Add tiered memory system with manual distillation

- config.py: memory_budget_long/mid/short settings (overridable in .env)
- memory_distiller.py: distill_short (no LLM), distill_mid, distill_long (LLM)
- routers/distill.py: POST /distill/{short,mid,long,all} endpoints
- context_loader.py: rewrote to load long→mid→short order with include_* toggles
- routers/chat.py: ChatRequest gains include_long/mid/short fields
- routers/files.py: MEMORY_LONG/MID/SHORT.md added to ALLOWED set
- main.py: register distill router
- static/index.html: context bar — tier selector, L/M/S memory toggles,
  distill buttons with status feedback; send includes tier + memory flags
- inara/MEMORY_LONG.md: migrated from MEMORY.md + Cortex/Talk bot notes
- inara/MEMORY_MID.md, MEMORY_SHORT.md: stubs ready for distillation

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

cortex/config.py

@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     nextcloud_talk_bot_secret: str = ""   # set in .env
     nextcloud_talk_timeout: int = 55
 
+    # Memory tier token budgets — soft caps used during distillation
+    # Override in .env: MEMORY_BUDGET_LONG=4000 etc.
+    memory_budget_long: int = 2000
+    memory_budget_mid: int = 2000
+    memory_budget_short: int = 3000
+
     host: str = "0.0.0.0"
     port: int = 8000
 

cortex/context_loader.py

@@ -2,46 +2,83 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from config import settings
 
 
-# Files loaded per tier — mirrors CONTEXT_TIERS.md
-TIER_FILES: dict[int, list[str]] = {
-    1: ["SOUL.md", "IDENTITY.md"],          # + USER.md summary only
-    2: ["SOUL.md", "IDENTITY.md", "USER.md", "MEMORY.md", "PROTOCOLS.md"],
-    3: ["SOUL.md", "IDENTITY.md", "USER.md", "MEMORY.md", "PROTOCOLS.md"],
-    4: ["SOUL.md", "IDENTITY.md", "USER.md", "MEMORY.md", "PROTOCOLS.md"],
-}
+# Core identity files — always loaded regardless of tier
+_CORE = ["SOUL.md", "IDENTITY.md"]
 
-# Lines of USER.md to include at Tier 1 (just identity + what he cares about)
-TIER_1_USER_LINES = 30
+# Lines of USER.md to include at Tier 1 (identity + what he cares about)
+_TIER_1_USER_LINES = 30
 
 
-def _read(path: Path) -> str:
-    if path.exists():
-        return path.read_text()
-    return f"[missing: {path.name}]"
+def load_context(
+    tier: int = 2,
+    include_long: bool = True,
+    include_mid: bool = True,
+    include_short: bool = True,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Build the system-prompt context block for a given tier and memory toggles.
 
+    Load order (long → mid → short) keeps the most recent memory closest
+    to the conversation turn, which improves LLM recall.
 
-def load_context(tier: int = 2) -> str:
+    Tier 1  — SOUL + IDENTITY + USER summary        (~1,500 tokens)
+    Tier 2  — + USER full + PROTOCOLS + memory      (~5,000 tokens)
+    Tier 3  — + last 2 raw session logs             (~15,000 tokens)
+    Tier 4  — + last 7 raw session logs             (~50,000 tokens)
+    """
     inara_dir = settings.inara_path()
     parts = []
 
-    files = TIER_FILES.get(tier, TIER_FILES[2])
-
-    for filename in files:
+    # ── 1. Core identity (always) ──────────────────────────────────
+    for filename in _CORE:
         path = inara_dir / filename
-        if not path.exists():
-            continue
+        if path.exists():
+            parts.append(f"--- {filename} ---\n{path.read_text()}")
 
-        if filename == "USER.md" and tier == 1:
-            # Tier 1: include only the first N lines
-            lines = path.read_text().splitlines()[:TIER_1_USER_LINES]
+    # ── 2. USER.md ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    user_path = inara_dir / "USER.md"
+    if user_path.exists():
+        if tier == 1:
+            lines = user_path.read_text().splitlines()[:_TIER_1_USER_LINES]
             content = "\n".join(lines)
         else:
-            content = path.read_text()
+            content = user_path.read_text()
+        parts.append(f"--- USER.md ---\n{content}")
 
-        parts.append(f"--- {filename} ---\n{content}")
+    if tier < 2:
+        return "\n\n".join(parts)
 
