feat: Add beta channel for experimental features and update documentation
This commit is contained in:
Alex Newman
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---
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title: "Beta Features"
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description: "Try experimental features like Endless Mode before they're released"
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---
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# Beta Features
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Claude-Mem offers a beta channel for users who want to try experimental features before they're released to the stable channel.
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## Version Channel Switching
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You can switch between stable and beta versions directly from the web viewer UI at http://localhost:37777.
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### How to Access
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1. Open the Claude-Mem viewer at http://localhost:37777
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2. Click the **Settings** gear icon in the top-right
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3. Find the **Version Channel** section
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4. Click **Try Beta (Endless Mode)** to switch to beta, or **Switch to Stable** to return
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### What Happens When You Switch
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When switching versions:
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1. **Local changes are discarded** - Any modifications in the plugin directory are reset
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2. **Git fetch and checkout** - The installed plugin switches to the target branch
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3. **Dependencies reinstall** - `npm install` runs to ensure correct dependencies
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4. **Worker restarts automatically** - The background service restarts with the new version
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**Your memory data is always preserved.** The database at `~/.claude-mem/claude-mem.db` is not affected by version switching. All your observations, sessions, and summaries remain intact.
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### Version Indicators
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The Version Channel section shows your current status:
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- **Stable** (green badge) - You're running the production release
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- **Beta** (orange badge) - You're running the beta with experimental features
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You'll also see the exact branch name (e.g., `main` for stable, `beta/7.0` for beta).
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## Endless Mode (Beta)
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The flagship experimental feature in beta is **Endless Mode** - a biomimetic memory architecture that dramatically extends how long Claude can maintain context in a session.
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### The Problem Endless Mode Solves
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In standard Claude Code sessions:
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- Tool outputs (file reads, bash output, search results) accumulate in the context window
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- Each tool can add 1-10k+ tokens to the context
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- After ~50 tool uses, the context window fills up (~200k tokens)
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- You're forced to start a new session, losing conversational continuity
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Worse, Claude **re-synthesizes all previous tool outputs** on every response. This is O(N²) complexity - quadratically growing both in tokens and compute.
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### How Endless Mode Works
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Endless Mode applies a biomimetic memory architecture inspired by how human memory works:
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**Two-Tier Memory System:**
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```
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Working Memory (Context Window):
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→ Compressed observations only (~500 tokens each)
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→ Fast, efficient, manageable
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Archive Memory (Transcript File):
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→ Full tool outputs preserved on disk
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→ Perfect recall, searchable
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```
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**The Key Innovation**: After each tool use, Endless Mode:
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1. Waits for the worker to generate a compressed observation (blocking)
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2. Transforms the transcript file on disk
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3. Replaces the full tool output with the compressed observation
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4. Claude resumes with the compressed context
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This transforms O(N²) scaling into O(N) - linear instead of quadratic.
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### Expected Results
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Based on analysis of real sessions:
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- **Token savings**: ~95% reduction in context window usage
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- **Efficiency gain**: ~20x more tool uses before context exhaustion
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- **Quality preservation**: Observations cache the synthesis result, so no information is lost
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### Caveats
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Endless Mode is experimental:
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- **Adds latency** - Blocking hooks wait for observation generation (60-90s per tool use)
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- **Requires working database** - Observations must save successfully for transformation
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- **New architecture** - Less battle-tested than standard mode
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### When to Use Beta
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Consider switching to beta if you:
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- Frequently hit context window limits
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- Work on long, complex sessions with many tool uses
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- Want to help test and provide feedback on new features
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- Are comfortable with experimental software
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### When to Stay on Stable
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Stay on stable if you:
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- Need maximum reliability for critical work
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- Prefer battle-tested, production-ready features
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- Don't frequently hit context limits
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- Want the smoothest, fastest experience
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## Checking for Updates
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While on beta (or stable), you can check for updates:
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1. Open Settings in the viewer
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2. In the Version Channel section, click **Check for Updates**
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3. The plugin will pull the latest changes and restart
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## Switching Back
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If you encounter issues on beta:
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1. Open Settings in the viewer
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2. Click **Switch to Stable**
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3. Wait for the worker to restart
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Your memory data is preserved, and you'll be back on the stable release.
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## Providing Feedback
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If you encounter bugs or have feedback about beta features:
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- Open an issue at [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/thedotmack/claude-mem/issues)
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- Include your branch (`beta/7.0` etc.) in the report
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- Describe what you expected vs. what happened
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## Next Steps
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- [Configuration](configuration) - Customize other Claude-Mem settings
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- [Troubleshooting](troubleshooting) - Common issues and solutions
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- [Architecture Overview](architecture/overview) - Understand how Claude-Mem works
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@@ -151,6 +151,26 @@ Search operations are now provided via:
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- **HTTP API**: 10 endpoints on worker service port 37777
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- **Progressive Disclosure**: Full instructions loaded on-demand only when needed
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## Version Channel
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Claude-Mem supports switching between stable and beta versions via the web viewer UI.
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### Accessing Version Channel
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1. Open the viewer at http://localhost:37777
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2. Click the Settings gear icon
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3. Find the **Version Channel** section
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### Switching Versions
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- **Try Beta**: Click "Try Beta (Endless Mode)" to switch to the beta branch with experimental features
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- **Switch to Stable**: Click "Switch to Stable" to return to the production release
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- **Check for Updates**: Pull the latest changes for your current branch
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**Your memory data is preserved** when switching versions. Only the plugin code changes.
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See [Beta Features](beta-features) for details on what's available in beta.
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## PM2 Configuration
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Worker service is managed by PM2 via `ecosystem.config.cjs`:
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@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@
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"introduction",
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"installation",
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"usage/getting-started",
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"usage/search-tools"
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"usage/search-tools",
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"beta-features"
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]
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},
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{
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