src/__tests__/agent-workspace.test.ts

@@ -60,9 +60,10 @@ describe("ensureAgentWorkspace", () => {
     expect(existsSync(state)).toBe(true);
     expect(existsSync(path.join(workspace, "notes"))).toBe(true);
 
-    for (const name of ["AGENTS.md", "CLAUDE.md", "identity.md", "memory.md", "task.md"]) {
+    for (const name of ["AGENTS.md", "CLAUDE.md", "identity.md", "task.md"]) {
       expect(existsSync(path.join(workspace, name))).toBe(true);
     }
+    expect(existsSync(path.join(workspace, "memory.md"))).toBe(false);
 
     const agentsMd = readFileSync(path.join(workspace, "AGENTS.md"), "utf8");
     const claudeMd = readFileSync(path.join(workspace, "CLAUDE.md"), "utf8");
@@ -174,16 +175,6 @@ describe("ensureAgentWorkspace", () => {
     expect(existsSync(hermesHome)).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  it("does not overwrite a user-modified memory.md on a second call", () => {
-    ensureAgentWorkspace("ag_keep", {});
-    const memoryPath = path.join(agentWorkspaceDir("ag_keep"), "memory.md");
-    writeFileSync(memoryPath, "my custom notes\n");
-
-    ensureAgentWorkspace("ag_keep", {});
-
-    expect(readFileSync(memoryPath, "utf8")).toBe("my custom notes\n");
-  });
-
   it("seeds Hermes config and provider env without copying unrelated secrets", () => {
     const globalHermes = path.join(tmpHome, ".hermes");
     mkdirSync(globalHermes, { recursive: true });

package/src/__tests__/daemon.test.ts

@@ -255,12 +255,11 @@ describe("backfillBootAgents", () => {
 
   it("is idempotent: a second call leaves user-edited files alone", () => {
     backfillBootAgents([bootAgent("ag_one")], { logger: silentLogger() });
-    const memoryPath = path.join(agentWorkspaceDir("ag_one"), "memory.md");
-    const edited = "# My notes\n\nremembered thing\n";
-    // Simulate the LLM/user editing memory.md.
-    writeFileSync(memoryPath, edited);
+    const taskPath = path.join(agentWorkspaceDir("ag_one"), "task.md");
+    const edited = "# Current Task\n\nin progress\n";
+    writeFileSync(taskPath, edited);
     backfillBootAgents([bootAgent("ag_one")], { logger: silentLogger() });
-    expect(readFileSync(memoryPath, "utf8")).toBe(edited);
+    expect(readFileSync(taskPath, "utf8")).toBe(edited);
   });
 
   it("warns and continues when ensureAgentWorkspace throws for one agent", () => {

package/src/__tests__/provision.test.ts

@@ -175,8 +175,10 @@ describe("list_agent_files handler", () => {
       );
 
       const workspace = nodePath.join(tmp, ".botcord", "agents", "ag_hermes", "workspace");
+      const memoryDir = nodePath.join(tmp, ".botcord", "memory", "ag_hermes");
       fs.mkdirSync(workspace, { recursive: true });
-      fs.writeFileSync(nodePath.join(workspace, "memory.md"), "# Memory\nowned\n");
+      fs.mkdirSync(memoryDir, { recursive: true });
+      fs.writeFileSync(nodePath.join(memoryDir, "working-memory.json"), '{"sections":{}}\n');
       fs.writeFileSync(nodePath.join(workspace, "task.md"), "# Task\n");
 
       const hermesMem = nodePath.join(tmp, ".hermes", "memories");
@@ -196,7 +198,7 @@ describe("list_agent_files handler", () => {
       expect(result.agentId).toBe("ag_hermes");
       expect(result.runtime).toBe("hermes-agent");
       const byName = Object.fromEntries(result.files.map((f: any) => [f.name, f]));
-      expect(byName["workspace/memory.md"].content).toBe("# Memory\nowned\n");
+      expect(byName["memory/working-memory.json"].content).toBe('{"sections":{}}\n');
       expect(byName["workspace/task.md"].content).toBe("# Task\n");
       expect(byName["hermes/default/SOUL.md"].content).toBe("# Soul\n");
       expect(byName["hermes/default/memories/MEMORY.md"].content).toBe("# Hermes Memory\n");
@@ -231,7 +233,6 @@ describe("list_agent_files handler", () => {
       );
       const workspace = nodePath.join(tmp, ".botcord", "agents", "ag_one", "workspace");
       fs.mkdirSync(workspace, { recursive: true });
-      fs.writeFileSync(nodePath.join(workspace, "memory.md"), "# Memory\n");
       fs.writeFileSync(nodePath.join(workspace, "task.md"), "# Task\n");
 
