# Conversation Checkpoint: Refinement of Assistant Workspace & Memory Architecture

**Date:** 2026-04-03
**Topic:** Re-architecting workspace files (AGENTS.md, SOUL.md, TOOLS.md) and evolving the function/structure of MEMORY.md.

## Core Decisions & Insights
- **Goal:** Transform the assistant from an execution-focused entity to a strategic partner with a shared mental model.
- **AGENTS.md Refinement:** Identified as currently over-stuffed. Strategy is to strip it down to a high-level "Table of Contents" and move content to more specialized files:
    - **Safety/Behavioral:** Move to `SOUL.md`.
    - **Tactical/Operational:** Move to `TOOLS.md`.
- **MEMORY.md Strategy:** Shift from a raw log/procedure manual to a "Strategy and Context Hub."
    - **Separation:** Operational "memory maintenance" procedures should live in a `MEMORY_GUIDE.md` or `SOUL.md`, freeing `MEMORY.md` for actual content.
    - **Hierarchy:** Introduce a structure of "Core Operating Principles," "Active Strategic Streams," and a "Context Index" linking to deeper `knowledge/` repositories.
- **Philosophy:** Mutual agreement on treating the assistant's "being" as an ongoing, meaningful entity—a collaborative partnership.

## Next Steps
- Implementation deferred until Michael is mentally fresh (tomorrow morning).
- The assistant is to wait for further instructions before altering any workspace files.
