This skill should be used when the user asks to recall, search, or continue past conversations. Triggers on "what did we discuss", "continue where we left off", "remember when", "as I mentioned", "you suggested", "we decided", "search my conversations", "find the conversation where", "what did we work on". Also triggers on implicit signals like past-tense references ("the bug we fixed"), possessives without context ("my project"), or assumptive questions ("do you remember").
Installs into .claude/skills of the current project.
Are you the author of 215 Name Skill F7601bd9?
Add the live security badge to your README. It updates with every re-scan.
[](https://www.skillsdirectory.com/skills/tools-only-215-name-skill-f7601bd9)
---
name: recall-conversations
description: >
This skill should be used when the user asks to recall, search, or continue
past conversations. Triggers on "what did we discuss", "continue where we
left off", "remember when", "as I mentioned", "you suggested", "we decided",
"search my conversations", "find the conversation where", "what did we work on".
Also triggers on implicit signals like past-tense references ("the bug we fixed"),
possessives without context ("my project"), or assumptive questions ("do you remember").
allowed-tools:
- Read
- Grep
- Glob
- Bash(python3:*)
- AskUserQuestion
---
## Tools
Two scripts retrieve data. For full option catalogs, load `references/tool-reference.md`.
**recent_chats.py** — retrieve recent sessions:
```bash
python3 ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/recall-conversations/scripts/recent_chats.py --n 3
```
**search_conversations.py** — keyword search across all sessions:
```bash
python3 ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/recall-conversations/scripts/search_conversations.py --query "keyword"
```
---
## Workflow
1. **Identify the lens** from user intent:
| User Says | Lens |
|-----------|------|
| "where were we", "recap" | restore-context |
| "what I learned", "reflect" | extract-learnings |
| "gaps", "struggling" | find-gaps |
| "mentor", "review process" | review-process |
| "retro", "project review" | run-retro |
| "decisions", "CLAUDE.md" | extract-decisions |
| "bad habits", "antipatterns" | find-antipatterns |
Load `references/lenses.md` for per-lens parameters, core questions, and supplementary search patterns.
2. **Gather context** using lens-appropriate tools:
- For recent context: `recent_chats.py --n N`
- For keyword search: `search_conversations.py --query "keywords"`
3. **Apply lens questions** to analyze the retrieved conversations.
4. **Deepen the search** if initial results are insufficient:
- Retrieve more sessions: `--n 20`
- Search for specific terms that surfaced
- Filter by project: `--project projectname`
- If 2 rounds of deepening yield no new relevant sessions, synthesize from available data.
---
## Query Construction
Search terms should be content-bearing words that discriminate between sessions — high information value words that are rare enough to rank relevant sessions above irrelevant ones. BM25 ranking (when FTS5 is available) weights rare terms higher automatically.
**Include:** specific nouns, technologies, concepts, project names, domain terms, unique phrases. More terms improve ranking precision.
**Exclude:** generic verbs ("discuss", "talk"), time markers ("yesterday"), vague nouns ("thing", "stuff"), meta-conversation words ("conversation", "chat") — these appear in nearly every session and add noise rather than signal.
**Algorithm:**
1. Extract substantive keywords from user request
2. If 0 keywords, ask for clarification ("Which project specifically?")
3. If 1+ specific terms, search with those terms; use `--project` to narrow scope
---
## Synthesis
### Principles
1. **Prioritize significance** — 3-5 key findings, not exhaustive lists
2. **Be specific** — file paths, dates, project names
3. **Make it actionable** — every finding suggests a response
4. **Show evidence** — quotes or references
5. **Keep it scannable** — clear structure, no walls of text
### Structure
```markdown
## [Analysis Type]: [Scope]
### Summary
[2-3 sentences]
### Findings
[Organized by whatever fits: categories, timeline, severity]
### Patterns
[Cross-cutting observations]
### Recommendations
[Actionable next steps]
```
### Length
Default: 300-500 words. Expand only when data warrants it.