Give Claude Code a Memory: A Notes Folder It Can Read and Write
Claude Code starts each session fresh. It is great at reading your project, but it does not remember the decisions, context, and stray notes from last week unless that information lives somewhere it can read. The simplest durable memory you can give it is a folder of plain notes.
Folio is a local-first notebook built for exactly this. Your notes live as plain .md and .html files in one folder on your Mac. Point Claude Code at that same folder and it can read your accumulated context and write new notes back, with no API key, no plugin, and no MCP server to configure.
Why a notes folder makes a good memory
A “memory” for an agent just needs three things: it has to persist, it has to be readable, and it has to be writable. A folder of plain files checks all three.
- It persists because the files stay on disk between sessions.
- It is readable because Claude Code is already excellent at opening files and following links.
- It is writable because the agent can add or update notes the same way you would.
Folio adds the human layer on top: backlinks, a graph view, and full-text search, so the same memory the agent uses is a notebook you actually enjoy reading.
Setting it up
- Create a Folio folder and add a few notes: an
indexnote, a running project log, and any context you want to persist. - Use the Agent panel to set up
CLAUDE.md(project rules),AGENTS.md, a writing guide, and a vault index. These tell Claude Code where things are and how you want notes written. - Open Claude Code in the same folder.
- Ask it to read your index, then summarize, update, or extend your notes. It writes changes straight back to the files.
Because Folio keeps per-note history, you can always see what you wrote versus what the agent changed, and roll back anything you disagree with.
What to keep in the memory folder
| Note | Purpose | Who writes it |
|---|---|---|
index | Map of what exists and where | You, then the agent maintains |
CLAUDE.md | Rules and conventions for the agent | You |
| Project log | Decisions, status, open questions | Both |
| Research notes | Source material, links, findings | Both |
| Writing guide | Voice and formatting rules | You |
This turns scattered context into a memory the agent can rely on next time, instead of something you re-explain every session. It is one part of the broader idea of a notebook your AI agent can use.
Honest scope
Folio does not run the model for you and does not call any AI service. It is the notebook. You bring Claude Code (or another agent), and the value comes from both of you sharing the same files. That keeps everything local and under your control, and it means the “memory” is just your data, in formats you can open anywhere. The agent can also write into rich notes with tables, diagrams, and live charts.
Frequently asked questions
- How does Claude Code read my notes?
- You open Claude Code in the same folder Folio uses. Because the notes are plain files, the agent reads and follows links between them directly.
- Do I need an API key or special integration?
- No. Folio does not add an AI service. You run your own agent, and it works with the folder as plain files.
- What is CLAUDE.md for?
- It is a conventions file Claude Code reads to learn your project rules. Folio surfaces it in the Agent panel so it is easy to maintain.
- Can I see what the agent changed?
- Yes. Per-note history shows your edits versus the agent's, so you can review and roll back.
- Is Folio free?
- Folio is free for personal use, on macOS today.
Your notes, on your disk, ready for your agent.
Free for personal use. Open a folder and start writing. No account, nothing to sign up for.
On an Intel Mac? Get that build · Windows and Linux coming soon