mnemo

Windsurf memory surfaces

Native model

Windsurf Cascade has two documented mechanisms for context across conversations:

1. Memories generated automatically by Cascade.
2. Rules manually defined by the user at global, workspace, AGENTS.md, or Enterprise system scope.

Windsurf’s own recommendation is to use Rules or repository AGENTS.md for durable team knowledge instead of relying only on generated Memories.

Locations

Generated Memories:

• Stored locally under ~/.codeium/windsurf/memories/.
• Associated with the workspace where they were created.
• Not committed to the repository and not available in other workspaces.

Rules:

• Global rules: ~/.codeium/windsurf/memories/global_rules.md.
• Workspace rules: .windsurf/rules/**/*.md.
• AGENTS.md in a workspace directory, processed by the same Rules engine.
• Enterprise system rules: OS-specific directories such as /etc/windsurf/rules/*.md on Linux/WSL or /Library/Application Support/Windsurf/rules/*.md on macOS.
• Legacy .windsurfrules may exist and should be detected best-effort.

Shape and retrieval

• Generated Memories are local, workspace-associated items retrieved by Cascade when relevant.
• The public docs do not describe a MEMORY.md-style index for generated Memories; treat each discovered memory artifact as a candidate item and fail closed on unknown formats.
• Workspace rules are markdown files with frontmatter, including trigger modes such as always_on, glob, model_decision, or manual.
• Global rules and root-level AGENTS.md are always active and do not use frontmatter.
• Workspace rule files have documented size limits; global rules are shorter than workspace rules.

Conversion notes for mnemo

Recommended import order:

1. .windsurf/rules/**/*.md and root/nested AGENTS.md files.
2. ~/.codeium/windsurf/memories/ generated Memories for the active workspace.
3. global_rules.md only with explicit user-scope opt-in.
4. Enterprise system rules should not be imported by default.

Suggested mapping:

• Generated Memories -> classify as decision, discovery, pattern, preference, or manual based on content.
• always_on rules -> pattern or config with activation provenance.
• glob rules -> pattern with source glob provenance.
• model_decision or manual rules -> manual unless the content is clearly a durable decision or convention.

Important importer behavior:

• Preserve workspace association.
• Preserve rule trigger, globs, and description as provenance.
• Treat generated Memories as local user data; do not import unrelated workspaces without explicit selection.

Sources

• https://docs.windsurf.com/es/windsurf/cascade/memories

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