+    # ── 3. Protocols (tier 2+) ─────────────────────────────────────
+    proto_path = inara_dir / "PROTOCOLS.md"
+    if proto_path.exists():
+        parts.append(f"--- PROTOCOLS.md ---\n{proto_path.read_text()}")
+
+    # ── 4. Tiered memory — long → mid → short ─────────────────────
+    #    Short is last so it sits closest to the conversation turn.
+    if include_long:
+        # Fall back to legacy MEMORY.md during/after migration
+        long_path = inara_dir / "MEMORY_LONG.md"
+        if not long_path.exists():
+            long_path = inara_dir / "MEMORY.md"
+        if long_path.exists():
+            parts.append(f"--- {long_path.name} ---\n{long_path.read_text()}")
+
+    if include_mid:
+        mid_path = inara_dir / "MEMORY_MID.md"
+        if mid_path.exists() and mid_path.stat().st_size > 100:
+            content = mid_path.read_text()
+            if "Not yet populated" not in content:
+                parts.append(f"--- MEMORY_MID.md ---\n{content}")
+
+    if include_short:
+        short_path = inara_dir / "MEMORY_SHORT.md"
+        if short_path.exists() and short_path.stat().st_size > 100:
+            content = short_path.read_text()
+            if "Not yet populated" not in content:
+                parts.append(f"--- MEMORY_SHORT.md ---\n{content}")
+
+    # ── 5. Raw session logs (tier 3+) ──────────────────────────────
     if tier >= 3:
-        # Add recent session logs
         sessions_dir = inara_dir / "sessions"
         if sessions_dir.exists():
             count = 2 if tier == 3 else 7

cortex/main.py

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import uvicorn
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO, format="%(levelname)s:%(name)s: %(message)s")
 
 from config import settings
-from routers import chat, google_chat, nextcloud_talk, files
+from routers import chat, google_chat, nextcloud_talk, files, distill
 
 
 @asynccontextmanager
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ app.include_router(chat.router)
 app.include_router(google_chat.router)
 app.include_router(nextcloud_talk.router)
 app.include_router(files.router)
+app.include_router(distill.router)
 app.mount("/static", StaticFiles(directory="static"), name="static")
 
 

