dsh-ihow-memory
Install iHow Memory as a local-first shared memory plugin for DeepSeek Harness.
The package is a thin DSH bundle. It mounts DSH's MCP client and starts an exact ihow-memory Core dependency from the plugin installation. It does not require a global iHow Memory binary and does not duplicate Core storage or governance logic.
Status
Alpha. The package targets DSH 0.1.0-rc.6 and iHow Memory Core 0.1.0-alpha.31.2.
Core and plugin lifecycle
ihow-memory is the Core package: it owns storage, retrieval, governance, and the MCP contract. dsh-ihow-memory is only the DSH adapter and distribution bundle. Installing this plugin does not replace a global ihow-memory command or modify another runtime's adapter.
The plugin pins an exact Core version so an existing DSH installation cannot change behavior when Core publishes a new release. The two packages therefore use independent versions:
- A Core release does not automatically require a plugin release.
- Release a new plugin when the pinned Core must move for a compatible feature or security fix, when the MCP contract changes, or when DSH integration changes.
- Test the pinned Core through DSH before each plugin release; do not widen the Core dependency range.
Runtimes share durable memory only when they intentionally use the same MEMORY_ROOT or IHOW_MEMORY_ROOT. DSH keeps its index and runtime state under its own IHOW_MEMORY_STATE_ROOT, so shared memory does not imply shared mutable runtime state.
Install
dsh plugin --profile web add dsh-ihow-memory@next
dsh web
For Headless:
dsh plugin --profile headless add dsh-ihow-memory@next
dsh --profile headless "Check memory status"
Restart the selected DSH profile after installation. The agent receives iHow Memory tools under DSH's stable mcp__ihow-memory__... namespace.
Storage
By default the plugin uses iHow Memory's managed local storage:
~/.ihow-memory/<workspace>-<hash>/
It keeps DSH index state under:
~/.ihow-memory/.state/dsh/
The active DSH workspace determines the managed memory space. Set these environment variables before starting DSH to override the defaults:
| Variable | Purpose |
|---|
IHOW_MEMORY_HOME | Managed iHow Memory home directory |
MEMORY_ROOT or IHOW_MEMORY_ROOT | Existing shared memory directory |
IHOW_MEMORY_STATE_ROOT | Runtime index/state directory |
IHOW_MEMORY_CWD | Workspace identity override |
IHOW_CAPTURE_FLOOR=0 | Disable the bounded startup capture sweep |
When MEMORY_ROOT points at an existing shared memory directory, keep IHOW_MEMORY_STATE_ROOT writable and local. The plugin never deletes memory when it is uninstalled.
Verify
Ask DSH to call memory status, search a known fact, write a low-risk candidate, start a new session, and search for the same fact. For the full verify-first handoff path, call memory.continue and validate the returned live anchors before acting on its narrative.
Update and remove
dsh plugin --profile web update dsh-ihow-memory
dsh plugin --profile web remove dsh-ihow-memory
Removing the plugin removes the DSH bundle only. It does not remove ~/.ihow-memory or a configured shared memory root.
Security
The plugin spawns the bundled Core over stdio. It stores no model credentials and uses DSH's scrubbed child-process environment. Memory can contain sensitive project context; review candidates before promotion and never store secrets, tokens, private keys, passwords, or cookies.
Development
npm install
npm run verify
dsh plugin --profile web add "link:/absolute/path/to/dsh-ihow-memory"
License
Apache-2.0
