🎯 Overview

Roo Code Memory Bank solves a critical challenge in AI-assisted development: maintaining context across sessions. By providing a structured memory system integrated with VS Code, it ensures your AI assistant maintains a deep understanding of your project across sessions.

Key Components

graph LR
    A[Memory Bank] --> B[Core Files]
    A --> C[Mode Rules]
    A --> D[VS Code UI]
    B --> E[Project Context]
    B --> F[Decisions]
    B --> G[Progress]
    C --> H[Architect]
    C --> I[Code]
    C --> J[Ask]
    C --> K1[Debug]
    K[Real-time Updates] --> B
    K --> L[Continuous Sync]
    L --> M[Auto-save]
    L --> N[Event Tracking]

• 🧠 Memory Bank: Persistent storage for project knowledge
• 📋 Mode Rules: YAML-based behavior configuration
• 🔧 VS Code Integration: Seamless development experience
• ⚡ Real-time Updates: Continuous context synchronization

🚀 Quick Start

1. Mode-specific Custom Instructions

1. Open the Roo Code Prompts settings.
2. Select the mode to modify.
3. Copy/Paste the contents of the corresponding memory_bank_strategy_"mode".yml file.
4. Save the changes.

2. Initialize Memory Bank

1. Switch to Architect or Code mode in Roo Code chat
2. Send a message (e.g., "hello")
3. Roo will automatically:
   • 🔍 Scan for memory-bank/ directory
   • 📁 Create it if missing (with your approval)
   • 📝 Initialize core files
   • 🚦 Provide next steps

💡 Pro Tip: Project Brief

Create a projectBrief.md in your project root before initialization to give Roo immediate project context.

File Organization

project-root/
├── memory-bank/
│   ├── activeContext.md
│   ├── productContext.md
│   ├── progress.md
│   └── decisionLog.md  
└── projectBrief.md

📚 Memory Bank Structure

graph TD
    MB[memory-bank/] --> AC[activeContext.md]
    MB --> DL[decisionLog.md]
    MB --> PC[productContext.md]
    MB --> PR[progress.md]
    MB --> PB[projectBrief.md]
    MB --> SP[systemPatterns.md]
    
    subgraph Core Files
        AC[Current Session State]
        DL[Technical Decisions]
        PC[Project Overview]
        PR[Progress Tracking]
    end
    
    subgraph Optional
        PB[Project Brief]
        SP[System Patterns]
    end

📖 View File Descriptions

File	Purpose
activeContext.md	Tracks current goals, decisions, and session state
decisionLog.md	Records architectural choices and their rationale
productContext.md	Maintains high-level project context and knowledge
progress.md	Documents completed work and upcoming tasks
projectBrief.md	Contains initial project requirements (optional)
systemPatterns.md	Documents recurring patterns and standards

✨ Features

🧠 Persistent Context

• Remembers project details across sessions
• Maintains consistent understanding of your codebase
• Tracks decisions and their rationale

📊 Knowledge Management

• Structured documentation with clear purposes
• Technical decision tracking with rationale
• Automated progress monitoring
• Cross-referenced project knowledge

💡 Pro Tips

Architect Mode

Roo Code Memory Bank's Architect mode is designed for high-level system design and project organization. This mode focuses on architectural decisions, system structure, and maintaining project-wide consistency.

Key Capabilities

• 🏗️ System Design: Create and maintain architecture
• 📐 Pattern Definition: Establish coding patterns and standards
• 🔄 Project Structure: Organize code and resources
• 📋 Documentation: Maintain technical documentation
• 🤝 Team Collaboration: Guide implementation standards

Real-time Update Triggers

Architect mode actively monitors and updates Memory Bank files based on:

• 🎯 Architectural decisions and changes
• 📊 System pattern definitions
• 🔄 Project structure updates
• 📝 Documentation requirements
• ⚡ Implementation guidance needs

Memory Bank Integration

graph TD
    A[Architect Mode] --> B[Design Decisions]
    A --> C[Pattern Definition]
    B --> D[Memory Bank Updates]
    C --> D
    D --> E[activeContext.md]
    D --> F[progress.md]
    D --> G[decisionLog.md]
    E --> H[Design Status]
    F --> I[Architecture Progress]
    G --> J[Design Decisions]

Switch to Architect mode when you need to:

• Design system architecture
• Define coding patterns
• Structure new projects
• Guide implementations
• Make architectural decisions

Code Mode

Roo Code Memory Bank's Code mode is your primary interface for implementation and development. This mode specializes in writing, modifying, and maintaining code while following established patterns.