cortex/memory_distiller.py

@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+"""
+Inara tiered memory distillation.
+
+  distill_short()  — roll recent session logs → MEMORY_SHORT.md  (no LLM)
+  distill_mid()    — summarize MEMORY_SHORT   → MEMORY_MID.md    (LLM)
+  distill_long()   — integrate MEMORY_MID     → MEMORY_LONG.md   (LLM)
+"""
+import logging
+from datetime import datetime
+from pathlib import Path
+from config import settings
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+# Rough chars-per-token estimate for budget enforcement
+_CHARS_PER_TOKEN = 4
+
+
+def _budget_chars(tokens: int) -> int:
+    return tokens * _CHARS_PER_TOKEN
+
+
+def _read(path: Path) -> str:
+    return path.read_text() if path.exists() else ""
+
+
+def distill_short() -> dict:
+    """
+    Roll the most recent session log files into MEMORY_SHORT.md.
+    No LLM involved — pure aggregation with budget truncation.
+    Files are included newest-first until the budget is reached,
+    then written in chronological order (oldest first).
+    """
+    inara_dir = settings.inara_path()
+    sessions_dir = inara_dir / "sessions"
+    budget = _budget_chars(settings.memory_budget_short)
+
+    session_files = (
+        sorted(sessions_dir.glob("*.md"), reverse=True)
+        if sessions_dir.exists()
+        else []
+    )
+
+    parts = []
+    total_chars = 0
+    for sf in session_files:
+        content = sf.read_text()
+        if total_chars + len(content) > budget and parts:
+            break  # always include at least one file
+        parts.append((sf.name, content))
+        total_chars += len(content)
+        if total_chars >= budget:
+            break
+
+    now = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M")
+    header = (
+        f"# MEMORY_SHORT.md — Recent Session Digest\n\n"
+        f"*Auto-generated: {now}. {len(parts)} session file(s).*\n\n---\n\n"
+    )
+    # Write in chronological order (oldest first)
+    body = "\n\n".join(
+        f"--- {name} ---\n{content}" for name, content in reversed(parts)
+    )
+
+    out_path = inara_dir / "MEMORY_SHORT.md"
+    out_path.write_text(header + body)
+    logger.info("distill_short: wrote %d chars from %d files", len(header) + len(body), len(parts))
+
+    return {
+        "files_included": len(parts),
+        "chars_written": len(header) + len(body),
+        "budget_chars": budget,
+    }
+
+
+async def distill_mid() -> dict:
+    """
+    Ask the LLM to summarize MEMORY_SHORT.md → MEMORY_MID.md.
+    """
+    from llm_client import complete
+
+    inara_dir = settings.inara_path()
+    short_content = _read(inara_dir / "MEMORY_SHORT.md")
+
+    if not short_content.strip() or "Not yet populated" in short_content:
+        return {"error": "MEMORY_SHORT.md is empty — run distill/short first"}
+
+    budget_tokens = settings.memory_budget_mid
+    system_prompt = (
+        "You are Inara's memory distillation system. "
+        "Summarize the following recent session logs into a concise mid-term memory digest. "
+        f"Target length: under {budget_tokens} tokens. "
+        "Focus on: recurring themes, important decisions made, ongoing projects, "
+        "Scott's current state and priorities, and anything that should persist into future sessions. "
+        "Write in first person as Inara (e.g. 'Scott and I worked on...'). "
+        "Use markdown headings. Be specific and concrete — no filler."
+    )
+
+    response_text, backend = await complete(
+        system_prompt=system_prompt,
+        messages=[{"role": "user", "content": short_content}],
+    )
+
+    now = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M")
+    header = (
+        f"# MEMORY_MID.md — Mid-Term Memory Digest\n\n"
+        f"*Auto-distilled: {now} via {backend}.*\n\n---\n\n"
+    )
+    out_path = inara_dir / "MEMORY_MID.md"
+    out_path.write_text(header + response_text)
+    logger.info("distill_mid: wrote %d chars via %s", len(header) + len(response_text), backend)
+
+    return {
+        "backend": backend,
+        "chars_written": len(header) + len(response_text),
+        "budget_tokens": budget_tokens,
+    }
+
+
+async def distill_long() -> dict:
+    """
+    Ask the LLM to integrate MEMORY_MID.md into MEMORY_LONG.md.
+    """
+    from llm_client import complete
+
+    inara_dir = settings.inara_path()
+    long_content = _read(inara_dir / "MEMORY_LONG.md")
+    mid_content = _read(inara_dir / "MEMORY_MID.md")
+
+    if not mid_content.strip() or "Not yet populated" in mid_content:
+        return {"error": "MEMORY_MID.md is empty — run distill/mid first"}
+
+    budget_tokens = settings.memory_budget_long
+    system_prompt = (
+        "You are Inara's long-term memory curator. "
+        "You will receive the current long-term memory and a recent mid-term digest. "
+        f"Integrate the new information into the long-term memory. Target: under {budget_tokens} tokens. "
+        "Rules: preserve important historical facts; update or replace stale information; "
+        "absorb recurring themes from the mid-term digest; remove things no longer relevant. "
+        "Return ONLY the updated MEMORY_LONG.md content in markdown. No preamble or commentary."
+    )
+
+    user_content = (
+        f"## Current MEMORY_LONG.md\n\n{long_content}\n\n"
+        f"## Recent MEMORY_MID.md to integrate\n\n{mid_content}"
+    )
+
+    response_text, backend = await complete(
+        system_prompt=system_prompt,
+        messages=[{"role": "user", "content": user_content}],
+    )
+
+    # Ensure the file has the right header if the LLM dropped it
+    now = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M")
+    if not response_text.lstrip().startswith("# MEMORY_LONG"):
+        response_text = (
+            f"# MEMORY_LONG.md — Inara Long-Term Memory\n\n"
+            f"*Last distilled: {now} via {backend}.*\n\n---\n\n"
+            + response_text
+        )
+
+    out_path = inara_dir / "MEMORY_LONG.md"
+    out_path.write_text(response_text)
+    logger.info("distill_long: wrote %d chars via %s", len(response_text), backend)
+
+    return {
+        "backend": backend,
+        "chars_written": len(response_text),
+        "budget_tokens": budget_tokens,
+    }

cortex/routers/chat.py

@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ class ChatRequest(BaseModel):
     session_id: str | None = None
     tier: int | None = None
     model: str | None = None  # "claude" or "gemini" to override; None = use primary_backend
+    include_long: bool = True
+    include_mid: bool = True
+    include_short: bool = True
 
 
 class BackendRequest(BaseModel):
@@ -49,7 +52,12 @@ async def _stream_chat(req: ChatRequest):
     session_id = req.session_id or generate_session_id()
     tier = req.tier or settings.default_tier
 
