Release v4.2.6: Critical bugfix for observation validation

Critical Bugfix:
- Fixed overly defensive observation validation blocking observations from being saved
- Parser now NEVER skips observations - always saves them
- Invalid or missing type defaults to "change" (generic catch-all type)
- Removed validation requiring title, subtitle, and narrative fields
- Prevents critical data loss - partial observations better than no observations

Impact:
- Before: Missing title, subtitle, OR narrative caused entire observation to be discarded
- After: ALL observations preserved regardless of field completeness
- Even partial observations contain valuable data: concepts, files_read, files_modified, facts
- LLMs make mistakes - system must be resilient and save everything
- Consistent with v4.2.5 summary fix

Technical changes:
- Updated src/sdk/parser.ts:52-67 to never skip observations
- Uses "change" as fallback type for invalid/missing types (no schema change)
- Updated ParsedObservation interface to allow null for title, subtitle, narrative
- Updated SessionStore.storeObservation signature to accept nullable fields
- Updated built worker-service.cjs
- Bumped version to 4.2.6 in all metadata files

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>

.claude-plugin/marketplace.json

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   "plugins": [
     {
       "name": "claude-mem",
-      "version": "4.2.5",
+      "version": "4.2.6",
       "source": "./plugin",
       "description": "Persistent memory system for Claude Code - context compression across sessions"
     }

CLAUDE.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 Claude-mem is a persistent memory compression system that preserves context across Claude Code sessions. It automatically captures tool usage observations, processes them through the Claude Agent SDK, and makes summaries available to future sessions.
 
-**Current Version**: 4.2.5
+**Current Version**: 4.2.6
 **License**: AGPL-3.0
 **Author**: Alex Newman (@thedotmack)
 
@@ -210,7 +210,32 @@ npm run build && git commit -a -m "Build and update" && git push && cd ~/.claude
 
 ## Version History
 
-### v4.2.5 (Current)
+### v4.2.6 (Current)
+**Breaking Changes**: None (patch version)
+
+**Critical Bugfix**:
+- Fixed overly defensive observation validation that was blocking observations from being saved
+  - Removed validation requiring title, subtitle, and narrative fields
+  - Parser now NEVER skips observations - always saves them
+  - Invalid or missing type defaults to "change" (generic catch-all type)
+  - Prevents critical data loss - partial observations are better than no observations
+
+**Impact**:
+- Before: Missing title, subtitle, OR narrative caused entire observation to be discarded
+- After: ALL observations preserved regardless of field completeness
+- Even partial observations contain valuable data: concepts, files_read, files_modified, facts
+- LLMs make mistakes - system must be resilient and save everything
+- Consistent with v4.2.5 summary fix - partial data is always better than no data
+
+**Technical Details**:
+- Updated `src/sdk/parser.ts:52-67` to never skip observations
+- Uses "change" as fallback type for invalid/missing types (no schema change needed)
+- Updated ParsedObservation interface to allow null for title, subtitle, narrative
+- Database schema already supports nullable fields
+- Parser now matches database schema constraints exactly
+- Affects `parseObservations()` function used by worker service
+
+### v4.2.5
 **Breaking Changes**: None (patch version)
 
 **Critical Bugfix**:

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "claude-mem",
-  "version": "4.2.5",
+  "version": "4.2.6",
   "description": "Memory compression system for Claude Code - persist context across sessions",
   "keywords": [
     "claude",

plugin/.claude-plugin/plugin.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "claude-mem",
-  "version": "4.2.5",
+  "version": "4.2.6",
   "description": "Persistent memory system for Claude Code - seamlessly preserve context across sessions",
   "author": {
     "name": "Alex Newman"

