---
title: "Modes & Languages"
description: "Configure Claude-Mem behavior and language with the Mode System"
---

# Modes & Languages

Claude-Mem uses a flexible **Mode System** to adapt its behavior, observation types, and output language. This allows you to switch between different workflows (like coding vs. email investigation) or languages without reinstalling the plugin.

## What is a Mode?

A "mode" is a configuration profile that defines:
1.  **Observer Role**: How Claude should analyze your work (e.g., "Software Engineer" vs. "Forensic Analyst").
2.  **Observation Types**: Valid categories for memory (e.g., "Bug Fix", "Feature" vs. "Person", "Organization").
3.  **Concepts**: Semantic tags for indexing (e.g., "Pattern", "Trade-off").
4.  **Language**: The language used for generating observations and summaries.

## Configuration

Set the active mode using the `CLAUDE_MEM_MODE` setting in `~/.claude-mem/settings.json`:

```json
{
  "CLAUDE_MEM_MODE": "code--es"
}
```

Or via environment variable:

```bash
export CLAUDE_MEM_MODE="code--fr"
```

## Available Modes

### Code Mode (Default)
The standard mode for software development. Captures bug fixes, features, refactors, and architectural decisions.

**ID:** `code`

### Multilingual Code Modes
Inherits all behavior from Code Mode but instructs Claude to generate **all** memory artifacts (titles, narratives, facts, summaries) in the target language.

| Language | Mode ID | Description |
|----------|---------|-------------|
| **Chinese** | `code--zh` | 中文 |
| **Spanish** | `code--es` | Español |
| **French** | `code--fr` | Français |
| **German** | `code--de` | Deutsch |
| **Japanese** | `code--ja` | 日本語 |
| **Korean** | `code--ko` | 한국어 |
| **Portuguese** | `code--pt` | Português |
| **Russian** | `code--ru` | Русский |
| **Thai** | `code--th` | ภาษาไทย |
| **Vietnamese** | `code--vi` | Tiếng Việt |

### Email Investigation Mode
A specialized mode for analyzing email dumps (e.g., FOIA releases, corporate archives). Focuses on identifying entities, relationships, timeline events, and key topics.

**ID:** `email-investigation`

**Observation Types:**
- `entity`: Person, organization, or email address
- `relationship`: Connection between entities
- `timeline-event`: Time-stamped event in communication sequence
- `evidence`: Supporting documentation or proof
- `anomaly`: Suspicious pattern or irregularity
- `conclusion`: Investigative finding or determination

## Mode Inheritance

The system supports inheritance using the `--` separator. For example, `code--es` means:
1.  Load `code` (Parent) configuration.
2.  Load `code--es` (Child) configuration.
3.  Merge Child into Parent (Child overrides).

This allows for lightweight "remix" modes that only change specific aspects (like the language prompt) while keeping the core definitions intact.