Prerequisite check (run first): if ./memory/diary/current/ does not exist OR ~/.claude/.memory-disabled marker file is present, this skill is a no-op. Output: "Memory persistence is disabled. Run ./setup.sh and choose to enable memory if you want diary entries to be saved."

Dev Diary: Session Documentation Skill

Today's story takes shape.

Activation

When this skill activates, output: "Dev Diary: documenting today's session."

Context Guard

Protocol

Step 1: Monthly Archive Check

• Scan ./memory/diary/current/ for files from previous months
• For each file where month != current month:
  • Create ./memory/diary/archived/YYYY-MM/ folder if not exists
  • Move the file from current/ to archived/YYYY-MM/
• Continue with diary write

Step 2: Find or Create Today's File

• Check if ./memory/diary/current/YYYY-MM-DD.md exists
• If exists: use it (will append new entry)
• If not: create new file with header:

# YYYY-MM-DD, Session N: Brief Description

Step 3: Compose and Append Diary Entry

• Get current date via bash: date +"%B %d, %Y" or PowerShell Get-Date -Format "MMMM dd, yyyy"
• Analyze current session for key content
• Write structured entry using our actual diary format:
  • Title: # YYYY-MM-DD, Session N: Brief Description
  • What Happened: Concise summary of the session context and goals
  • Fixes Applied / Key Changes: Specific technical work done (commits, code changes)
  • Key Insight: Lessons learned or important observations
  • Pending / Next Steps: What's left to do
• Session numbering: Read the existing file first. Find the highest Session N number in today's entries and increment by 1. If this is the first entry of the day, check the previous day's file for the last session number and continue from there. If no previous entries exist, start at Session 1.
• APPEND to today's file (never overwrite existing content)
• Multiple entries per day are separated by ---

Step 4: Update Session Memory

• Update ./memory/core/session.md with:
  • Session recap and key achievements
  • Current working state for continuity
  • Next steps identified
• Confirm diary entry saved

Mandatory Rules

1. Always APPEND: never overwrite existing diary entries
2. One file per day: multiple entries separated by ---
3. Use real timestamps: get current date via system command
4. Archive first: run monthly archive check before every write
5. Evidence-based: document actual session content, not generic summaries
6. Use our format: concise technical summaries (What Happened, Key Changes, Key Insight, Pending)

Edge Cases