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Dev.to
Dev.to
6/26/2026
Stop using the model as your memory

Stop using the model as your memory

Short summary

Rather than relying on a model's context window to remember your decisions and progress, move state into files—a frozen spec and verification checklist. This turns the model into a stateless worker that re-reads the spec on each turn, preventing drift and re-work while reducing token waste. The pattern extends to production agents: memory belongs in the repository, not the context window.

  • Move state from the model's context window to frozen spec files and checklists
  • Model becomes a stateless worker that re-reads instructions each turn, preventing drift
  • Applies to production agents: the model is the worker, the repo is the memory

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