OpenViking guides
Agent memory: persistent context beyond one conversation
Agent memory is information retained beyond the model's current context window and retrieved when a later task needs it. It can include user preferences, decisions, task events, and reusable experience. A larger context window alone does not provide this persistence.
Memory, conversation history, and RAG
Conversation history records what happened. Memory selects and organizes information that may be useful again. RAG retrieves external evidence for an answer. An agent can use all three: retrieve a project document, consult an earlier decision, and apply a remembered preference. Keeping source records makes a memory easier to verify or correct.
The OpenViking memory lifecycle
An integration captures messages in an OpenViking session. A commit archives session material and starts processing according to the configured memory policy. Later retrieval selects relevant stored context for the current query. Capture, commit, and injection behavior vary by harness; inspect the integration guide rather than assuming that every client behaves identically.
Keep scope explicit
A useful memory must belong to the right identity. OpenViking distinguishes authenticated users and peers within a user scope. Choose the intended scope for private preferences, shared project resources, and experience. Test with two identities and verify that each retrieves only the material it should see.
Evaluate more than recall accuracy
Start with questions whose answers depend on earlier sessions. Check whether the agent finds the correct source, respects a corrected preference, avoids repeating completed actions, and handles a deleted memory. Measure end-to-end latency and input tokens alongside answer quality. A published benchmark is a starting point, not a guarantee for your workload.
Connect an existing agent
OpenViking has integrations for agent runtimes including Claude Code, Codex, OpenClaw, and Hermes. The integration matrix explains whether a client uses hooks, a memory provider, or a context engine. Use it to choose the appropriate setup and to understand which lifecycle events are covered.