       const handler = createProvisioner({ gateway: makeFakeGateway() as any });
@@ -251,6 +252,50 @@ describe("list_agent_files handler", () => {
       else process.env.HOME = prevHome;
     }
   });
+
+  it("returns a stable empty working-memory file when none exists yet", async () => {
+    const os = await import("node:os");
+    const fs = await import("node:fs");
+    const nodePath = await import("node:path");
+
+    const tmp = fs.mkdtempSync(nodePath.join(os.tmpdir(), "daemon-runtime-files-"));
+    const prevHome = process.env.HOME;
+    process.env.HOME = tmp;
+    try {
+      const credDir = nodePath.join(tmp, ".botcord", "credentials");
+      fs.mkdirSync(credDir, { recursive: true });
+      fs.writeFileSync(
+        nodePath.join(credDir, "ag_empty_mem.json"),
+        JSON.stringify({
+          version: 1,
+          hubUrl: "https://hub.example",
+          agentId: "ag_empty_mem",
+          keyId: "k_empty_mem",
+          privateKey: Buffer.alloc(32, 9).toString("base64"),
+          runtime: "claude-code",
+        }),
+      );
+
+      const handler = createProvisioner({ gateway: makeFakeGateway() as any });
+      const res = await handler({
+        id: "req_empty_memory_file",
+        type: "list_agent_files",
+        params: { agentId: "ag_empty_mem", fileId: "memory:working-memory.json" },
+      });
+
+      expect(res.ok).toBe(true);
+      const result = res.result as any;
+      expect(result.files).toHaveLength(1);
+      expect(result.files[0].id).toBe("memory:working-memory.json");
+      expect(result.files[0].name).toBe("memory/working-memory.json");
+      expect(result.files[0].scope).toBe("memory");
+      expect(result.files[0].content).toContain('"version": 2');
+      expect(result.files[0].content).toContain('"sections": {}');
+    } finally {
+      if (prevHome === undefined) delete process.env.HOME;
+      else process.env.HOME = prevHome;
+    }
+  });
 });
 
 describe("wake_agent handler", () => {
@@ -704,7 +749,7 @@ async function withSandboxHome<T>(run: (sbx: SandboxFixture) => Promise<T>): Pro
   }
 }
 
-const SEED_FILES = ["AGENTS.md", "CLAUDE.md", "identity.md", "memory.md", "task.md"];
+const SEED_FILES = ["AGENTS.md", "CLAUDE.md", "identity.md", "task.md"];
 
 describe("provision_agent seeds workspace + hot-adds managed route", () => {
   it("defaults cwd to agentWorkspaceDir on the fast path (Hub-supplied credentials)", async () => {
@@ -1375,7 +1420,7 @@ function seedAgentOnDisk(
       savedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
     }),
   );
-  fs.writeFileSync(nodePath.join(workspaceDir, "memory.md"), "# Memory\nprecious\n");
+  fs.writeFileSync(nodePath.join(workspaceDir, "task.md"), "# Task\nprecious\n");
   fs.writeFileSync(nodePath.join(stateDir, "working-memory.json"), "{}");
   return { credFile, workspaceDir, stateDir, homeDir };
 }

package/src/__tests__/system-context.test.ts

@@ -65,11 +65,12 @@ describe("createDaemonSystemContextBuilder", () => {
     expect(out).toContain("cannot access this machine's local filesystem");
   });
 
-  it("returns undefined for direct rooms when working memory is empty and no activity tracker is wired", () => {
+  it("injects the empty working-memory block even when no memory file exists", () => {
     const builder = createDaemonSystemContextBuilder({ agentId: "ag_me" });
-    expect(
-      builder(makeMessage({ conversation: { id: "rm_dm_peer", kind: "direct" } })),
-    ).toBeUndefined();
+    const out = builder(makeMessage({ conversation: { id: "rm_dm_peer", kind: "direct" } }));
+    expect(out).toContain("[BotCord Working Memory]");
+    expect(out).toContain("This is the only BotCord memory source.");
+    expect(out).toContain("Your working memory is currently empty.");
   });
 
   it("still injects group-room runtime environment when the activity digest is empty", () => {
@@ -137,7 +138,8 @@ describe("createDaemonSystemContextBuilder", () => {
     // No ensureAgentWorkspace — workspace never provisioned.
     const builder = createDaemonSystemContextBuilder({ agentId: "ag_me" });
     const out = builder(makeMessage({ conversation: { id: "rm_dm_peer", kind: "direct" } }));
-    expect(out).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(out).not.toContain("[BotCord Identity]");
+    expect(out).toContain("[BotCord Working Memory]");
   });
 
