Blog post
SQLite as the memory layer for a local tool
A small local database is often enough for the kind of continuity an AI-assisted desktop app actually needs.
I keep coming back to the same conclusion: many local products do not need a distributed data platform. They need a durable notebook with decent structure.
SQLite keeps earning its place in tools like Architect because it is:
- embedded
- inspectable
- boring in the best possible way
Good local memory is selective
The hard part is not storing everything. The hard part is deciding what deserves to be remembered:
- project context
- planning artifacts
- thread continuity
- meaningful decisions
Dumping every message forever is not memory. It is just hoarding.
The product challenge is deciding what to keep crisp.