Rank the memory bank without reading the memory bank

Retrieval walked adventure.memories, so every turn loaded every row of the
bank with its vector attached -- 3.1 MB, 96% of everything a turn read. It
now asks SQL which memories are in play (an id and a flag per row), ranks
against vectors held in process, and fetches text only for the five it picks.

Two more callers were doing the same thing and the production SQL could not
see them: _evict_over_capacity walked the bank to count it, and _embed_pending
walked it to find the rows with no vector. Both are counts and filters the
database can do without sending anything back.

    one turn      3,258.7 kB -> 723.4 kB cold, 122.3 kB warm
    run_post_turn 3,139.1 kB -> 0.7 kB
    Insights      3,223.7 kB -> 117.9 kB
    Memories drawer  ~3.1 MB -> 23.6 kB

A played turn is turn plus post-turn work: 6.4 MB down to 123 kB.

The cache needs no invalidation callbacks, which is what makes it safe. A
vector can only change through set_vector, which drops that one entry;
anything that removes a memory from play leaves the catalogue query, and
entries missing from the catalogue are dropped on the next read. So eviction,
deletion and pruning have nothing to remember to call.

memories.embedded joins the blob, for the same reason actions.variant_count
sits beside actions.variants: with the vector deferred, every "is this
embedded?" check would otherwise be a 6 KB lazy load, once per row.

