Memory Bank System v0.6-beta Release Notes

Release Date: Tuesday 1st April (No Fools)

I'm thrilled to announce the release of Memory Bank System v0.6-beta, representing a major architectural overhaul designed to improve efficiency, scalability, and clarity in structured development workflows within Cursor.

This is a beta release, focused on introducing the new architecture. As a personal project under active development, expect further refinements and feature additions over time.

🎉 Major Architectural Overhaul: From Monolithic to Modular

This version marks a fundamental shift away from the previous single-file, monolithic approach (v0.1-legacy) to a modular, graph-based system. Key architectural improvements include:

• Just-In-Time (JIT) Rule Loading: Drastically reduces context window usage (from ~70% to ~15-20%) by loading only the rules relevant to the current development phase (VAN, PLAN, CREATIVE, IMPLEMENT).
• Graph-Based Efficiency: Utilizes directed graphs for optimized navigation of decision trees and workflows, explicitly modeling relationships between phases and components.
• Visual Process Maps: Embeds Mermaid diagrams within modes to provide clear visual guidance on workflows, decision points, and progress tracking.
• Isolated Rules Architecture: Eliminates global rules. All system behavior is contained within specific custom modes, ensuring no interference with regular Cursor usage when Memory Bank modes are inactive.

(See the Memory Bank Upgrade Guide for a detailed explanation of these changes.)

✨ Enhanced Integration with Cursor Custom Modes

Memory Bank v0.6-beta leverages Cursor's custom modes feature far beyond simple prompt changes:

• Structured Workflow: Introduces four core custom modes (🔍 VAN, 📋 PLAN, 🎨 CREATIVE, ⚒️ IMPLEMENT) designed to work together in a logical sequence.
• Interconnected Modes: Modes are treated as nodes in a development graph with defined transitions and context handoffs.
• Shared Memory: Maintains persistent state across mode transitions using dedicated Memory Bank files (tasks.md, activeContext.md, progress.md).
• Callable QA Function: Technical validation (QA) is now a function callable from any mode by typing "QA", providing flexibility for verification throughout the process, rather than being a separate mode.

🚀 Key Feature Highlights

• CREATIVE Mode Enhancement: Conceptually based on Anthropic's Claude "Think" tool methodology for structured exploration and documentation of design decisions. (See CREATIVE Mode Details).
• Platform Awareness: Improved automatic detection of the operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux) for more reliable command generation.
• Complexity Scale: Preserves the foundational 4-level complexity scale to guide workflow paths and documentation needs.
• Improved Technical Validation: QA functions provide context-aware checks based on the current development phase.

⚠️ Important Notes for Users

• Beta Status: This is an experimental release. Features and documentation may evolve.
• Compatibility:
  • Requires Cursor version 0.48 or higher.
  • Claude 3.7 Sonnet is the recommended AI model for optimal performance, particularly with the CREATIVE mode. Other models might work but could lead to variations in interpretation.
• No Formal Migration Path: This version is primarily intended for new projects. The previous stable version (v0.1-legacy) remains available for existing projects or users preferring stability.
• Manual Setup: Setting up the four custom modes in Cursor requires manual copying and pasting of instructions (see README for details).

🛠️ Getting Started

Please refer to the updated README.md for detailed installation instructions, setup steps for the custom modes, and basic usage guidelines.

💬 Feedback Welcome

As a personal hobby project, I greatly appreciate any feedback, bug reports, or suggestions for improvement!

📚 Resources

• README.md (Installation, Setup, Usage)
• Memory Bank Upgrade Guide (Architectural Deep Dive)
• CREATIVE Mode and Claude's "Think" Tool (CREATIVE Mode Details)

Thank you for trying out Memory Bank v0.6-beta! I hope this new architecture enhances your development workflow.