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Memories are markdown files that provide persistent context to every conversation in a project. They’re automatically loaded and included in the system prompt, giving the AI assistant relevant background about your codebase, conventions, and preferences.

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Context Files

Reliant discovers two context files in your project root:
FilePurposeGit Status
reliant.mdProject context — shared guidelines, architecture notes, conventionsCommit to repository
reliant.local.mdPersonal context — your local notes, preferences, shortcutsAdd to .gitignore
Both files are automatically loaded when present. Their contents are concatenated and included in every conversation.

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What to Include

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Project Context (reliant.md)

Include information that benefits everyone working on the project: 
# Project Overview

Brief description of what this project does and its architecture.

## Key Patterns

- We use repository pattern for data access
- All API endpoints go through the `/api/v1` prefix
- Components follow atomic design (atoms, molecules, organisms)

## Important Files

- `src/config.ts` - All configuration
- `src/api/routes.ts` - API route definitions
- `src/db/schema.ts` - Database schema

## Conventions

- Use `pnpm` not `npm`
- Tests go in `__tests__` directories
- Prefer named exports over default exports

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Personal Context (reliant.local.md)

Include your personal preferences and local setup details: 
# My Setup

## Local Services

- Database: `docker compose up db`
- Backend: `pnpm dev:api` on port 3001
- Frontend: `pnpm dev` on port 3000

## Preferences

- I prefer verbose explanations
- Always suggest tests for new code
- I'm working on the authentication feature this week

## Notes

- The legacy auth system is in `src/auth/legacy` - don't modify
- Sean owns the billing module

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Auto-Discovery

Reliant searches for context files in:
  1. Your project root directory
  2. Parent directories (for monorepos)
Files are discovered in this order and concatenated:
  1. reliant.md from root
  2. reliant.local.md from root
[!TIP] Monorepo tip: Place a reliant.md in your monorepo root with shared context, and additional reliant.md files in each package for package-specific context.

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Best Practices

Keep it concise — Context files are included in every conversation. Large files consume tokens without proportional benefit. Update regularly — As your project evolves, keep context files current. Outdated information is worse than no information. Separate concerns — Put team knowledge in reliant.md, personal preferences in reliant.local.md. Use structure — Headings and bullet points are easier to scan than prose. Avoid secrets — Never put API keys, passwords, or sensitive data in context files.

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Global Context

You can also add global context that applies to all projects. Create a reliant.md file in your global config directory: 
~/.reliant/reliant.md
This is useful for personal preferences that should apply everywhere: 
# Global Preferences

- I prefer concise responses
- Always use TypeScript, never plain JavaScript
- Include examples with explanations
Global context is loaded before project context, so project-specific context can override global defaults.