Capacity drops 200 -> 80, on retrieval quality as much as cost -- ranking two
hundred memories to pick five buries the five. Eviction was measured at scale
first: trimming 100 to 80 costs 0.8 kB and reads no vectors.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_015CYEJKobJ2Re4Dv7qUoSA7
This commit is contained in:
parththakkar106
2026-08-16 21:28:00 +05:30
co-authored by Claude Opus 5
parent c56864877a
commit b7e53ae581
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"""Ranking the memory bank without reading the memory bank.
Retrieval used to walk `adventure.memories`, which loaded every row *with its
vector* — 96% of everything a turn read. It now asks SQL which memories are in
play, holds their vectors in process, and fetches text for the five it picks.
Three things have to stay true for that to be safe, and each is a separate
failure that no error message would ever report:
* the ranking picks the same memories it always did;
* nothing bulk-reads a vector column again;
* a cached vector is never served after the stored one changed.
python -m pytest tests/test_memory_retrieval.py -v
"""
import os
import tempfile
_tmp = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix=".db", delete=False)
_tmp.close()
os.environ["AIDND_DB_PATH"] = _tmp.name
os.environ.pop("AIDND_DATABASE_URL", None)
os.environ.pop("DATABASE_URL", None)
import asyncio
from datetime import timedelta
import pytest
from sqlalchemy import event
from app import memorybank, models
from app.database import Base, SessionLocal, engine
class StubEmbedder:
"""Returns whatever vector the test set, and counts calls."""
def __init__(self, vector=(1.0, 0.0, 0.0)):
self.vector = list(vector)
self.calls = 0
async def embed(self, texts):
self.calls += 1
return [list(self.vector) for _ in texts]
@pytest.fixture()
def db():
Base.metadata.create_all(bind=engine)
memorybank._vector_cache.clear()
session = SessionLocal()
try:
yield session
finally:
session.close()
memorybank._vector_cache.clear()
Base.metadata.drop_all(bind=engine)
@pytest.fixture()
def settings(db):
user = models.User(is_guest=False, email="rank@example.com")
db.add(user)
db.flush()
row = models.Settings(
user_id=user.id, api_key="enc:dummy", model="m",
embedding_model="text-embedding-3-small", memory_top_k=2,
memory_bank_capacity=80,
)
db.add(row)
db.commit()
return row
@pytest.fixture()
def adventure(db, settings):
adv = models.Adventure(
user_id=settings.user_id, title="Cave", script_state={},
memory_bank_enabled=True,
)
db.add(adv)
db.flush()
# Retrieval builds its query from the newest actions; with none, it returns
# before ranking anything.
for i in range(2):
db.add(models.Action(
adventure_id=adv.id, index=i, type="ai", text=f"Something happened {i}."
))
db.commit()
return adv
def add_memory(db, adventure, text, vector, **kwargs):
memory = models.Memory(adventure_id=adventure.id, text=text, **kwargs)
db.add(memory)
db.flush()
if vector is not None:
memorybank.set_vector(memory, list(vector))
db.commit()
return memory
@pytest.fixture()
def bank(db, adventure):
"""Three orthogonal vectors, so a query vector picks one unambiguously."""
return {
"x": add_memory(db, adventure, "about x", (1.0, 0.0, 0.0)),
"y": add_memory(db, adventure, "about y", (0.0, 1.0, 0.0)),
"z": add_memory(db, adventure, "about z", (0.0, 0.0, 1.0)),
}
def retrieve(adventure, settings, embedder, **kwargs):
memorybank.embedding_provider = lambda s: embedder
kwargs.setdefault("update_stats", False)
return asyncio.run(memorybank.retrieve_memories(adventure, settings, **kwargs))
@pytest.fixture()
def sql_log():
statements: list[str] = []
def record(conn, cursor, statement, parameters, context, executemany):
statements.append(statement)
event.listen(engine, "before_cursor_execute", record)
try:
yield statements
finally:
event.remove(engine, "before_cursor_execute", record)
# ------------------------------------------------------------------- ranking
def test_ranks_by_cosine_similarity(db, adventure, settings, bank):
result = retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder((1.0, 0.0, 0.0)))
assert [m["id"] for m in result["used"]][0] == bank["x"].id
assert result["used"][0]["similarity"] == pytest.approx(1.0)
assert result["used"][0]["text"] == "about x"
def test_honours_top_k(db, adventure, settings, bank):
settings.memory_top_k = 1
db.commit()
assert len(retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())["used"]) == 1
def test_pinned_memories_are_always_used(db, adventure, settings, bank):
"""A pin means "always in context", however badly it scores."""
settings.memory_top_k = 1
bank["z"].pinned = True
db.commit()
used = retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder((1.0, 0.0, 0.0)))["used"]
assert [m["id"] for m in used] == [bank["z"].id]
assert used[0]["pinned"] is True
