docs(faq): clarify Vestige vs Claude native memory compatibility

Address common question: users don't need to disable Claude's native
memory to use Vestige. They're independent systems that can run
simultaneously.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
This commit is contained in:
Sam Valladares 2026-01-26 01:34:56 -06:00
parent 8bb6500985
commit 36244f3c95

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@ -1200,20 +1200,24 @@ The only exception: If you delete the Hugging Face cache, the model will re-down
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<summary><b>"How does this compare to Claude's native memory?"</b></summary>
<summary><b>"How does this compare to Claude's native memory? Do I need to switch it off?"</b></summary>
Claude's built-in memory (if/when released) will likely:
- Be cloud-based (Anthropic servers)
- Work across all clients
- Be managed by Anthropic
**No, you don't need to switch off Claude's native memory.** They're completely independent systems:
Vestige:
- 100% local (your machine, your data)
- Cognitive science-based decay and retrieval
- Open source and hackable
- Works now
| Aspect | Claude's Native Memory | Vestige |
|--------|------------------------|---------|
| Storage | Anthropic's servers | Your local machine |
| Control | Managed by Anthropic | You own everything |
| Decay | Unknown/proprietary | FSRS-6 cognitive science |
| Privacy | Cloud-based | 100% offline after setup |
They're complementary—Vestige gives you control and scientific sophistication; native memory gives you convenience.
**They can run simultaneously.** Claude's native memory handles general conversation context, while Vestige gives you:
- Explicit control over what gets remembered
- Scientific forgetting curves
- Codebase-specific patterns and decisions
- Local-first privacy
Think of it like this: Claude's memory is automatic and general; Vestige is intentional and specialized. Many users run both.
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