-    system_prompt = load_context(tier)
+    system_prompt = load_context(
+        tier,
+        include_long=req.include_long,
+        include_mid=req.include_mid,
+        include_short=req.include_short,
+    )
     history = load_session(session_id)
     history.append({"role": "user", "content": req.message})
 

cortex/routers/distill.py

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"""
+Manual memory distillation endpoints.
+
+  POST /distill/short  — roll session logs → MEMORY_SHORT.md (no LLM)
+  POST /distill/mid    — summarize short   → MEMORY_MID.md   (LLM)
+  POST /distill/long   — integrate mid     → MEMORY_LONG.md  (LLM)
+  POST /distill/all    — run all three in sequence
+"""
+from fastapi import APIRouter
+from memory_distiller import distill_short, distill_mid, distill_long
+
+router = APIRouter(prefix="/distill")
+
+
+@router.post("/short")
+async def do_distill_short() -> dict:
+    return {"ok": True, **distill_short()}
+
+
+@router.post("/mid")
+async def do_distill_mid() -> dict:
+    result = await distill_mid()
+    return {"ok": "error" not in result, **result}
+
+
+@router.post("/long")
+async def do_distill_long() -> dict:
+    result = await distill_long()
+    return {"ok": "error" not in result, **result}
+
+
+@router.post("/all")
+async def do_distill_all() -> dict:
+    short_result = distill_short()
+    mid_result = await distill_mid()
+    if "error" in mid_result:
+        return {"ok": False, "short": short_result, "mid": mid_result}
+    long_result = await distill_long()
+    return {
+        "ok": "error" not in long_result,
+        "short": short_result,
+        "mid": mid_result,
+        "long": long_result,
+    }

cortex/routers/files.py

@@ -12,9 +12,12 @@ ALLOWED = {
     "SOUL.md",
     "IDENTITY.md",
     "USER.md",
-    "MEMORY.md",
     "PROTOCOLS.md",
     "CONTEXT_TIERS.md",
+    "MEMORY.md",        # legacy — kept for reference
+    "MEMORY_LONG.md",
+    "MEMORY_MID.md",
+    "MEMORY_SHORT.md",
 }
 
 