def test_forgotten_and_unembedded_memories_are_not_candidates(db, adventure, settings):
live = add_memory(db, adventure, "live", (1.0, 0.0, 0.0))
add_memory(db, adventure, "evicted", (1.0, 0.0, 0.0), forgotten=True)
add_memory(db, adventure, "no vector yet", None)
used = retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())["used"]
assert [m["id"] for m in used] == [live.id]
def test_empty_bank_returns_no_error(db, adventure, settings):
assert retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder()) == {"used": [], "error": None}
def test_missing_embedding_model_is_reported(db, adventure, settings, bank):
settings.embedding_model = ""
db.commit()
result = retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())
assert result["used"] == [] and "embedding model" in result["error"]
def test_update_stats_bumps_only_the_used(db, adventure, settings, bank):
settings.memory_top_k = 1
db.commit()
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder((1.0, 0.0, 0.0)), update_stats=True)
db.commit()
db.expire_all()
assert db.get(models.Memory, bank["x"].id).use_count == 1
assert db.get(models.Memory, bank["x"].id).last_used_at is not None
assert db.get(models.Memory, bank["y"].id).use_count == 0
def test_dry_runs_do_not_bump_the_counters(db, adventure, settings, bank):
"""Insights assembles a context without spending a turn; it must not look
like the memories were used."""
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder(), update_stats=False)
db.commit()
db.expire_all()
assert all(db.get(models.Memory, m.id).use_count == 0 for m in bank.values())
# --------------------------------------------------------------- the egress
def memory_selects(statements):
return [
s for s in statements
if "FROM memories" in s and s.lstrip().upper().startswith("SELECT")
]
def test_the_json_column_is_never_selected(db, adventure, settings, bank, sql_log):
"""`memories.embedding` is dead weight kept only until a follow-up
migration drops it. If anything still reads it, dropping it breaks."""
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())
offenders = [s for s in memory_selects(sql_log) if "memories.embedding " in s
or s.rstrip().endswith("memories.embedding")]
assert offenders == [], f"the JSON column was read:\n{offenders[0][:300]}"
def test_the_catalogue_query_carries_no_vectors(db, adventure, settings, bank, sql_log):
"""The query that decides *which* memories are in play must stay tiny —
this is the one that used to drag the whole bank across."""
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())
catalogue = [s for s in memory_selects(sql_log) if "memories.pinned" in s]
assert catalogue, "expected a catalogue query"
assert not any("embedding_blob" in s for s in catalogue)
def test_a_second_turn_reads_no_vectors_at_all(db, adventure, settings, bank, sql_log):
"""The point of the cache: back-to-back turns on one adventure pay for the
vectors once."""
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())
sql_log.clear()
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())
assert not any("embedding_blob" in s for s in memory_selects(sql_log))
def test_only_the_new_memory_is_fetched_after_one_is_added(db, adventure, settings, bank, sql_log):
"""A growing bank must not re-read the vectors it already holds."""
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())
added = add_memory(db, adventure, "about w", (0.5, 0.5, 0.0))
sql_log.clear()
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())
vector_reads = [s for s in memory_selects(sql_log) if "embedding_blob" in s]
assert len(vector_reads) == 1
# One placeholder means one id: the new memory, and nothing else.
assert vector_reads[0].count("?") == 1
assert added.id in {m["id"] for m in
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder((0.5, 0.5, 0.0)))["used"]}
def test_only_top_k_texts_are_fetched(db, adventure, settings, bank, sql_log):
settings.memory_top_k = 1
db.commit()
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())
text_reads = [s for s in memory_selects(sql_log) if "memories.text" in s]
assert len(text_reads) == 1
assert text_reads[0].count("?") == 1
# ---------------------------------------------------------------- staleness
def test_a_rewritten_vector_is_not_served_from_cache(db, adventure, settings, bank):
"""The cache's one genuine hazard: a memory keeps its id while its vector
changes, so an id-set check alone would go on serving the old one. Editing
a memory's text and re-embedding it does exactly that.
"""
settings.memory_top_k = 1
db.commit()
first = retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder((0.0, 0.0, 1.0)))
assert [m["id"] for m in first["used"]] == [bank["z"].id]
# z is re-embedded onto the x axis, all within one gap between turns.
memorybank.set_vector(bank["z"], [1.0, 0.0, 0.0])
db.commit()
again = retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder((0.0, 0.0, 1.0)))
assert [m["id"] for m in again["used"]] != [bank["z"].id]
def test_a_deleted_memory_leaves_the_cache(db, adventure, settings, bank):
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())
db.delete(bank["x"])
db.commit()
used = retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder((1.0, 0.0, 0.0)))["used"]
assert bank["x"].id not in {m["id"] for m in used}
assert memorybank._vector_cache[adventure.id].keys() == {bank["y"].id, bank["z"].id}
def test_the_cache_is_bounded(db, adventure, settings, bank):
"""It holds vectors indefinitely, so without a bound a long-running process
accumulates every adventure ever played."""
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())
for fake_id in range(1000, 1000 + memorybank.VECTOR_CACHE_ADVENTURES + 2):
memorybank._vectors_for(db, fake_id, [])
assert len(memorybank._vector_cache) == memorybank.VECTOR_CACHE_ADVENTURES
assert adventure.id not in memorybank._vector_cache # evicted, least recent
def test_forget_cached_vectors_drops_an_adventure(db, adventure, settings, bank):
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())
assert adventure.id in memorybank._vector_cache
memorybank.forget_cached_vectors(adventure.id)
assert adventure.id not in memorybank._vector_cache
# ----------------------------------------------------------------- eviction
def test_eviction_marks_the_least_used(db, adventure, settings):
settings.memory_bank_capacity = 2
db.commit()
keep = add_memory(db, adventure, "used often", (1.0, 0.0, 0.0), use_count=5)
also = add_memory(db, adventure, "used sometimes", (0.0, 1.0, 0.0), use_count=3)
drop = add_memory(db, adventure, "never used", (0.0, 0.0, 1.0), use_count=0)
memorybank._evict_over_capacity(adventure, settings, db)
db.expire_all()
assert db.get(models.Memory, drop.id).forgotten is True
assert db.get(models.Memory, keep.id).forgotten is False
assert db.get(models.Memory, also.id).forgotten is False
def test_eviction_breaks_ties_on_recency(db, adventure, settings):
settings.memory_bank_capacity = 1
db.commit()
now = models.utcnow()
recent = add_memory(db, adventure, "recent", (1.0, 0.0, 0.0), use_count=1)
stale = add_memory(db, adventure, "stale", (0.0, 1.0, 0.0), use_count=1)
recent.last_used_at = now
stale.last_used_at = now - timedelta(days=30)
db.commit()
memorybank._evict_over_capacity(adventure, settings, db)
db.expire_all()
assert db.get(models.Memory, stale.id).forgotten is True
assert db.get(models.Memory, recent.id).forgotten is False
def test_eviction_never_touches_a_pin(db, adventure, settings):
"""Capacity yields to pins: if everything active is pinned there is nothing
to evict, and the bank is allowed to sit over capacity."""
settings.memory_bank_capacity = 1
db.commit()
pins = [add_memory(db, adventure, f"pin {i}", (1.0, 0.0, 0.0), pinned=True)
for i in range(3)]
memorybank._evict_over_capacity(adventure, settings, db)
db.expire_all()
assert all(db.get(models.Memory, p.id).forgotten is False for p in pins)
def test_eviction_reads_no_vectors(db, adventure, settings, bank, sql_log):
"""It ran every turn and pulled the whole bank to count it."""
settings.memory_bank_capacity = 1
db.commit()
sql_log.clear()
memorybank._evict_over_capacity(adventure, settings, db)
assert not any("embedding_blob" in s for s in memory_selects(sql_log))
def test_evicted_memories_drop_out_of_the_cache(db, adventure, settings, bank):
retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())
settings.memory_bank_capacity = 1
db.commit()
memorybank._evict_over_capacity(adventure, settings, db)
used = retrieve(adventure, settings, StubEmbedder())["used"]
assert len(used) == 1
assert len(memorybank._vector_cache[adventure.id]) == 1
# ------------------------------------------------------------- embed queue
def test_embed_pending_picks_only_unembedded_memories(db, adventure, settings):
done = add_memory(db, adventure, "already done", (1.0, 0.0, 0.0))
todo = add_memory(db, adventure, "needs a vector", None)
add_memory(db, adventure, "evicted, skip", None, forgotten=True)
embedder = StubEmbedder((0.0, 1.0, 0.0))
memorybank.embedding_provider = lambda s: embedder
asyncio.run(memorybank._embed_pending(adventure, settings, db))
db.expire_all()
assert db.get(models.Memory, todo.id).embedded is True
assert embedder.calls == 1
# The one already embedded keeps the vector it had.
assert db.get(models.Memory, done.id).embedding_blob == memorybank.vectors.pack(
[1.0, 0.0, 0.0]
)
def test_embed_pending_reads_no_vectors(db, adventure, settings, bank, sql_log):
add_memory(db, adventure, "needs a vector", None)
embedder = StubEmbedder()
memorybank.embedding_provider = lambda s: embedder
sql_log.clear()
asyncio.run(memorybank._embed_pending(adventure, settings, db))
assert not any("embedding_blob" in s for s in memory_selects(sql_log))