OpenClaw Memory Plugin Testing Results and Recommended Stack
Memory Plugin Performance Breakdown
A recent test of OpenClaw memory plugins reveals significant issues with default configurations and provides specific recommendations for effective setups.
Problem with Default Setup
The default markdown setup will quietly destroy your agent over time. Token bloat is real—your instructions get compressed away and your API bill climbs for nothing.
Plugin Tier Rankings
- C tier — Markdown/Obsidian. Fine for strict rules. Disaster as your only memory.
- B tier — Mem0. Great automation, kills your privacy and costs up to 7 cents per message.
- A tier — LanceDB. Fast, private, local. Black box though—hard to debug bad memories.
- A tier — Knowledge graphs (Graphiti). The future. Too experimental right now.
- A tier — SQLite. Not for conversation. Essential for structured data where accuracy matters.
- S tier — QMD. Free, local, surgical. Grabs only what the agent needs instead of loading everything. This is the one.
Recommended Setup
The actual winning setup is a stack: Obsidian as the human-readable layer, QMD to search it without token cost, SQLite for hard data. Run a nightly consolidation script and you basically never think about memory again.
📖 Read the full source: r/clawdbot
👀 See Also
Vibe Coding Rules: Build Side Projects from Your Phone Using Claude Code Without Reading Code
A senior engineer shares their rules for building side projects entirely from a phone using Claude Code without reading code: start in plan mode, commit to git, write tests, use subagents for reviews, and auto-mode.
A 4-file memory system for OpenClaw agents without plugins
A Reddit user shares a practical memory system using four markdown files: USER.md for identity, CONTEXT.md for active work, MEMORY.md for structured topics, and ARCHIVE.md for completed items. The approach addresses the 'agent doesn't know what it knows' problem through better file architecture rather than more memory.
Practical Guide to Creating Claude Skills: Structure, Triggers, and Scripts
Claude Skills are instruction manuals that automate repetitive tasks, stored as folders with a SKILL.md file in ~/.claude/skills/. The guide explains YAML triggers, script integration, and multi-skill orchestration rules.
Debugging OpenClaw + Ollama Local Model Timeouts: Five Fixes for Silent Failures
A developer identified five root causes for OpenClaw agents silently timing out with local Ollama models like Gemma 4 26B, including a blocking slug generator, a 38K character system prompt, and hidden timeouts. The fixes involve disabling hooks, modifying configs, and adjusting Ollama settings.