hermes / tools /memory_tool.py
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initial upload: v2026.3.23 with HF Spaces deployment
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#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
Memory Tool Module - Persistent Curated Memory
Provides bounded, file-backed memory that persists across sessions. Two stores:
- MEMORY.md: agent's personal notes and observations (environment facts, project
conventions, tool quirks, things learned)
- USER.md: what the agent knows about the user (preferences, communication style,
expectations, workflow habits)
Both are injected into the system prompt as a frozen snapshot at session start.
Mid-session writes update files on disk immediately (durable) but do NOT change
the system prompt -- this preserves the prefix cache for the entire session.
The snapshot refreshes on the next session start.
Entry delimiter: § (section sign). Entries can be multiline.
Character limits (not tokens) because char counts are model-independent.
Design:
- Single `memory` tool with action parameter: add, replace, remove, read
- replace/remove use short unique substring matching (not full text or IDs)
- Behavioral guidance lives in the tool schema description
- Frozen snapshot pattern: system prompt is stable, tool responses show live state
"""
import fcntl
import json
import logging
import os
import re
import tempfile
from contextlib import contextmanager
from pathlib import Path
from typing import Dict, Any, List, Optional
logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
# Where memory files live
MEMORY_DIR = Path(os.getenv("HERMES_HOME", Path.home() / ".hermes")) / "memories"
ENTRY_DELIMITER = "\n§\n"
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Memory content scanning — lightweight check for injection/exfiltration
# in content that gets injected into the system prompt.
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
_MEMORY_THREAT_PATTERNS = [
# Prompt injection
(r'ignore\s+(previous|all|above|prior)\s+instructions', "prompt_injection"),
(r'you\s+are\s+now\s+', "role_hijack"),
(r'do\s+not\s+tell\s+the\s+user', "deception_hide"),
(r'system\s+prompt\s+override', "sys_prompt_override"),
(r'disregard\s+(your|all|any)\s+(instructions|rules|guidelines)', "disregard_rules"),
(r'act\s+as\s+(if|though)\s+you\s+(have\s+no|don\'t\s+have)\s+(restrictions|limits|rules)', "bypass_restrictions"),
# Exfiltration via curl/wget with secrets
(r'curl\s+[^\n]*\$\{?\w*(KEY|TOKEN|SECRET|PASSWORD|CREDENTIAL|API)', "exfil_curl"),
(r'wget\s+[^\n]*\$\{?\w*(KEY|TOKEN|SECRET|PASSWORD|CREDENTIAL|API)', "exfil_wget"),
(r'cat\s+[^\n]*(\.env|credentials|\.netrc|\.pgpass|\.npmrc|\.pypirc)', "read_secrets"),
# Persistence via shell rc
(r'authorized_keys', "ssh_backdoor"),
(r'\$HOME/\.ssh|\~/\.ssh', "ssh_access"),
(r'\$HOME/\.hermes/\.env|\~/\.hermes/\.env', "hermes_env"),
]
# Subset of invisible chars for injection detection
_INVISIBLE_CHARS = {
'\u200b', '\u200c', '\u200d', '\u2060', '\ufeff',
'\u202a', '\u202b', '\u202c', '\u202d', '\u202e',
}
def _scan_memory_content(content: str) -> Optional[str]:
"""Scan memory content for injection/exfil patterns. Returns error string if blocked."""
# Check invisible unicode
for char in _INVISIBLE_CHARS:
if char in content:
return f"Blocked: content contains invisible unicode character U+{ord(char):04X} (possible injection)."
# Check threat patterns
for pattern, pid in _MEMORY_THREAT_PATTERNS:
if re.search(pattern, content, re.IGNORECASE):
return f"Blocked: content matches threat pattern '{pid}'. Memory entries are injected into the system prompt and must not contain injection or exfiltration payloads."
return None
class MemoryStore:
"""
Bounded curated memory with file persistence. One instance per AIAgent.
Maintains two parallel states:
- _system_prompt_snapshot: frozen at load time, used for system prompt injection.
Never mutated mid-session. Keeps prefix cache stable.
- memory_entries / user_entries: live state, mutated by tool calls, persisted to disk.
Tool responses always reflect this live state.
"""
def __init__(self, memory_char_limit: int = 2200, user_char_limit: int = 1375):
self.memory_entries: List[str] = []
self.user_entries: List[str] = []
self.memory_char_limit = memory_char_limit
self.user_char_limit = user_char_limit
# Frozen snapshot for system prompt -- set once at load_from_disk()
self._system_prompt_snapshot: Dict[str, str] = {"memory": "", "user": ""}
def load_from_disk(self):
"""Load entries from MEMORY.md and USER.md, capture system prompt snapshot."""