plugin/scripts/context-hook.js

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
-import C from"path";import q from"better-sqlite3";import{join as E,dirname as W,basename as z}from"path";import{homedir as U}from"os";import{existsSync as te,mkdirSync as j}from"fs";import{fileURLToPath as H}from"url";function B(){return typeof __dirname<"u"?__dirname:W(H(import.meta.url))}var Y=B(),u=process.env.CLAUDE_MEM_DATA_DIR||E(U(),".claude-mem"),O=process.env.CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR||E(U(),".claude"),ne=E(u,"archives"),ie=E(u,"logs"),oe=E(u,"trash"),ae=E(u,"backups"),de=E(u,"settings.json"),w=E(u,"claude-mem.db"),pe=E(O,"settings.json"),ce=E(O,"commands"),Ee=E(O,"CLAUDE.md");function $(p){j(p,{recursive:!0})}function M(){return E(Y,"..","..")}var L=(i=>(i[i.DEBUG=0]="DEBUG",i[i.INFO=1]="INFO",i[i.WARN=2]="WARN",i[i.ERROR=3]="ERROR",i[i.SILENT=4]="SILENT",i))(L||{}),A=class{level;useColor;constructor(){let e=process.env.CLAUDE_MEM_LOG_LEVEL?.toUpperCase()||"INFO";this.level=L[e]??1,this.useColor=process.stdout.isTTY??!1}correlationId(e,s){return`obs-${e}-${s}`}sessionId(e){return`session-${e}`}formatData(e){if(e==null)return"";if(typeof e=="string")return e;if(typeof e=="number"||typeof e=="boolean")return e.toString();if(typeof e=="object"){if(e instanceof Error)return this.level===0?`${e.message}
+import C from"path";import q from"better-sqlite3";import{join as E,dirname as W,basename as z}from"path";import{homedir as U}from"os";import{existsSync as te,mkdirSync as j}from"fs";import{fileURLToPath as H}from"url";function B(){return typeof __dirname<"u"?__dirname:W(H(import.meta.url))}var Y=B(),m=process.env.CLAUDE_MEM_DATA_DIR||E(U(),".claude-mem"),O=process.env.CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR||E(U(),".claude"),ne=E(m,"archives"),ie=E(m,"logs"),oe=E(m,"trash"),ae=E(m,"backups"),de=E(m,"settings.json"),w=E(m,"claude-mem.db"),pe=E(O,"settings.json"),ce=E(O,"commands"),Ee=E(O,"CLAUDE.md");function $(p){j(p,{recursive:!0})}function M(){return E(Y,"..","..")}var L=(i=>(i[i.DEBUG=0]="DEBUG",i[i.INFO=1]="INFO",i[i.WARN=2]="WARN",i[i.ERROR=3]="ERROR",i[i.SILENT=4]="SILENT",i))(L||{}),A=class{level;useColor;constructor(){let e=process.env.CLAUDE_MEM_LOG_LEVEL?.toUpperCase()||"INFO";this.level=L[e]??1,this.useColor=process.stdout.isTTY??!1}correlationId(e,s){return`obs-${e}-${s}`}sessionId(e){return`session-${e}`}formatData(e){if(e==null)return"";if(typeof e=="string")return e;if(typeof e=="number"||typeof e=="boolean")return e.toString();if(typeof e=="object"){if(e instanceof Error)return this.level===0?`${e.message}
 ${e.stack}`:e.message;if(Array.isArray(e))return`[${e.length} items]`;let s=Object.keys(e);return s.length===0?"{}":s.length<=3?JSON.stringify(e):`{${s.length} keys: ${s.slice(0,3).join(", ")}...}`}return String(e)}formatTool(e,s){if(!s)return e;try{let t=typeof s=="string"?JSON.parse(s):s;if(e==="Bash"&&t.command){let r=t.command.length>50?t.command.substring(0,50)+"...":t.command;return`${e}(${r})`}if(e==="Read"&&t.file_path){let r=t.file_path.split("/").pop()||t.file_path;return`${e}(${r})`}if(e==="Edit"&&t.file_path){let r=t.file_path.split("/").pop()||t.file_path;return`${e}(${r})`}if(e==="Write"&&t.file_path){let r=t.file_path.split("/").pop()||t.file_path;return`${e}(${r})`}return e}catch{return e}}log(e,s,t,r,i){if(e<this.level)return;let d=new Date().toISOString().replace("T"," ").substring(0,23),n=L[e].padEnd(5),c=s.padEnd(6),_="";r?.correlationId?_=`[${r.correlationId}] `:r?.sessionId&&(_=`[session-${r.sessionId}] `);let a="";i!=null&&(this.level===0&&typeof i=="object"?a=`
-`+JSON.stringify(i,null,2):a=" "+this.formatData(i));let l="";if(r){let{sessionId:G,sdkSessionId:k,correlationId:R,...T}=r;Object.keys(T).length>0&&(l=` {${Object.entries(T).map(([g,b])=>`${g}=${b}`).join(", ")}}`)}let f=`[${d}] [${n}] [${c}] ${_}${t}${l}${a}`;e===3?console.error(f):console.log(f)}debug(e,s,t,r){this.log(0,e,s,t,r)}info(e,s,t,r){this.log(1,e,s,t,r)}warn(e,s,t,r){this.log(2,e,s,t,r)}error(e,s,t,r){this.log(3,e,s,t,r)}dataIn(e,s,t,r){this.info(e,`\u2192 ${s}`,t,r)}dataOut(e,s,t,r){this.info(e,`\u2190 ${s}`,t,r)}success(e,s,t,r){this.info(e,`\u2713 ${s}`,t,r)}failure(e,s,t,r){this.error(e,`\u2717 ${s}`,t,r)}timing(e,s,t,r){this.info(e,`\u23F1 ${s}`,r,{duration:`${t}ms`})}},X=new A;var N=class{db;constructor(){$(u),this.db=new q(w),this.db.pragma("journal_mode = WAL"),this.db.pragma("synchronous = NORMAL"),this.db.pragma("foreign_keys = ON"),this.initializeSchema(),this.ensureWorkerPortColumn(),this.ensurePromptTrackingColumns(),this.removeSessionSummariesUniqueConstraint(),this.addObservationHierarchicalFields(),this.makeObservationsTextNullable(),this.createUserPromptsTable()}initializeSchema(){try{this.db.exec(`
