You have access to a searchable index of all past pi conversations across all projects.
When to Search
- User says "like we did before", "remember when", "how did we solve X", "what did we try"
- User references a past session, project, or decision
- You encounter an error or pattern that might have been addressed previously
- Starting work on a feature similar to something done before
- User asks about project history or past decisions
How to Search
Use the episodic_memory_search tool:
// Semantic search (finds by meaning, not just keywords)
{ "query": "authentication middleware implementation" }
// Multi-concept AND search (results must match ALL concepts) { "query": ["React Router", "authentication", "JWT"] }
// Filter by date { "query": "database migration", "after": "2025-01-01" }
// Text search for exact phrases { "query": "useAuth hook", "mode": "text" }
## Tips for Good Queries
- Use descriptive phrases, not single keywords
- Try the problem description, not just the solution
- If first search doesn't find it, try rephrasing or broadening
- Use multi-concept search when looking for a specific intersection of topics
## Viewing Full Conversations
If a search result snippet isn't enough context, use `episodic_memory_show` with the session file path from the search results to see the full conversation.
## Important
- Search results are snippets (chunks of ~4 turns). They show the relevant part, not the whole conversation.
- Results include a relevance score — higher is better.
- The project name in results shows which directory the session was in.
- Don't search for every query — only when past context would genuinely help.