Open-source markdown vault gives Claude persistent memory across sessions

What it is

My Portable Brain is an open-source tool that creates a persistent memory system for Claude AI sessions using a markdown vault structure with an agent runtime layer. It addresses the frustration of Claude starting each session with zero context about the user's identity, current work, or priorities.

Key details from the source

The system consists of:

• A markdown vault structure that stores user context in plain text files
• An agent runtime layer that manages the context loading and updating
• Automatic context loading on startup including: identity, projects, goals, CRM data, and weekly plans
• Background scripts that run nightly to keep context fresh and updated
• No plugins or databases required - just plain markdown files owned by the user
• Native compatibility with Claude Code and Claude Cowork
• MIT licensed and completely free

The developer notes that the main challenge wasn't implementing AI functionality, but rather structuring context in a way that Claude can use consistently across sessions.

Technical approach

The solution uses a file-based approach rather than a database or plugin architecture. This makes it portable and gives users full ownership of their data. The nightly background scripts ensure that context remains current without manual intervention.

The project is hosted at myportablebrain.ai with source code available on GitHub at https://github.com/Bermanmt/My-Portable-Brain.