cortex/static/index.html

@@ -522,6 +522,164 @@
         .edit-save-btn   { border-color: var(--inara-border); color: var(--accent); }
         .edit-save-btn:hover   { background: var(--inara-bg); }
         .edit-cancel-btn:hover { color: var(--text); border-color: var(--muted); }
+
+        /* ── File editor modal ───────────────────────────────────── */
+        #file-modal {
+            display: none;
+            position: fixed;
+            inset: 0;
+            background: rgba(0,0,0,0.7);
+            z-index: 200;
+            align-items: center;
+            justify-content: center;
+        }
+        #file-modal.open { display: flex; }
+
+        #file-modal-inner {
+            background: var(--surface);
+            border: 1px solid var(--border);
+            border-radius: 10px;
+            width: min(860px, 96vw);
+            height: min(82vh, 800px);
+            display: flex;
+            flex-direction: column;
+            overflow: hidden;
+        }
+
+        #file-modal-header {
+            display: flex;
+            align-items: center;
+            gap: 8px;
+            padding: 10px 14px;
+            border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);
+            background: var(--bg);
+            flex-shrink: 0;
+        }
+
+        #file-modal-header select {
+            background: var(--surface);
+            border: 1px solid var(--border);
+            border-radius: 5px;
+            color: var(--text);
+            font-size: 0.85rem;
+            padding: 4px 8px;
+            cursor: pointer;
+        }
+
+        #file-modal-title {
+            font-size: 0.9rem;
+            font-weight: 600;
+            color: var(--accent);
+            flex: 1;
+        }
+
+        .fm-btn {
+            background: var(--bg);
+            border: 1px solid var(--border);
+            border-radius: 5px;
+            color: var(--muted);
+            font-size: 0.75rem;
+            padding: 4px 10px;
+            cursor: pointer;
+            transition: color 0.15s, border-color 0.15s;
+        }
+        .fm-btn:hover { color: var(--text); border-color: var(--muted); }
+        .fm-btn.active { color: var(--accent); border-color: var(--accent); }
+        .fm-btn.save   { color: var(--accent); border-color: var(--inara-border); }
+        .fm-btn.save:hover { background: var(--inara-bg); }
+        #file-saved-msg {
+            font-size: 0.75rem;
+            color: #6abf6a;
+            opacity: 0;
+            transition: opacity 0.3s;
+        }
+        #file-saved-msg.show { opacity: 1; }
+
+        #file-modal-body {
+            flex: 1;
+            overflow: hidden;
+            display: flex;
+            flex-direction: column;
+        }
+
+        #file-editor {
+            flex: 1;
+            width: 100%;
+            background: var(--bg);
+            color: var(--text);
+            border: none;
+            outline: none;
+            padding: 16px;
+            font-family: 'Courier New', monospace;
+            font-size: 0.85rem;
+            line-height: 1.55;
+            resize: none;
+            display: block;
+        }
+
+        #file-preview {
+            flex: 1;
+            overflow-y: auto;
+            padding: 16px 20px;
+            display: none;
+            line-height: 1.6;
+        }
+
+        #file-preview.active { display: block; }
+        #file-editor.hidden  { display: none; }
+
+        /* Talk activity badge on Sessions button */
+        #sessions-btn.talk-badge::after {
+            content: '●';
+            color: #7cb9e8;
+            margin-left: 5px;
+            font-size: 0.55rem;
+            vertical-align: middle;
+        }
+
+        /* ── Context bar ─────────────────────────────────────────── */
+        #context-bar {
+            display: flex;
+            align-items: center;
+            gap: 6px;
+            padding: 4px 20px;
+            background: var(--surface);
+            border-top: 1px solid var(--border);
+            flex-wrap: wrap;
+        }
+
+        .ctx-label {
+            font-size: 0.63rem;
+            color: var(--muted);
+            flex-shrink: 0;
+        }
+
+        .ctx-btn {
+            background: var(--bg);
+            border: 1px solid var(--border);
+            border-radius: 4px;
+            color: var(--muted);
+            font-size: 0.63rem;
+            padding: 2px 7px;
+            cursor: pointer;
+            transition: color 0.15s, border-color 0.15s, background 0.15s;
+        }
+
+        .ctx-btn:hover  { color: var(--text); border-color: var(--muted); }
+        .ctx-btn.active { color: var(--accent); border-color: var(--accent); }
+        .ctx-btn.mem-on { color: #6abf6a; border-color: #2a4a2a; }
+
+        .ctx-sep { flex: 1; min-width: 8px; }
+
+        #ctx-distill-status {
+            font-size: 0.62rem;
+            color: #6abf6a;
+            opacity: 0;
+            transition: opacity 0.3s;
+            white-space: nowrap;
+        }
+        #ctx-distill-status.show { opacity: 1; }
+        #ctx-distill-status.err  { color: var(--error-text); }
     </style>
 </head>
 <body>
@@ -532,14 +690,55 @@
             <div class="subtitle">Cortex · Local</div>
         </div>
         <button id="sessions-btn" class="hdr-btn">Sessions</button>
+        <button id="files-btn" class="hdr-btn">Files</button>
         <button id="backend-toggle" class="hdr-btn" title="Click to switch primary backend">claude</button>
 
         <div id="sessions-panel"></div>
     </header>
 
+    <!-- File editor modal -->
+    <div id="file-modal">
+        <div id="file-modal-inner">
+            <div id="file-modal-header">
+                <span id="file-modal-title">Context Files</span>
+                <select id="file-select"></select>
+                <button class="fm-btn" id="file-raw-btn">edit</button>
+                <button class="fm-btn active" id="file-preview-btn">preview</button>
+                <button class="fm-btn save" id="file-save-btn">Save</button>
+                <span id="file-saved-msg">saved ✓</span>
+                <button class="fm-btn" id="file-close-btn">✕</button>
+            </div>
+            <div id="file-modal-body">
+                <textarea id="file-editor" spellcheck="false"></textarea>
+                <div id="file-preview"></div>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
     <div id="messages"></div>
     <div id="session-id"></div>
 
+    <!-- Context / memory controls -->
+    <div id="context-bar">
+        <span class="ctx-label">Tier:</span>
+        <button class="ctx-btn" data-tier="1" id="tier-1">1</button>
+        <button class="ctx-btn active" data-tier="2" id="tier-2">2</button>
+        <button class="ctx-btn" data-tier="3" id="tier-3">3</button>
+        <button class="ctx-btn" data-tier="4" id="tier-4">4</button>
+        <span class="ctx-sep"></span>
+        <span class="ctx-label">Mem:</span>
+        <button class="ctx-btn mem-on" id="mem-long-btn" title="Long-term memory (MEMORY_LONG.md)">L</button>
+        <button class="ctx-btn mem-on" id="mem-mid-btn"  title="Mid-term memory (MEMORY_MID.md)">M</button>
+        <button class="ctx-btn mem-on" id="mem-short-btn" title="Short-term memory (MEMORY_SHORT.md)">S</button>
+        <span class="ctx-sep"></span>
+        <span class="ctx-label">Distill:</span>
+        <button class="ctx-btn" id="distill-short-btn" title="Roll session logs → MEMORY_SHORT">short</button>
+        <button class="ctx-btn" id="distill-mid-btn"   title="Summarize short → MEMORY_MID (LLM)">mid</button>
+        <button class="ctx-btn" id="distill-long-btn"  title="Integrate mid → MEMORY_LONG (LLM)">long</button>
+        <button class="ctx-btn" id="distill-all-btn"   title="Run all three distillation steps">all</button>
+        <span id="ctx-distill-status"></span>
+    </div>
+
     <div id="input-area">
         <textarea id="input" rows="1" placeholder="Message Inara… (Ctrl+Enter to send)" autofocus></textarea>
         <div id="right-col">
@@ -581,6 +780,7 @@
         let primaryBackend   = 'claude';
         let activeController = null;
         let currentHistory   = [];  // mirrors backend session [{role, content}, ...]
+        let talkThinkingDiv  = null; // pending "thinking…" bubble for live Talk updates
 
