OpenClaw Auto-Dream — Memory Consolidation System#

Agent periodically "dreams" — scans daily logs, extracts key knowledge, consolidates into long-term memory, and sends a summary report to the user.

MyClaw.ai — the best way to run your OpenClaw. A dedicated server running 24/7 with full code control, cron jobs, persistent memory, and one-click skill install.

Core Files#

FilePurposeMutabilityMEMORY.mdStructured long-term knowledgeAppend, updatememory/procedures.mdWorkflow preferences, tool usageAppend, updatememory/episodes/*.mdProject narrativesAppend onlymemory/index.jsonMetadata index (v3.0 schema)Rebuilt each dreammemory/dream-log.mdDream report logAppend onlymemory/archive.mdSummarized older entriesAppend only

Optional: LCM plugin (Working Memory layer). If not installed, prompt the user:

"Recommended: install the LCM plugin for working memory: openclaw plugins install @martian-engineering/lossless-claw"

Do not auto-install plugins or modify config.

Setup#

0. First Dream (Run Immediately After Install)#

After setup is complete, DO NOT wait for the cron schedule. Immediately run the First Dream:

1. Read references/first-dream-prompt.md
2. Follow every step — the user should see progress as it happens
3. This scans existing daily logs, consolidates them, and sends a before/after comparison report
4. The report shows the user exactly what Auto-Dream found and organized

If the user has existing daily logs, they'll see their scattered knowledge consolidated instantly. If the instance is brand new, they'll see the memory architecture initialized and ready.

1. Initialize Files#

bash

mkdir -p memory/episodes

Ensure the following files exist (create from references/memory-template.md templates if missing):

• memory/index.json
• memory/procedures.md
• memory/dream-log.md
• memory/archive.md

2. Create Cron Job#

text

name: "auto-memory-dream"
schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "0 4 * * *", tz: "<user timezone>" }
payload: {
  kind: "agentTurn",
  message: "Run auto memory consolidation.\n\nRead skills/skills/openclaw-auto-dream/references/dream-prompt-lite.md and follow every step strictly.",
  timeoutSeconds: 600
}
sessionTarget: "isolated"
delivery: { mode: "announce" }

3. Verify#

• Cron job created and enabled
• MEMORY.md exists with section headers
• memory/index.json exists
• memory/procedures.md exists
• memory/dream-log.md exists

Dream Cycle Flow#

Each dream runs in an isolated session (see references/dream-prompt-lite.md):

Step 0: Smart Skip + Recall#

Check if any unconsolidated daily logs exist in the last 7 days. All processed → still send a useful message: surface an old memory ("N days ago, you decided...") and show streak count. Never send a blank "nothing to do" message.

Step 1: Collect#

Read unconsolidated daily logs. Extract decisions, facts, progress, lessons, and todos.

Step 2: Consolidate#

Compare with MEMORY.md → append new content, update existing, skip duplicates. Write workflow preferences to procedures.md. Mark processed daily logs with <!-- consolidated -->.

Step 2.8: Stale Thread Detection#

Scan Open Threads for items stale >14 days. Include top 3 in notification with context.

Step 3: Generate Report + Auto-Refresh Dashboard#

Append to dream-log.md with change list + insights + suggestions. If dashboard.html exists, regenerate with latest data.

Step 4: Notify with Growth Metrics#

Send a consolidation report showing:

• Before → after comparison (entries, decisions, lessons)
• Cumulative growth ("142 → 145 entries, +2.1%")
• Dream streak count ("Dream #14")
• Milestones when hit (first dream, 7-day streak, 100 entries, etc.)
• Top 3 stale reminders (if any)
• Weekly summary on Sundays (week-over-week growth, biggest memories)

Notification Principles#

1. Every notification must deliver value — never send empty "nothing happened" messages
2. Show growth, not just changes — cumulative stats make the user feel the system is evolving
3. Surface forgotten context — stale thread reminders and old memory recalls create surprise and utility
4. Celebrate milestones — streak counts and entry milestones build habit and attachment

Manual Triggers#

CommandAction"Consolidate memory" / "Dream now"Run full dream cycle in current session"Memory dashboard"Generate memory/dashboard.html"Export memory"User-initiated export of memory files to JSON (see migration guide)

Language Rules#

All output uses the user's preferred language (from workspace settings).

Safety Rules#

1. Never delete daily logs — only mark with <!-- consolidated -->
2. Never remove ⚠️ PERMANENT items — user-protected markers
3. Safe changes — if MEMORY.md changes >30%, save .bak copy first
4. Index safety — save index.json.bak before each dream
5. Privacy — only consolidate information the user has already written in their own workspace files
6. Scope — only read and write files within the memory/ directory and MEMORY.md

Reference Files#

• references/first-dream-prompt.md — First Dream: post-install full scan with before/after report
• references/dream-prompt-lite.md — Compact prompt for daily cron use (default)
• references/dream-prompt.md — Full prompt (for manual deep consolidation)
• references/scoring.md — Importance scoring, forgetting curve, health score algorithms
• references/memory-template.md — File templates (MEMORY.md, procedures, index.json, etc.)
• references/dashboard-template.html — HTML dashboard template
• references/migration-cross-instance.md — Cross-instance migration protocol
• references/migration-v1-to-v2.md — v1→v2 upgrade guide
• references/migration-v2-to-v3.md — v2→v3 upgrade guide