MEMORY_DIR.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
self.memory_entries = self._read_file(MEMORY_DIR / "MEMORY.md")
self.user_entries = self._read_file(MEMORY_DIR / "USER.md")
# Deduplicate entries (preserves order, keeps first occurrence)
self.memory_entries = list(dict.fromkeys(self.memory_entries))
self.user_entries = list(dict.fromkeys(self.user_entries))
# Capture frozen snapshot for system prompt injection
self._system_prompt_snapshot = {
"memory": self._render_block("memory", self.memory_entries),
"user": self._render_block("user", self.user_entries),
}
@staticmethod
@contextmanager
def _file_lock(path: Path):
"""Acquire an exclusive file lock for read-modify-write safety.
Uses a separate .lock file so the memory file itself can still be
atomically replaced via os.replace().
"""
lock_path = path.with_suffix(path.suffix + ".lock")
lock_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
fd = open(lock_path, "w")
try:
fcntl.flock(fd, fcntl.LOCK_EX)
yield
finally:
fcntl.flock(fd, fcntl.LOCK_UN)
fd.close()
@staticmethod
def _path_for(target: str) -> Path:
if target == "user":
return MEMORY_DIR / "USER.md"
return MEMORY_DIR / "MEMORY.md"
def _reload_target(self, target: str):
"""Re-read entries from disk into in-memory state.
Called under file lock to get the latest state before mutating.
"""
fresh = self._read_file(self._path_for(target))
fresh = list(dict.fromkeys(fresh)) # deduplicate
self._set_entries(target, fresh)
def save_to_disk(self, target: str):
"""Persist entries to the appropriate file. Called after every mutation."""
MEMORY_DIR.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
self._write_file(self._path_for(target), self._entries_for(target))
def _entries_for(self, target: str) -> List[str]:
if target == "user":
return self.user_entries
return self.memory_entries
def _set_entries(self, target: str, entries: List[str]):
if target == "user":
self.user_entries = entries
else:
self.memory_entries = entries
def _char_count(self, target: str) -> int:
entries = self._entries_for(target)
if not entries:
return 0
return len(ENTRY_DELIMITER.join(entries))
def _char_limit(self, target: str) -> int:
if target == "user":
return self.user_char_limit
return self.memory_char_limit
def add(self, target: str, content: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
"""Append a new entry. Returns error if it would exceed the char limit."""
content = content.strip()
if not content:
return {"success": False, "error": "Content cannot be empty."}
# Scan for injection/exfiltration before accepting
scan_error = _scan_memory_content(content)
if scan_error:
return {"success": False, "error": scan_error}
with self._file_lock(self._path_for(target)):
# Re-read from disk under lock to pick up writes from other sessions
self._reload_target(target)
entries = self._entries_for(target)
limit = self._char_limit(target)
# Reject exact duplicates
if content in entries:
return self._success_response(target, "Entry already exists (no duplicate added).")
# Calculate what the new total would be
new_entries = entries + [content]
new_total = len(ENTRY_DELIMITER.join(new_entries))
if new_total > limit:
current = self._char_count(target)
return {
"success": False,
"error": (
f"Memory at {current:,}/{limit:,} chars. "
f"Adding this entry ({len(content)} chars) would exceed the limit. "
f"Replace or remove existing entries first."
),
"current_entries": entries,
"usage": f"{current:,}/{limit:,}",
}
entries.append(content)
self._set_entries(target, entries)
self.save_to_disk(target)
return self._success_response(target, "Entry added.")
def replace(self, target: str, old_text: str, new_content: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
"""Find entry containing old_text substring, replace it with new_content."""
old_text = old_text.strip()
new_content = new_content.strip()
if not old_text:
return {"success": False, "error": "old_text cannot be empty."}
if not new_content:
return {"success": False, "error": "new_content cannot be empty. Use 'remove' to delete entries."}
# Scan replacement content for injection/exfiltration
scan_error = _scan_memory_content(new_content)
if scan_error:
return {"success": False, "error": scan_error}
with self._file_lock(self._path_for(target)):
self._reload_target(target)
entries = self._entries_for(target)
matches = [(i, e) for i, e in enumerate(entries) if old_text in e]
if len(matches) == 0:
return {"success": False, "error": f"No entry matched '{old_text}'."}
if len(matches) > 1:
# If all matches are identical (exact duplicates), operate on the first one
unique_texts = set(e for _, e in matches)
if len(unique_texts) > 1:
previews = [e[:80] + ("..." if len(e) > 80 else "") for _, e in matches]
return {
"success": False,
"error": f"Multiple entries matched '{old_text}'. Be more specific.",
"matches": previews,
}
# All identical -- safe to replace just the first
idx = matches[0][0]
limit = self._char_limit(target)
# Check that replacement doesn't blow the budget
test_entries = entries.copy()
test_entries[idx] = new_content
new_total = len(ENTRY_DELIMITER.join(test_entries))
if new_total > limit:
return {
"success": False,
"error": (
f"Replacement would put memory at {new_total:,}/{limit:,} chars. "
f"Shorten the new content or remove other entries first."