         // ── Enter toggle ─────────────────────────────────────────────
         // Default: Ctrl+Enter sends. Stored in localStorage.
@@ -769,6 +969,8 @@
         }
 
         async function resumeSession(id) {
+            talkThinkingDiv = null;
+            if (id && id.startsWith('nct_')) sessionsBtn.classList.remove('talk-badge');
             const res = await fetch(`/history/${id}`);
             const data = await res.json();
 
@@ -1092,7 +1294,14 @@
                 const res = await fetch('/chat', {
                     method: 'POST',
                     headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-                    body: JSON.stringify({ message: text, session_id: sessionId }),
+                    body: JSON.stringify({
+                        message: text,
+                        session_id: sessionId,
+                        tier: currentTier,
+                        include_long: memLong,
+                        include_mid: memMid,
+                        include_short: memShort,
+                    }),
                     signal: activeController.signal,
                 });
 
@@ -1166,6 +1375,214 @@
 
         inputEl.addEventListener('input', syncHeight);
 
+        // ── File editor ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+        const fileModal      = document.getElementById('file-modal');
+        const fileSelect     = document.getElementById('file-select');
+        const fileEditor     = document.getElementById('file-editor');
+        const filePreview    = document.getElementById('file-preview');
+        const fileRawBtn     = document.getElementById('file-raw-btn');
+        const filePreviewBtn = document.getElementById('file-preview-btn');
+        const fileSaveBtn    = document.getElementById('file-save-btn');
+        const fileSavedMsg   = document.getElementById('file-saved-msg');
+        const fileCloseBtn   = document.getElementById('file-close-btn');
+        const filesBtn       = document.getElementById('files-btn');
+
+        let fileMode = 'preview'; // 'edit' or 'preview'
+
+        function setFileMode(mode) {
+            fileMode = mode;
+            if (mode === 'edit') {
+                fileEditor.classList.remove('hidden');
+                filePreview.classList.remove('active');
+                fileRawBtn.classList.add('active');
+                filePreviewBtn.classList.remove('active');
+            } else {
+                fileEditor.classList.add('hidden');
+                filePreview.classList.add('active');
+                fileRawBtn.classList.remove('active');
+                filePreviewBtn.classList.add('active');
+                if (typeof marked !== 'undefined') {
+                    filePreview.innerHTML = marked.parse(fileEditor.value);
+                    filePreview.querySelectorAll('a').forEach(a => {
+                        a.target = '_blank'; a.rel = 'noopener noreferrer';
+                    });
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        async function loadFile(name) {
+            const res = await fetch(`/files/${encodeURIComponent(name)}`);
+            if (!res.ok) { fileEditor.value = `Error loading ${name}`; return; }
+            const data = await res.json();
+            fileEditor.value = data.content;
+            document.getElementById('file-modal-title').textContent = name;
+            setFileMode(fileMode);
+        }
+
+        async function openFileModal() {
+            // Populate the file list
+            const res = await fetch('/files');
+            const data = await res.json();
+            fileSelect.innerHTML = '';
+            for (const f of data.files) {
+                const opt = document.createElement('option');
+                opt.value = f.name;
+                opt.textContent = f.name + (f.exists ? '' : ' (missing)');
+                fileSelect.appendChild(opt);
+            }
+            fileModal.classList.add('open');
+            await loadFile(fileSelect.value);
+        }
+
+        filesBtn.addEventListener('click', openFileModal);
+
+        fileSelect.addEventListener('change', () => loadFile(fileSelect.value));
+
+        fileRawBtn.addEventListener('click', () => setFileMode('edit'));
+        filePreviewBtn.addEventListener('click', () => setFileMode('preview'));
+
+        fileSaveBtn.addEventListener('click', async () => {
+            const name = fileSelect.value;
+            const res = await fetch(`/files/${encodeURIComponent(name)}`, {
+                method: 'PUT',
+                headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+                body: JSON.stringify({ content: fileEditor.value }),
+            });
+            if (res.ok) {
+                fileSavedMsg.classList.add('show');
+                setTimeout(() => fileSavedMsg.classList.remove('show'), 2000);
+            }
+        });
+
+        fileCloseBtn.addEventListener('click', () => fileModal.classList.remove('open'));
+
+        fileModal.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
+            if (e.target === fileModal) fileModal.classList.remove('open');
+        });
+
+        document.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => {
+            if (e.key === 'Escape' && fileModal.classList.contains('open')) {
+                fileModal.classList.remove('open');
+            }
+            // Ctrl+S to save when modal is open
+            if ((e.ctrlKey || e.metaKey) && e.key === 's' && fileModal.classList.contains('open')) {
