Journal Command for Claude Code

Command Definition

Purpose: Create a structured memory entry based on recent development work

Behavior

1. Auto-detect Context: Extract project name from current directory/git repository
2. Gather Recent Changes: Analyze recent commits and modified files and knowledge generated during the session
3. Generate Memory: Create formatted memory entry using available context

Memory title

<date>_<descriptive-title>.md

Save on root directory unless user specifies otherwise.

Template Structure

# {title}

## Context

- **Timestamp**: {current_timestamp}
- **Project**: {auto_detected_project_name}
- **Task Type**: {task_type}
- **Duration**: {duration}

## Problem Statement

- {prompt_user_for_problem_description}

## Solution Summary

- {prompt_user_for_solution_bullets}

## Technical Implementation

### Files Modified

- {analyze_recent_git_changes_or_prompt}

### Key Decisions

- {prompt_user_for_technical_decisions}

## Testing/Verification

- {prompt_user_for_testing_approach}

## Technical Debt

- {prompt*user_for_debt_or_default_to*"nada"}

## Related

- **Commits**: {get_recent_commit_hashes}
- **Dependencies**: {prompt_user_for_related_work}

Auto-Generated Content

The command should intelligently populate:

• Timestamp: Current datetime
• Project: Git repository name or current directory
• Files Modified: Recent git changes analysis
• Commits: Last 1-3 commit hashes
• Problem Statement: Inferred from recent commit messages and code changes
• Solution Summary: Extracted from commit messages and file modifications
• Key Decisions: Analyzed from code patterns and architectural changes
• Testing: Detected test files or testing patterns in recent changes

Smart Analysis

Based on recent development context:

• Parse commit messages for problem/solution insights
• Analyze file changes to identify implementation patterns
• Detect testing approaches from modified test files
• Identify technical debt from TODO comments or code complexity

Error Handling

• Validate project context (ensure we're in a valid project directory)
• Check Serena connectivity before attempting to create memory
• Provide clear error messages if git history is unavailable
• Default to minimal template if automated analysis fails
• Graceful degradation when context detection is incomplete