Backlinks & Digest

Backlinks

memex resolves [[Title]] wiki-link syntax, the same format used by Obsidian, Roam, and Logseq.

When you save or update a note, memex scans the content for [[Title]] patterns and creates links to matching notes. These are stored in a note_links table and surfaced when you view a note.

Using backlinks in practice

Reference people, projects, or concepts naturally in your notes:

Discussed the auth approach with [[Tom]].
This builds on the [[Auth Architecture Decision]] from April.

When you later view the "Auth Architecture Decision" note (via memex show <id> or get_note) you'll see a "Referenced by" section listing every note that links to it.

Claude + backlinks

Claude is instructed to use [[Title]] syntax when saving notes:

"When a note refers to people, projects, or concepts that likely have their own notes, use [[Title]] wiki-link syntax in the content to create backlinks."

So if you have notes on "Alice" and "Project X", and Claude saves a note about a conversation you had with Alice about Project X, it will write:

Spoke with [[Alice]] about [[Project X]], decided to delay the launch.

Viewing backlinks

memex show <id>    # includes "Referenced by" section

Via Claude: use get_note, backlinks appear at the bottom.

Wiki backlinks vs flashback links

note_links tracks two kinds of edges via a source column:

• source = 'wiki', created by you via [[Title]] syntax. Re-synced on every save/update of the source note.
• source = 'flashback', created by memex when a save or search surfaces an older cross-context note. Persistent across syncs.

memex show <id> lists both, the standard "Referenced by" block plus a "Surfaced as flashback in" block. The composite primary key (source_id, target_id, source) means the same pair can exist as both kinds simultaneously without colliding.

Digest

The digest command gives you a periodic summary of what's been saved.

memex digest              # last 7 days (default)
memex digest --days 14    # last 14 days
memex digest --days 30    # last month

Output is grouped by folder:

Digest, last 7 day(s) since 2025-04-27

conversations/tom
  #48 Auth approach follow-up  [auth, backend]  Apr 28
  #51 Sprint planning          [planning]        Apr 30

decisions/memex
  #49 Switched to hybrid RRF   [search, architecture]  Apr 29

3 note(s) across 2 folder(s)

Use digest for:

• Weekly review, what did I capture this week?
• Catch-up, coming back from vacation or a break
• Handoff context, before a meeting, see what's been logged recently