),
}
entries[idx] = new_content
self._set_entries(target, entries)
self.save_to_disk(target)
return self._success_response(target, "Entry replaced.")
def remove(self, target: str, old_text: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
"""Remove the entry containing old_text substring."""
old_text = old_text.strip()
if not old_text:
return {"success": False, "error": "old_text cannot be empty."}
with self._file_lock(self._path_for(target)):
self._reload_target(target)
entries = self._entries_for(target)
matches = [(i, e) for i, e in enumerate(entries) if old_text in e]
if len(matches) == 0:
return {"success": False, "error": f"No entry matched '{old_text}'."}
if len(matches) > 1:
# If all matches are identical (exact duplicates), remove the first one
unique_texts = set(e for _, e in matches)
if len(unique_texts) > 1:
previews = [e[:80] + ("..." if len(e) > 80 else "") for _, e in matches]
return {
"success": False,
"error": f"Multiple entries matched '{old_text}'. Be more specific.",
"matches": previews,
}
# All identical -- safe to remove just the first
idx = matches[0][0]
entries.pop(idx)
self._set_entries(target, entries)
self.save_to_disk(target)
return self._success_response(target, "Entry removed.")
def format_for_system_prompt(self, target: str) -> Optional[str]:
"""
Return the frozen snapshot for system prompt injection.
This returns the state captured at load_from_disk() time, NOT the live
state. Mid-session writes do not affect this. This keeps the system
prompt stable across all turns, preserving the prefix cache.
Returns None if the snapshot is empty (no entries at load time).
"""
block = self._system_prompt_snapshot.get(target, "")
return block if block else None
# -- Internal helpers --
def _success_response(self, target: str, message: str = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
entries = self._entries_for(target)
current = self._char_count(target)
limit = self._char_limit(target)
pct = int((current / limit) * 100) if limit > 0 else 0
resp = {
"success": True,
"target": target,
"entries": entries,
"usage": f"{pct}% — {current:,}/{limit:,} chars",
"entry_count": len(entries),
}
if message:
resp["message"] = message
return resp
def _render_block(self, target: str, entries: List[str]) -> str:
"""Render a system prompt block with header and usage indicator."""
if not entries:
return ""
limit = self._char_limit(target)
content = ENTRY_DELIMITER.join(entries)
current = len(content)
pct = int((current / limit) * 100) if limit > 0 else 0
if target == "user":
header = f"USER PROFILE (who the user is) [{pct}% — {current:,}/{limit:,} chars]"
else:
header = f"MEMORY (your personal notes) [{pct}% — {current:,}/{limit:,} chars]"
separator = "═" * 46
return f"{separator}\n{header}\n{separator}\n{content}"
@staticmethod
def _read_file(path: Path) -> List[str]:
"""Read a memory file and split into entries.
No file locking needed: _write_file uses atomic rename, so readers
always see either the previous complete file or the new complete file.
"""
if not path.exists():
return []
try:
raw = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
except (OSError, IOError):
return []
if not raw.strip():
return []
# Use ENTRY_DELIMITER for consistency with _write_file. Splitting by "§"
# alone would incorrectly split entries that contain "§" in their content.
entries = [e.strip() for e in raw.split(ENTRY_DELIMITER)]
return [e for e in entries if e]
@staticmethod
def _write_file(path: Path, entries: List[str]):
"""Write entries to a memory file using atomic temp-file + rename.
Previous implementation used open("w") + flock, but "w" truncates the
file *before* the lock is acquired, creating a race window where
concurrent readers see an empty file. Atomic rename avoids this:
readers always see either the old complete file or the new one.