+`+JSON.stringify(i,null,2):a=" "+this.formatData(i));let l="";if(r){let{sessionId:G,sdkSessionId:k,correlationId:R,...T}=r;Object.keys(T).length>0&&(l=` {${Object.entries(T).map(([g,b])=>`${g}=${b}`).join(", ")}}`)}let f=`[${d}] [${n}] [${c}] ${_}${t}${l}${a}`;e===3?console.error(f):console.log(f)}debug(e,s,t,r){this.log(0,e,s,t,r)}info(e,s,t,r){this.log(1,e,s,t,r)}warn(e,s,t,r){this.log(2,e,s,t,r)}error(e,s,t,r){this.log(3,e,s,t,r)}dataIn(e,s,t,r){this.info(e,`\u2192 ${s}`,t,r)}dataOut(e,s,t,r){this.info(e,`\u2190 ${s}`,t,r)}success(e,s,t,r){this.info(e,`\u2713 ${s}`,t,r)}failure(e,s,t,r){this.error(e,`\u2717 ${s}`,t,r)}timing(e,s,t,r){this.info(e,`\u23F1 ${s}`,r,{duration:`${t}ms`})}},X=new A;var N=class{db;constructor(){$(m),this.db=new q(w),this.db.pragma("journal_mode = WAL"),this.db.pragma("synchronous = NORMAL"),this.db.pragma("foreign_keys = ON"),this.initializeSchema(),this.ensureWorkerPortColumn(),this.ensurePromptTrackingColumns(),this.removeSessionSummariesUniqueConstraint(),this.addObservationHierarchicalFields(),this.makeObservationsTextNullable(),this.createUserPromptsTable()}initializeSchema(){try{this.db.exec(`
         CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS schema_versions (
           id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
           version INTEGER UNIQUE NOT NULL,
@@ -326,5 +326,5 @@ No previous summaries found for this project yet.`;let n=[];e?(n.push(""),n.push
           SELECT files_read, files_modified
           FROM observations
           WHERE sdk_session_id = ?
-        `).all(a.sdk_session_id),h=new Set,g=new Set,b=m=>{try{return C.isAbsolute(m)?C.relative(t,m):m}catch{return m}};for(let m of T){if(m.files_read)try{let S=JSON.parse(m.files_read);Array.isArray(S)&&S.forEach(I=>h.add(b(I)))}catch{}if(m.files_modified)try{let S=JSON.parse(m.files_modified);Array.isArray(S)&&S.forEach(I=>g.add(b(I)))}catch{}}g.forEach(m=>h.delete(m)),h.size>0&&(e?n.push(`${o.dim}Files Read: ${Array.from(h).join(", ")}${o.reset}`):n.push(`**Files Read:** ${Array.from(h).join(", ")}`)),g.size>0&&(e?n.push(`${o.dim}Files Modified: ${Array.from(g).join(", ")}${o.reset}`):n.push(`**Files Modified:** ${Array.from(g).join(", ")}`))}let R=new Date(a.created_at).toLocaleString();e?n.push(`${o.dim}Date: ${R}${o.reset}`):n.push(`**Date:** ${R}`),e||n.push("")}return e&&(n.push(""),n.push(`${o.gray}${"\u2500".repeat(60)}${o.reset}`)),n.join(`
+        `).all(a.sdk_session_id),h=new Set,g=new Set,b=u=>{try{return C.isAbsolute(u)?C.relative(t,u):u}catch{return u}};for(let u of T){if(u.files_read)try{let S=JSON.parse(u.files_read);Array.isArray(S)&&S.forEach(I=>h.add(b(I)))}catch{}if(u.files_modified)try{let S=JSON.parse(u.files_modified);Array.isArray(S)&&S.forEach(I=>g.add(b(I)))}catch{}}g.forEach(u=>h.delete(u)),h.size>0&&(e?n.push(`${o.dim}Files Read: ${Array.from(h).join(", ")}${o.reset}`):n.push(`**Files Read:** ${Array.from(h).join(", ")}`)),g.size>0&&(e?n.push(`${o.dim}Files Modified: ${Array.from(g).join(", ")}${o.reset}`):n.push(`**Files Modified:** ${Array.from(g).join(", ")}`))}let R=new Date(a.created_at).toLocaleString();e?n.push(`${o.dim}Date: ${R}${o.reset}`):n.push(`**Date:** ${R}`),e||n.push("")}return e&&(n.push(""),n.push(`${o.gray}${"\u2500".repeat(60)}${o.reset}`)),n.join(`
 `)}finally{i.close()}}import{stdin as x}from"process";try{let p=process.argv.includes("--index");if(x.isTTY){let e=D(void 0,!0,p);console.log(e),process.exit(0)}else{let e="";x.on("data",s=>e+=s),x.on("end",()=>{let s=e.trim()?JSON.parse(e):void 0,r={hookSpecificOutput:{hookEventName:"SessionStart",additionalContext:D(s,!1,p)}};console.log(JSON.stringify(r)),process.exit(0)})}}catch(p){console.error(`[claude-mem context-hook error: ${p.message}]`),process.exit(0)}

