Confirm Serena context:
- Look for .serena/memories/, Serena memory tools, or user-provided memory content.
- If Serena is absent, say this skill is not needed.
Find canonical sources:
- Prefer AGENTS.md, docs entrypoints, overview/status/next-step docs, ADRs, manifests, build/test config, source, and tests.
- If project-memory-style docs exist, treat them as the preferred map.
- If another docs system exists, respect it.
Audit memory claims:
- Check duplicated commands, dependencies, validation status, branch/status notes, entrypoints, generated-output paths, module ownership, and active refactor details.
- Verify duplicated facts against their canonical sources before preserving them.
Refresh memories:
- Update canonical docs first when they are stale and the user asked for broader docs maintenance.
- Otherwise, point memories at existing sources and remove volatile detail.
- Keep memories concise, source-linked, and easy to scan.
Validate:
- Run serena memories check when available.
- Report changed memory files and any skipped validation.

Freshness Header

Each maintained Serena memory should start with:

Last checked: YYYY-MM-DD
Source of truth: `docs/...`, manifests, source/test paths
Update when: the concrete upstream fact changes

Use the header as a trust signal. If a source changed after Last checked, verify the memory before relying on it.

Content Rules

Prefer stable invariants, short source maps, pointers to canonical sources, and mem: references for memory-to-memory navigation.

Avoid exact test counts, current branch names, exhaustive script/dependency lists, long validation histories, active-refactor ownership details already in canonical docs, and one-off task notes.

Boundaries

Do not require project-memory; only cooperate with it when its docs exist.
Do not patch project-memory skills, templates, or setup instructions by default.
Suggest a docs-memory setup only when missing canonical docs are causing repeated rediscovery or stale-memory risk.
Add scripts or hooks only after repeated real failures show that instruction alone is insufficient.

serena-memory-hygiene

Serena Memory Hygiene

Workflow