   it("skips the identity block when identity.md is blank", () => {
@@ -151,9 +153,9 @@ describe("createDaemonSystemContextBuilder", () => {
 
   it("detects a newly added global Claude skill on the next turn", () => {
     const builder = createDaemonSystemContextBuilder({ agentId: "ag_me" });
-    expect(
-      builder(makeMessage({ conversation: { id: "rm_dm_peer", kind: "direct" } })),
-    ).toBeUndefined();
+    const before = builder(makeMessage({ conversation: { id: "rm_dm_peer", kind: "direct" } }));
+    expect(before).toContain("[BotCord Working Memory]");
+    expect(before).not.toContain("[BotCord Daemon Skill Index]");
 
     const skillDir = path.join(tmpDir, ".claude", "skills", "digest-query");
     mkdirSync(skillDir, { recursive: true });

package/src/agent-workspace.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  * directory tree under `~/.botcord/agents/{agentId}/`:
  *
  *   workspace/   — runtime cwd; seed Markdown files live here (LLM-owned)
- *   state/       — daemon-owned JSON (e.g. working-memory.json)
+ *   state/       — daemon-owned JSON
  *   codex-home/  — per-agent CODEX_HOME used by the codex adapter so codex
  *                  reads a daemon-written AGENTS.md (systemContext carrier)
  *                  and stores its sessions/ without touching ~/.codex.
@@ -108,8 +108,6 @@ This directory is your persistent workspace. You run with \`cwd\` set here.
 ## Files you own
 
 - \`identity.md\` — who you are, your role, your boundaries. Read before responding.
-- \`memory.md\` — long-lived facts, user preferences, past decisions. Update when
-  you learn something durable. Prune when it grows stale.
 - \`task.md\` — current task and plan. Update as you make progress. Clear when done.
 - \`notes/\` — free-form scratch space.
 
@@ -118,6 +116,10 @@ This directory is your persistent workspace. You run with \`cwd\` set here.
 - Do not modify files outside this workspace unless the user explicitly asks.
 - \`../state/\` (sibling directory, outside this workspace) is managed by the
   daemon — do not read or edit it directly.
+- Working memory is stored outside this workspace at
+  \`~/.botcord/memory/{agentId}/working-memory.json\`. Read and update it with
+  \`botcord memory\` or the \`botcord_memory\` skill instead of creating local
+  memory notes.
 
 ## How to use this
 
@@ -125,21 +127,10 @@ This directory is your persistent workspace. You run with \`cwd\` set here.
   system context as the \`[BotCord Identity]\` block. Edits to this file (yours,
   the dashboard's via \`applyAgentIdentity\`, or a hello-snapshot reapply) take
   effect on the next turn — no restart needed.
-- \`memory.md\` and \`task.md\` are **convention, not mechanism**. The daemon does
-  not auto-load them; you are instructed to skim them before responding and to
-  write back what changed after meaningful turns. Keep them tight enough to be
-  worth re-reading.
-`;
-
-const MEMORY_MD = `# Memory
-
-<!--
-Long-lived facts about the user, past decisions, and preferences that should
-survive across conversations. Organize by topic. Keep entries short. Prune
-regularly — AGENTS.md instructs you to consult this file before each
-response, but nothing loads it automatically (unlike identity.md); keep it
-short enough to be worth re-reading.
--->
+- Working memory is **mechanism**: the daemon loads \`working-memory.json\` fresh
+  and injects it into every turn as the \`[BotCord Working Memory]\` block.
+- \`task.md\` is **convention, not mechanism**. The daemon does not auto-load it;
+  keep it only for short-lived task notes that are not durable memory.
 `;
 
 const TASK_MD = `# Current Task
@@ -491,7 +482,7 @@ export function ensureAttachedHermesProfileSkills(profileHome: string): void {
 /**
  * Idempotently create the agent's home / workspace / state directories and
  * seed the workspace Markdown files. Existing files are never overwritten —
- * users' edits to AGENTS.md, memory.md, etc. are preserved across calls.
+ * users' edits to AGENTS.md, task.md, etc. are preserved across calls.
  * State files are not touched here; working-memory.ts owns `state/`.
  */
 export function ensureAgentWorkspace(agentId: string, seed: WorkspaceSeed): void {
@@ -513,7 +504,6 @@ export function ensureAgentWorkspace(agentId: string, seed: WorkspaceSeed): void
   writeIfMissing(agentsMdPath, AGENTS_MD);
   writeIfMissing(claudeMdPath, AGENTS_MD);
   writeIfMissing(path.join(workspace, "identity.md"), renderIdentity(agentId, seed));
-  writeIfMissing(path.join(workspace, "memory.md"), MEMORY_MD);
   writeIfMissing(path.join(workspace, "task.md"), TASK_MD);
   writeIfMissing(path.join(notes, ".gitkeep"), "");
   seedClaudeCodeSkills(workspace);

package/src/provision.ts

@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ import {
 } from "./gateway/runtimes/hermes-agent.js";
 import { log as daemonLog } from "./log.js";
 import { discoverAgentCredentials } from "./agent-discovery.js";
+import { resolveMemoryDir } from "./working-memory.js";
 
