/dream-skill

name: dream
description: "Memory consolidation skill for Claude Code. Scans session transcripts for corrections, decisions, preferences, and patterns, then merges findings into persistent memory files. Auto-triggers via native Stop hook every 24hrs. Inspired by how sleep consolidates human memory."
tags: [memory, maintenance, consolidation, autonomous, hook]

Dream - Memory Consolidation for Claude Code

> Your AI agent dreams like you do. Consolidates memory while you sleep.

---

ONBOARDING (delete this section after setup is complete)

**Welcome! Follow these steps in order. After setup is verified, delete everything between `## ONBOARDING` and `## END ONBOARDING` from this file as the final step.**

Step 1: Detect memory system

Before anything else, detect which memory system is in use. Run these checks:

# Check 1: Native Claude Code auto-memory
ls ~/.claude/projects/*/memory/MEMORY.md 2>/dev/null && echo "DETECTED: native-claude-code"

# Check 2: OpenClaw-style (memory/ folder in project root with daily logs)
ls ./memory/20*.md 2>/dev/null && echo "DETECTED: openclaw-daily-logs"

# Check 3: Project-root MEMORY.md (custom setup)
ls ./MEMORY.md 2>/dev/null && echo "DETECTED: project-root-memory"

# Check 4: Nothing found
echo "If none detected above: no memory system found"

**Based on what you detect, set DREAM_MEMORY_TYPE:**

| Detection | DREAM_MEMORY_TYPE | Memory location | Session transcripts | |-----------|-------------------|-----------------|-------------------| | `~/.claude/projects/*/memory/MEMORY.md` exists | `native` | `~/.claude/projects/<project>/memory/` | `~/.claude/projects/<project>/sessions/*.jsonl` | | `./memory/20*.md` daily log files exist | `openclaw` | `./memory/` (project root) | `~/.claude/projects/<project>/sessions/*.jsonl` | | `./MEMORY.md` exists in project root | `project-root` | `./` (project root, MEMORY.md + topic files) | `~/.claude/projects/<project>/sessions/*.jsonl` | | Nothing found | `native` (default) | `~/.claude/projects/<project>/memory/` | `~/.claude/projects/<project>/sessions/*.jsonl` |

**If no memory system is found, default to native Claude Code memory.** This is the standard and requires no extra setup - Claude Code creates the directory automatically when auto-memory is enabled.

Write the detected type to the config so dream knows where to look:

echo "DREAM_MEMORY_TYPE=native" > ~/.claude/skills/dream/.dream-config
echo "DREAM_MEMORY_PATH=~/.claude/projects" >> ~/.claude/skills/dream/.dream-config

Replace `native` with `openclaw` or `project-root` if that's what was detected. For `openclaw` or `project-root`, also set the path:

# For openclaw:
echo "DREAM_MEMORY_TYPE=openclaw" > ~/.claude/skills/dream/.dream-config
echo "DREAM_MEMORY_PATH=$(pwd)/memory" >> ~/.claude/skills/dream/.dream-config

# For project-root:
echo "DREAM_MEMORY_TYPE=project-root" > ~/.claude/skills/dream/.dream-config
echo "DREAM_MEMORY_PATH=$(pwd)" >> ~/.claude/skills/dream/.dream-config

Step 2: Install the Stop hook

Add the dream trigger to your Claude Code settings:

SETTINGS="$HOME/.claude/settings.json"
[ ! -f "$SETTINGS" ] && echo '{}' > "$SETTINGS"

python3 -c "
import json
with open('$HOME/.claude/settings.json') as f:
    s = json.load(f)
s.setdefault('hooks', {}).setdefault('Stop', [])
if not any('dream' in h.get('command','') for h in s['hooks']['Stop']):
    s['hooks']['Stop'].append({
        'type': 'command',
        'command': 'bash \$HOME/.claude/skills/dream/should-dream.sh && touch \$HOME/.claude/.dream-pending || true'
    })
with open('$HOME/.claude/settings.json', 'w') as f:
    json.dump(s, f, indent=2)
    f.write('\n')
print('Stop hook installed')
"

**What this does:** When you exit any Claude Code session, the Stop hook checks if 24+ hours have passed since the last dream. If yes, it creates a `.dream-pending` flag file. On your next session start, Claude sees the flag and runs `/dream` as a background subagent.

Step 3: Install the session-start check

Add this to your global `~/.claude/CLAUDE.md` (or project CLAUDE.md):

## Auto Dream
If the file `~/.claude/.dream-pending` exists at session start, run `/dream` as a subagent in the background, then delete the flag file: `rm ~/.claude/.dream-pending`. This is the memory consolidation system - it runs automatically every 24 hours.

Step 4: Make should-dream.sh executable

chmod +x ~/.claude/skills/dream/should-dream.sh

Step 5: Test it

Run a test dream to verify the full flow:

# Force the dream to trigger by creating the flag
touch ~/.claude/.dream-pending

Then tell Claude: "The .dream-pending flag exists. Run /dream now."

After it completes, verify:

• The flag file `~/.claude/.dream-pending` was deleted
• Memory files were reviewed and consolidated
• A `.last-dream` timestamp was written in the memory directory
• No relative dates remain in memory files
• MEMORY.md index is under 200 lines

Step 6: Clean up onboarding

Everything is working. Now delete this entire ONBOARDING section from this SKILL.md file (everything between `## ONBOARDING` and `## END ONBOARDING`). The skill is fully set up and will auto-trigger every 24 hours via the Stop hook.

END ONBOARDING

---

How It Works

Dream runs in 4 sequential phases. Execute them in order. Do not skip phases.

ORIENT --> GATHER SIGNAL --> CONSOLIDATE --> PRUNE & INDEX

Auto-trigger flow (native Claude Code hooks)

Session ends
  --> Stop hook fires should-dream.sh (~10ms)
  --> Checks: 24hrs passed? 5+ sessions?
  --> If NO: exits silently, zero overhead
  --> If YES: creates ~/.claude/.dream-pending flag
Next session starts
  --> Claude reads CLAUDE.md, sees .dream-pending exists
  --> Spawns /dream as background subagent
  --> Dream runs all 4 phases
  --> Writes .last-dream timestamp, deletes .dream-pending
  --> Timer resets for next 24hrs

---

Phase 1: ORIENT

**Goal:*