PowerMem Memory Guide#

This skill folder includes supplementary docs:

• powermem-intro.md — What PowerMem is, features, vs file-based memory.
• config-reference.md — Config keys, state dir, commands.

How It Works#

• Auto-Capture: After a conversation, the plugin sends valuable user/assistant text to PowerMem (optional infer / intelligent extraction).
• Auto-Recall: Before each turn, it searches memories and can inject a <relevant-memories> block into context.

When User Asks to Install#

Recommended order (TO C): (1) OpenClaw installed and default model + provider auth configured. (2) Python 3.10+ verified ( python3 --version) before venv / pip install. (3) pip install powermem and pmem available to the gateway (PATH or pmemPath). (4) Install the memory-powermem plugin. No powermem.env is required for the default path.

The curl install.sh deploys the plugin and OpenClaw entries; with -y it may still create ~/.openclaw/powermem/powermem.env as an optional template—it does not run pip install powermem. That file is not required if the user relies on OpenClaw-injected LLM + default SQLite.

1. Check OpenClaw

   openclaw --version. If missing: npm install -g openclaw, openclaw onboard.

   Ensure agents.defaults.model is set (e.g. openai/gpt-4o-mini) and the corresponding provider / API key works for normal chat—the plugin reuses that for PowerMem when useOpenClawModel is true (default).

2. Check Python (required before venv / pip)

   PowerMem needs Python 3.10 or newer. Run python3 --version first; the minor version must be ≥ 10 (e.g. 3.10.x, 3.12.x). Optional strict check: bash

   python3 -c "import sys; assert sys.version_info >= (3, 10), 'Need Python 3.10+'; print(sys.version.split()[0], 'OK')"
   
   

   If it fails: upgrade Python or use a specific binary (e.g. python3.12) for all commands below instead of python3.

3. Install PowerMem (CLI — default)

   • Venv recommended: e.g. python3 -m venv ~/.openclaw/powermem/.venv && source ~/.openclaw/powermem/.venv/bin/activate.
   • pip install powermem.
   • Defaults: Plugin injects SQLite at <OpenClaw stateDir>/powermem/data/powermem.db and LLM + embedding env vars derived from OpenClaw. Typical stateDir is ~/.openclaw unless the user uses another instance ( OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR, --workdir).
   • Optional envFile: Path to a PowerMem .env for extra tuning. If the file exists, pmem loads it; OpenClaw-derived vars still override the same keys when useOpenClawModel is true.
   • useOpenClawModel: false: Disables injection; user must supply a complete PowerMem config via .env and/or environment variables.
   • Verify: pmem --version. If the gateway does not inherit the venv, set pmemPath to the absolute path of pmem.

4. HTTP path (enterprise / shared server)

   • Same Python 3.10+ requirement as CLI; then pip install powermem, .env in server working directory, powermem-server --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000.
   • Check: curl -s http://localhost:8000/api/v1/system/health.

5. Install the plugin

   openclaw plugins install /path/to/memory-powermem, or install.sh from INSTALL.md.

6. Configure OpenClaw

   CLI — minimal (recommended, matches plugin defaults):

   Do not set envFile unless you need a file. Example: bash

   openclaw config set plugins.enabled true
   openclaw config set plugins.slots.memory memory-powermem
   openclaw config set plugins.entries.memory-powermem.config.mode cli
   openclaw config set plugins.entries.memory-powermem.config.pmemPath pmem
   openclaw config set plugins.entries.memory-powermem.config.useOpenClawModel true --json
   openclaw config set plugins.entries.memory-powermem.config.autoCapture true --json
   openclaw config set plugins.entries.memory-powermem.config.autoRecall true --json
   openclaw config set plugins.entries.memory-powermem.config.inferOnAdd true --json
   
   

   CLI — optional .env override file: bash

   openclaw config set plugins.entries.memory-powermem.config.envFile "$HOME/.openclaw/powermem/powermem.env"
   
   

   (Only matters if that path exists; OpenClaw can still override LLM keys when useOpenClawModel is true.)

   HTTP: bash

   openclaw config set plugins.entries.memory-powermem.config.mode http
   openclaw config set plugins.entries.memory-powermem.config.baseUrl http://localhost:8000
   
   

   Optional: apiKey if the server uses auth.

7. Verify

   Restart gateway, then in another terminal: bash

   openclaw plugins list
   
   

   Confirm memory-powermem is listed and its status is loaded. If it is missing or not loaded, fix install/slot config and restart the gateway before running LTM checks. bash

   openclaw ltm health
   openclaw ltm add "I prefer coffee in the morning"
   openclaw ltm search "coffee"
   
   

Available Tools#

ToolDescriptionmemory_recallSearch long-term memories. Params: query, optional limit, scoreThreshold.memory_storeSave text; optional infer. Params: text, optional importance.memory_forgetDelete by memoryId or by query search.

Configuration (summary)#

FieldDefaultDescriptionmode``cli``cli or http.baseUrl—Required for HTTP; if mode omitted and baseUrl set → HTTP.apiKey—HTTP server auth.envFile—Optional CLI .env (used only if file exists).pmemPath``pmemCLI binary path.useOpenClawModel``trueInject LLM/embedding from OpenClaw + default SQLite under state dir.recallLimit``5Max memories per recall.recallScoreThreshold``0Min score 0–1.autoCapture / autoRecall / inferOnAdd``trueAuto memory pipeline and infer on add.

Daily Operations#

bash

openclaw gateway

openclaw ltm health
openclaw ltm add "Some fact to remember"
openclaw ltm search "query"

openclaw config set plugins.slots.memory none
openclaw config set plugins.slots.memory memory-powermem

Restart the gateway after slot or plugin config changes.

Troubleshooting#

SymptomFixPython < 3.10Run step 2 first; upgrade Python or use python3.11 / python3.12 for venv and pip install. Do not skip the version check.pip install powermem failsConfirm Python 3.10+, clean venv. See PowerMem issues.pmem not foundActivate venv or set pmemPath to the full binary.openclaw ltm health unhealthy (CLI)Confirm agents.defaults.model and provider keys in OpenClaw; gateway version should expose plugin config + runtime.modelAuth. Or set useOpenClawModel: false and a full envFile.Health OK but add/search errorsEmbedding/LLM mismatch for your provider—see gateway logs; try optional PowerMem .env from .env.example.Wrong SQLite file / instanceData is under that OpenClaw instance’s stateDir ( OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR / --workdir).HTTP modeServer running, baseUrl correct, apiKey if enabled.openclaw plugins list: no memory-powermem, or status is not loadedRe-run plugin install; set plugins.enabled true and plugins.slots.memory = memory-powermem; restart gateway; run openclaw plugins list again until memory-powermem shows loaded.