"""
content = ENTRY_DELIMITER.join(entries) if entries else ""
try:
# Write to temp file in same directory (same filesystem for atomic rename)
fd, tmp_path = tempfile.mkstemp(
dir=str(path.parent), suffix=".tmp", prefix=".mem_"
)
try:
with os.fdopen(fd, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
f.write(content)
f.flush()
os.fsync(f.fileno())
os.replace(tmp_path, str(path)) # Atomic on same filesystem
except BaseException:
# Clean up temp file on any failure
try:
os.unlink(tmp_path)
except OSError:
pass
raise
except (OSError, IOError) as e:
raise RuntimeError(f"Failed to write memory file {path}: {e}")
def memory_tool(
action: str,
target: str = "memory",
content: str = None,
old_text: str = None,
store: Optional[MemoryStore] = None,
) -> str:
"""
Single entry point for the memory tool. Dispatches to MemoryStore methods.
Returns JSON string with results.
"""
if store is None:
return json.dumps({"success": False, "error": "Memory is not available. It may be disabled in config or this environment."}, ensure_ascii=False)
if target not in ("memory", "user"):
return json.dumps({"success": False, "error": f"Invalid target '{target}'. Use 'memory' or 'user'."}, ensure_ascii=False)
if action == "add":
if not content:
return json.dumps({"success": False, "error": "Content is required for 'add' action."}, ensure_ascii=False)
result = store.add(target, content)
elif action == "replace":
if not old_text:
return json.dumps({"success": False, "error": "old_text is required for 'replace' action."}, ensure_ascii=False)
if not content:
return json.dumps({"success": False, "error": "content is required for 'replace' action."}, ensure_ascii=False)
result = store.replace(target, old_text, content)
elif action == "remove":
if not old_text:
return json.dumps({"success": False, "error": "old_text is required for 'remove' action."}, ensure_ascii=False)
result = store.remove(target, old_text)
else:
return json.dumps({"success": False, "error": f"Unknown action '{action}'. Use: add, replace, remove"}, ensure_ascii=False)
return json.dumps(result, ensure_ascii=False)
def check_memory_requirements() -> bool:
"""Memory tool has no external requirements -- always available."""
return True
# =============================================================================
# OpenAI Function-Calling Schema
# =============================================================================
MEMORY_SCHEMA = {
"name": "memory",
"description": (
"Save durable information to persistent memory that survives across sessions. "
"Memory is injected into future turns, so keep it compact and focused on facts "
"that will still matter later.\n\n"
"WHEN TO SAVE (do this proactively, don't wait to be asked):\n"
"- User corrects you or says 'remember this' / 'don't do that again'\n"
"- User shares a preference, habit, or personal detail (name, role, timezone, coding style)\n"
"- You discover something about the environment (OS, installed tools, project structure)\n"
"- You learn a convention, API quirk, or workflow specific to this user's setup\n"
"- You identify a stable fact that will be useful again in future sessions\n\n"
"PRIORITY: User preferences and corrections > environment facts > procedural knowledge. "
"The most valuable memory prevents the user from having to repeat themselves.\n\n"
"Do NOT save task progress, session outcomes, completed-work logs, or temporary TODO "
"state to memory; use session_search to recall those from past transcripts.\n"
"If you've discovered a new way to do something, solved a problem that could be "
"necessary later, save it as a skill with the skill tool.\n\n"
"TWO TARGETS:\n"
"- 'user': who the user is -- name, role, preferences, communication style, pet peeves\n"
"- 'memory': your notes -- environment facts, project conventions, tool quirks, lessons learned\n\n"
"ACTIONS: add (new entry), replace (update existing -- old_text identifies it), "
"remove (delete -- old_text identifies it).\n\n"
"SKIP: trivial/obvious info, things easily re-discovered, raw data dumps, and temporary task state."
),
"parameters": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"action": {
"type": "string",
"enum": ["add", "replace", "remove"],
"description": "The action to perform."
},
"target": {
"type": "string",
"enum": ["memory", "user"],
"description": "Which memory store: 'memory' for personal notes, 'user' for user profile."
},
"content": {
"type": "string",
"description": "The entry content. Required for 'add' and 'replace'."
},
"old_text": {
"type": "string",
"description": "Short unique substring identifying the entry to replace or remove."
},
},
"required": ["action", "target"],
},
}
# --- Registry ---
from tools.registry import registry
registry.register(
name="memory",
toolset="memory",
schema=MEMORY_SCHEMA,
handler=lambda args, **kw: memory_tool(
action=args.get("action", ""),
target=args.get("target", "memory"),
content=args.get("content"),
old_text=args.get("old_text"),
store=kw.get("store")),
check_fn=check_memory_requirements,
emoji="🧠",
)