Theo Browne argues that source code should remain the ground truth for coding agents. Separate memory systems create another store that can drift from the implementation, while modern agents can usually inspect a repository directly with ordinary shell and search tools.
Theo Browne audits the memories accumulated by Claude Code across his own projects and finds temporary plans, finished fixes, benchmark details and duplicated project rules. Many entries were written but never read, and several could steer future work using information that was already obsolete.
Theo Browne recommends encoding durable direction in a concise AGENTS.md or similar project guide, then preventing repeat failures through clearer architecture, lint rules, tests and CI. Skills and human review remain useful fallbacks, but automatic memory should not replace a codebase that makes its values and constraints explicit.
Watch on YouTube