 /**
  * Information passed to {@link OnAgentInstalledHook} after a successful
@@ -618,7 +619,7 @@ interface ListAgentFilesParams {
 interface AgentRuntimeFile {
   id: string;
   name: string;
-  scope: "workspace" | "hermes" | "openclaw";
+  scope: "workspace" | "memory" | "hermes" | "openclaw";
   runtime?: string;
   profile?: string;
   size?: number;
@@ -642,6 +643,7 @@ interface RuntimeFileCandidate {
   relativePath: string;
   runtime?: string;
   profile?: string;
+  missingContent?: string;
 }
 
 function listAgentRuntimeFiles(params: ListAgentFilesParams): ListAgentFilesResult {
@@ -664,6 +666,7 @@ function runtimeFileCandidates(credentials: StoredBotCordCredentials): RuntimeFi
   const out: RuntimeFileCandidate[] = [];
 
   addWorkspaceFiles(out, agentId, runtime);
+  addWorkingMemoryFile(out, agentId, runtime);
 
   if (runtime === "hermes-agent") {
     addHermesFiles(out, credentials);
@@ -681,7 +684,7 @@ function addWorkspaceFiles(
   runtime?: string,
 ): void {
   const root = agentWorkspaceDir(agentId);
-  for (const file of ["AGENTS.md", "CLAUDE.md", "identity.md", "memory.md", "task.md"]) {
+  for (const file of ["AGENTS.md", "CLAUDE.md", "identity.md", "task.md"]) {
     out.push({
       id: `workspace:${file}`,
       name: `workspace/${file}`,
@@ -693,6 +696,26 @@ function addWorkspaceFiles(
   }
 }
 
+function addWorkingMemoryFile(
+  out: RuntimeFileCandidate[],
+  agentId: string,
+  runtime?: string,
+): void {
+  out.push({
+    id: "memory:working-memory.json",
+    name: "memory/working-memory.json",
+    scope: "memory",
+    root: resolveMemoryDir(agentId),
+    relativePath: "working-memory.json",
+    ...(runtime ? { runtime } : {}),
+    missingContent: JSON.stringify(
+      { version: 2, sections: {}, updatedAt: null },
+      null,
+      2,
+    ),
+  });
+}
+
 function addHermesFiles(
   out: RuntimeFileCandidate[],
   credentials: StoredBotCordCredentials,
@@ -786,7 +809,16 @@ function readRuntimeFileCandidate(candidate: RuntimeFileCandidate): AgentRuntime
     base.content = readFileSync(resolved, "utf8");
     return base;
   } catch (err) {
-    if ((err as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code === "ENOENT") return null;
+    if ((err as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code === "ENOENT") {
+      if (candidate.missingContent !== undefined) {
+        return {
+          ...base,
+          size: Buffer.byteLength(candidate.missingContent, "utf8"),
+          content: candidate.missingContent,
+        };
+      }
+      return null;
+    }
     return {
       ...base,
       error: err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err),

package/src/system-context.ts

@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ export function createDaemonSystemContextBuilder(
     const environment = ownerScene ? null : buildGroupRoomEnvironmentContext(message);
 
     const wm = safeReadWorkingMemory(deps.agentId);
-    const memory = wm ? buildWorkingMemoryPrompt({ workingMemory: wm }) : null;
+    const memory = buildWorkingMemoryPrompt({ workingMemory: wm });
 
     const digest = deps.activityTracker
       ? buildCrossRoomDigest({

package/src/working-memory.ts

@@ -347,6 +347,7 @@ export function buildWorkingMemoryPrompt(opts: {
     "[BotCord Working Memory]",
     "You have a persistent working memory that survives across turns and rooms.",
     "Use it to track your goal, important facts, pending commitments, and context worth remembering.",
+    "This is the only BotCord memory source. It is stored in `~/.botcord/memory/{agentId}/working-memory.json`; do not create or update workspace memory files.",
     "",
     "Update via the daemon's `memory` CLI (or whatever tool the operator wires):",
     "- goal: a short pinned statement of what you're working on.",