From 88fcf0c8c02d4a5f7c465efffaf4122b8ded793a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: xxxigm Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:05:38 +0700 Subject: [PATCH] docs(memory): clarify that memory does not auto-compact when full MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit The "Persistent Memory" callout said "when memory is full, the agent consolidates or replaces entries to make room," which reads as if the store self-compacts automatically. It does not: the `memory` tool returns an overflow error and the agent does the consolidation in-turn (the design from #41755). Also note that `replace` is bound by the same limit — swapping in a longer entry can still overflow — which is the exact case that confused a user (replace rejected near the cap even though the math was correct). --- website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md | 8 +++++++- 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md b/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md index d0873d6b9..b4814d2a1 100644 --- a/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md +++ b/website/docs/user-guide/features/memory.md @@ -20,7 +20,13 @@ Two files make up the agent's memory: Both are stored in `~/.hermes/memories/` and are injected into the system prompt as a frozen snapshot at session start. The agent manages its own memory via the `memory` tool — it can add, replace, or remove entries. :::info -Character limits keep memory focused. When memory is full, the agent consolidates or replaces entries to make room for new information. +Character limits keep memory focused. Memory does **not** auto-compact: when a +write would exceed the limit, the `memory` tool returns an error instead of +silently dropping entries. The agent then makes room itself — consolidating or +removing entries in the same turn before retrying (see [What Happens When Memory +is Full](#what-happens-when-memory-is-full)). Note that `replace` is also bound +by the limit: swapping an entry for a longer one can still overflow, so the new +content must be shortened (or another entry removed) to fit. ::: ## How Memory Appears in the System Prompt