Startup Guide

Overview

This guide explains how to initialize and start using the BIG BRAIN Memory Bank 2.0 system. It covers the initialization process, memory loading procedures, task contextualization, and how to begin working with the system effectively. This guide assumes you have already completed the Installation Guide procedures.

First-Time Initialization

When starting the BIG BRAIN Memory Bank for the first time:

  1. Navigate to your project directory:

    cd /path/to/memory-bank

  2. Run the initial setup procedure:

    python scripts/first_time_setup.py

  3. When prompted, provide the following information:

    • Project name
    • Brief project description
    • Primary user roles
    • Initial complexity level (1-4)

  4. The system will generate the initial memory bank files and configure the rule system.

Standard Startup Procedure

For regular usage after initial setup:

  1. Memory Bank Loading

    Begin each session by loading the memory bank:

    MEMORY BANK INITIALIZE

    This command triggers the initialization workflow, which:

    • Loads all core memory files
    • Verifies file integrity
    • Restores context from previous session
    • Confirms rule system availability

  2. Context Assessment

    Review the current system status:

    SHOW ACTIVE CONTEXT

    This command displays:

    • Current focus and priorities
    • Recent changes
    • Open issues and questions
    • Overall progress status
    • Next planned steps

  3. Task Contextualization

    Before starting any work, contextualize your task:

    CONTEXTUALIZE [task description]

    Example:

    CONTEXTUALIZE Implement new verification process for memory integrity

    The system will:

    • Position the task within the overall project
    • Identify relevant components
    • Determine appropriate complexity level
    • Prepare necessary resources

  4. Readiness Confirmation

    Confirm system readiness before proceeding:

    CONFIRM READINESS

    The system will verify that:

    • All required information is available
    • Current state is understood
    • Task objectives are clear
    • Implementation approach is defined

Workflow Selection

Choose the appropriate workflow based on your task:

  1. Plan Mode

    For design or planning tasks:

    ENTER PLAN MODE

    Plan mode optimizes for:

    • Requirement analysis
    • Design exploration
    • Option evaluation
    • Documentation creation

  2. Act Mode

    For implementation or execution tasks:

    ENTER ACT MODE

    Act mode optimizes for:

    • Code implementation
    • Feature building
    • Testing and verification
    • Bug fixing

  3. Review Mode

    For evaluation or assessment tasks:

    ENTER REVIEW MODE

    Review mode optimizes for:

    • Quality assessment
    • Verification against requirements
    • Documentation review
    • Improvement identification

  4. Hybrid Mode

    For mixed tasks requiring multiple approaches:

    ENTER HYBRID MODE

Memory Bank Operations

During your session, you may need these common operations:

  1. Update Memory Bank

    When significant changes occur:

    UPDATE MEMORY BANK

    This triggers comprehensive memory updates, including:

    • activeContext.md modifications
    • progress.md updates
    • systemPatterns.md additions
    • techContext.md refinements

  2. Check Memory Health

    To verify system integrity:

    MEMORY HEALTH CHECK

    This performs diagnostics on:

    • File existence and accessibility
    • Content integrity
    • Cross-reference validity
    • Consistency across files

  3. Show Active Rules

    To understand active rule configuration:

    SHOW ACTIVE RULES

    This displays:

    • Currently active rules by category
    • Rule application status
    • Recent rule activations
    • Rule hierarchy

Session Termination

To properly end a working session:

  1. Initiate Bedtime Protocol

    BEDTIME PROTOCOL

    This protocol:

    • Performs session assessment
    • Updates memory bank files
    • Preserves current state
    • Prepares continuity information
    • Verifies information completeness

  2. Verify Protocol Completion

    Wait for confirmation:

    ✓ SUCCESS: Bedtime Protocol complete, session ended properly

  3. Close Environment

    You can now safely close your development environment.

Memory Reset Handling

After a memory reset occurs:

  1. Restore Context

    The system automatically restores context by reading all memory bank files when initialized.

  2. Review Active Context

    SHOW ACTIVE CONTEXT

    This provides essential information about:

    • Where you were in the project
    • What was recently completed
    • What should be done next

  3. Resume Operations

    Resume your previous workflow:

    RESUME [workflow type]

    Example:

    RESUME ACT MODE

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during startup:

  1. Initialization Failures

    • Run python scripts/repair_memory.py to attempt automatic repair
    • Check for missing or corrupted memory files
    • Verify rule system integrity

  2. Context Loading Issues

    • Use MEMORY HEALTH CHECK to identify problems
    • Check file permissions and access
    • Examine logs for specific errors

  3. Rule System Problems

    • Run DEBUG RULES to identify rule conflicts or issues
    • Verify rule file integrity
    • Check for rule application errors

  4. Performance Concerns

    • Optimize memory bank size with OPTIMIZE MEMORY BANK
    • Remove unnecessary detail from rarely accessed areas
    • Consider archiving older information

Version Information