Key Capabilities

• 💻 Code Creation: Write new code and features
• 🔧 Code Modification: Update existing implementations
• 📚 Documentation: Add code comments and docs
• ✨ Quality Control: Maintain code standards
• 🔄 Refactoring: Improve code structure

Real-time Update Triggers

Code mode actively monitors and updates Memory Bank files based on:

• 📝 Code implementations
• 🔄 Feature updates
• 🎯 Pattern applications
• ⚡ Performance improvements
• 📚 Documentation updates

Memory Bank Integration

graph TD
    A[Code Mode] --> B[Implementation]
    A --> C[Documentation]
    B --> D[Memory Bank Updates]
    C --> D
    D --> E[activeContext.md]
    D --> F[progress.md]
    D --> G[decisionLog.md]
    E --> H[Current Tasks]
    F --> I[Code Progress]
    G --> J[Implementation Decisions]

Switch to Code mode when you need to:

• Implement new features
• Modify existing code
• Add documentation
• Apply coding patterns
• Refactor code

Ask Mode

Roo Code Memory Bank's Ask mode serves as your knowledge base interface and documentation assistant. This mode excels at providing information, explaining concepts, and maintaining project knowledge.

Key Capabilities

• 💡 Knowledge Sharing: Access project insights
• 📚 Documentation: Create and update docs
• 🔍 Code Explanation: Clarify implementations
• 🤝 Collaboration: Share understanding
• 📖 Pattern Education: Explain system patterns

Real-time Update Triggers

Ask mode actively monitors and updates Memory Bank files based on:

• ❓ Knowledge requests
• 📝 Documentation needs
• 🔄 Pattern explanations
• 💡 Implementation insights
• 📚 Learning outcomes

Memory Bank Integration

graph TD
    A[Ask Mode] --> B[Knowledge Sharing]
    A --> C[Documentation]
    B --> D[Memory Bank Updates]
    C --> D
    D --> E[activeContext.md]
    D --> F[progress.md]
    D --> G[decisionLog.md]
    E --> H[Current Topics]
    F --> I[Documentation Progress]
    G --> J[Knowledge Decisions]

Switch to Ask mode when you need to:

• Understand code patterns
• Get implementation guidance
• Create documentation
• Share knowledge
• Learn system concepts

Debug Mode

Roo Code Memory Bank's Debug mode specializes in systematic problem-solving and troubleshooting. This mode employs strategic analysis and verification to identify and resolve issues.

Key Capabilities

• 🔍 Issue Investigation: Analyze problems systematically
• 📊 Error Analysis: Track error patterns
• 🎯 Root Cause Finding: Identify core issues
• ✅ Solution Verification: Validate fixes
• 📝 Problem Documentation: Record findings

Real-time Update Triggers

Debug mode actively monitors and updates Memory Bank files based on:

• 🐛 Bug discoveries
• 📈 Performance issues
• 🔄 Error patterns
• ⚡ System bottlenecks
• 📝 Fix verifications

Memory Bank Integration

graph TD
    A[Debug Mode] --> B[Investigation]
    A --> C[Analysis]
    B --> D[Memory Bank Updates]
    C --> D
    D --> E[activeContext.md]
    D --> F[progress.md]
    D --> G[decisionLog.md]
    E --> H[Current Issues]
    F --> I[Debug Progress]
    G --> J[Solution Decisions]

Switch to Debug mode when you need to:

• Investigate issues
• Analyze errors
• Find root causes
• Verify fixes
• Document problems

Session Management

• ⚡ Real-time Updates: Memory Bank automatically stays synchronized with your work
• 💾 Manual Updates: Use "UMB" or "update memory bank" as a fallback when:
  • Ending a session unexpectedly
  • Halting mid-task
  • Recovering from connection issues
  • Forcing a full synchronization

📖 Documentation

• Developer Deep Dive
• Update Log

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License

Apache 2.0 © 2025 GreatScottyMac