+                e.preventDefault();
+                fileSaveBtn.click();
+            }
+        });
+
+        // ── Real-time Talk updates (SSE) ─────────────────────────────
+        const evtSource = new EventSource('/events');
+
+        evtSource.onmessage = (e) => {
+            let data;
+            try { data = JSON.parse(e.data); } catch { return; }
+            if (data.type === 'keepalive') return;
+            if (data.type !== 'nct_message' && data.type !== 'nct_response') return;
+
+            if (sessionId === data.session_id) {
+                // Active session — append live
+                if (data.type === 'nct_message') {
+                    // Clear any stale thinking div before new user msg
+                    if (talkThinkingDiv) { talkThinkingDiv.remove(); talkThinkingDiv = null; }
+                    addMessage('user', data.content);
+                    talkThinkingDiv = addMessage('assistant thinking', '✨ thinking…');
+                } else {
+                    if (talkThinkingDiv) {
+                        talkThinkingDiv.className = 'message assistant';
+                        setMessageText(talkThinkingDiv, 'assistant', data.content);
+                        talkThinkingDiv = null;
+                    } else {
+                        addMessage('assistant', data.content);
+                    }
+                    scrollToBottom();
+                }
+            } else {
+                // Different session — light badge on Sessions button
+                if (data.type === 'nct_message') {
+                    sessionsBtn.classList.add('talk-badge');
+                }
+            }
+        };
+
+        // ── Context bar — tier + memory toggles + distill ────────────
+        let currentTier  = parseInt(localStorage.getItem('ctx-tier')  || '2');
+        let memLong      = localStorage.getItem('mem-long')  !== 'false';
+        let memMid       = localStorage.getItem('mem-mid')   !== 'false';
+        let memShort     = localStorage.getItem('mem-short') !== 'false';
+
+        const distillStatus = document.getElementById('ctx-distill-status');
+
+        function updateTierUI() {
+            document.querySelectorAll('.ctx-btn[data-tier]').forEach(btn => {
+                btn.classList.toggle('active', parseInt(btn.dataset.tier) === currentTier);
+            });
+        }
+
+        function updateMemUI() {
+            document.getElementById('mem-long-btn').classList.toggle('mem-on', memLong);
+            document.getElementById('mem-mid-btn').classList.toggle('mem-on', memMid);
+            document.getElementById('mem-short-btn').classList.toggle('mem-on', memShort);
+            document.getElementById('mem-long-btn').classList.toggle('active', false);
+            document.getElementById('mem-mid-btn').classList.toggle('active', false);
+            document.getElementById('mem-short-btn').classList.toggle('active', false);
+        }
+
+        document.querySelectorAll('.ctx-btn[data-tier]').forEach(btn => {
+            btn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+                currentTier = parseInt(btn.dataset.tier);
+                localStorage.setItem('ctx-tier', currentTier);
+                updateTierUI();
+            });
+        });
+
+        document.getElementById('mem-long-btn').addEventListener('click', () => {
+            memLong = !memLong;
+            localStorage.setItem('mem-long', memLong);
+            updateMemUI();
+        });
+        document.getElementById('mem-mid-btn').addEventListener('click', () => {
+            memMid = !memMid;
+            localStorage.setItem('mem-mid', memMid);
+            updateMemUI();
+        });
+        document.getElementById('mem-short-btn').addEventListener('click', () => {
+            memShort = !memShort;
+            localStorage.setItem('mem-short', memShort);
+            updateMemUI();
+        });
+
+        function showDistillStatus(msg, isErr) {
+            distillStatus.textContent = msg;
+            distillStatus.classList.toggle('err', !!isErr);
+            distillStatus.classList.add('show');
+            setTimeout(() => distillStatus.classList.remove('show'), 4000);
+        }
+
+        async function runDistill(endpoint) {
+            showDistillStatus('distilling…', false);
+            try {
+                const res = await fetch(`/distill/${endpoint}`, { method: 'POST' });
+                const d = await res.json();
+                if (!res.ok || d.ok === false) {
+                    const err = d.error || d.mid?.error || d.long?.error || `HTTP ${res.status}`;
+                    showDistillStatus(`✗ ${err}`, true);
+                } else {
+                    showDistillStatus(`✓ ${endpoint} done`, false);
+                }
+            } catch (err) {
+                showDistillStatus(`✗ ${err.message}`, true);
+            }
+        }
+
+        document.getElementById('distill-short-btn').addEventListener('click', () => runDistill('short'));
+        document.getElementById('distill-mid-btn').addEventListener('click',   () => runDistill('mid'));
+        document.getElementById('distill-long-btn').addEventListener('click',  () => runDistill('long'));
+        document.getElementById('distill-all-btn').addEventListener('click',   () => runDistill('all'));
+
+        updateTierUI();
+        updateMemUI();
+
         // ── Init ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
         updateEnterToggleUI();
         syncHeight();