src/sdk/parser.ts

@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@ import { logger } from '../utils/logger.js';
 
 export interface ParsedObservation {
   type: string;
-  title: string;
+  title: string | null;
-  subtitle: string;
+  subtitle: string | null;
   facts: string[];
-  narrative: string;
+  narrative: string | null;
   concepts: string[];
   files_read: string[];
   files_modified: string[];
@@ -49,39 +49,39 @@ export function parseObservations(text: string, correlationId?: string): ParsedO
     const files_read = extractArrayElements(obsContent, 'files_read', 'file');
     const files_modified = extractArrayElements(obsContent, 'files_modified', 'file');
 
-    // Validate required fields
+    // NOTE FROM THEDOTMACK: ALWAYS save observations - never skip. 10/24/2025
-    if (!type || !title || !subtitle || !narrative) {
+    // All fields except type are nullable in schema
-      logger.warn('PARSER', 'Observation missing required fields, skipping', {
+    // If type is missing or invalid, use "change" as catch-all fallback
-        correlationId,
+
-        hasType: !!type,
+    // Determine final type
-        hasTitle: !!title,
+    let finalType = 'change'; // Default catch-all
-        hasSubtitle: !!subtitle,
+    if (type) {
-        hasNarrative: !!narrative
+      const validTypes = ['bugfix', 'feature', 'refactor', 'change', 'discovery', 'decision'];
-      });
+      if (validTypes.includes(type.trim())) {
-      continue;
+        finalType = type.trim();
+      } else {
+        logger.warn('PARSER', `Invalid observation type: ${type}, using "change"`, { correlationId });
+      }
+    } else {
+      logger.warn('PARSER', 'Observation missing type field, using "change"', { correlationId });
     }
 
-    // Validate type
+    // All other fields are optional - save whatever we have
-    const validTypes = ['bugfix', 'feature', 'refactor', 'change', 'discovery', 'decision'];
-    if (!validTypes.includes(type.trim())) {
-      logger.warn('PARSER', `Invalid observation type: ${type}, skipping`, { correlationId });
-      continue;
-    }
 
     // Filter out type from concepts array (types and concepts are separate dimensions)
-    const cleanedConcepts = concepts.filter(c => c !== type.trim());
+    const cleanedConcepts = concepts.filter(c => c !== finalType);
 
     if (cleanedConcepts.length !== concepts.length) {
       logger.warn('PARSER', 'Removed observation type from concepts array', {
         correlationId,
-        type: type.trim(),
+        type: finalType,
         originalConcepts: concepts,
         cleanedConcepts
       });
     }
 
     observations.push({
-      type: type.trim(),
+      type: finalType,
       title,
       subtitle,
       facts,

src/services/sqlite/SessionStore.ts

@@ -903,10 +903,10 @@ export class SessionStore {
     project: string,
     observation: {
       type: string;
-      title: string;
+      title: string | null;
-      subtitle: string;
+      subtitle: string | null;
       facts: string[];
-      narrative: string;
+      narrative: string | null;
       concepts: string[];
       files_read: string[];
       files_modified: string[];