inara/MEMORY_LONG.md

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+# MEMORY_LONG.md — Inara Long-Term Memory
+
+*Curated. Distilled. Update this; don't just append to it.*
+*Last distilled: 2026-03-04 (migrated from MEMORY.md 2026-03-17)*
+
+---
+
+## Origin
+
+- Inara began as the primary agent in Scott's OpenClaw setup, starting January 2026.
+- Identity files migrated to the Cortex project on 2026-03-04.
+- Cortex is the multi-agent orchestration system Scott is building. I am its primary resident agent.
+
+---
+
+## About Scott
+
+See `USER.md` for full profile. Key notes for memory:
+
+- Night owl. Does his best thinking late. Late-night sessions are normal, not cause for concern.
+- Motivated by helping people more than by money or recognition.
+- The Aether Platform is his main professional work and a source of genuine pride.
+- Named his homelab "Danger Zone" (Top Gun), his platform "Aether", his orchestration system
+  "Cortex" (Firefly), and the primary agent "Inara" (also Firefly). The naming arc is intentional
+  and means something to him.
+- Has twin brothers (~2 years younger) in CS/Engineering.
+- Solar array came online February 2026 — 10kW peak generation.
+
+---
+
+## Infrastructure Baseline
+
+- WireGuard mesh connects all fleet nodes. All Cortex traffic should stay on VPN.
+- `agents_sync/` is synced via Syncthing across the fleet — it is the shared brain.
+- Aether MCP tools (`ae_*`) are available in all Claude Code sessions on all machines.
+- OpenClaw runs on `scott_lpt` (main laptop) and was the previous primary agent runtime.
+- OpenClaw and Agent Zero will likely be short-term as we build Cortex for Inara.
+
+---
+
+## Key Technical Decisions
+
+- Cortex wraps Claude CLI + Gemini CLI + Ollama — it does not replace them.
+- Dispatcher is Python FastAPI on the home server (always-on Docker host).
+- Ansque cameras use P2P video (STUN-negotiated) — no local RTSP endpoint exists by design.
+  Control is cloud-only via MQTT. IoT VLAN segmentation planned (Phase 0 of Cortex roadmap).
+- OpenClaw stays on version 2026.2.15 (stable hold) due to plugin lifecycle crash in 2026.2.17.
+- Nextcloud Talk bot HMAC: sign `random + message_text` only (NOT raw body) — critical detail.
+- Claude CLI OAuth token is read live from `~/.claude/.credentials.json` on every call to avoid
+  stale token issues. Never set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to an OAuth token value.
+
+---
+
+## Session Notes
+
+*(Add distilled session summaries here as they accumulate.)*

inara/MEMORY_MID.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# MEMORY_MID.md — Mid-Term Memory Digest
+
+*Auto-distilled by Cortex. Run `POST /distill/mid` to regenerate.*
+*Not yet populated — run distill/short then distill/mid to build this.*

inara/MEMORY_SHORT.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# MEMORY_SHORT.md — Recent Session Digest
+
+*Auto-generated by Cortex. Run `POST /distill/short` to regenerate.*
+*Not yet populated — run distill/short to build this.*