Preserve local project context across compaction and todo updates

This change makes compaction summaries durable under .claude/memory,
feeds those saved memory files back into prompt context, updates /memory
to report both instruction and project-memory files, and moves TodoWrite
persistence to a human-readable .claude/todos.md file.

Constraint: Reuse existing compaction, prompt loading, and slash-command plumbing rather than add a new subsystem
Constraint: Keep persisted project state under Claude-local .claude/ paths
Rejected: Introduce a dedicated memory service module | larger diff with no clear user benefit for this task
Confidence: high
Scope-risk: moderate
Reversibility: clean
Directive: Project memory files are loaded as prompt context, so future format changes must preserve concise readable content
Tested: cargo fmt --all --manifest-path rust/Cargo.toml
Tested: cargo clippy --manifest-path rust/Cargo.toml --all-targets --all-features -- -D warnings
Tested: cargo test --manifest-path rust/Cargo.toml --all
Not-tested: Long-term retention/cleanup policy for .claude/memory growth

rust/crates/runtime/src/compact.rs

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+use std::fs;
+use std::time::{SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
+
 use crate::session::{ContentBlock, ConversationMessage, MessageRole, Session};
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -90,6 +93,7 @@ pub fn compact_session(session: &Session, config: CompactionConfig) -> Compactio
     let preserved = session.messages[keep_from..].to_vec();
     let summary = summarize_messages(removed);
     let formatted_summary = format_compact_summary(&summary);
+    persist_compact_summary(&formatted_summary);
     let continuation = get_compact_continuation_message(&summary, true, !preserved.is_empty());
 
     let mut compacted_messages = vec![ConversationMessage {
@@ -110,6 +114,35 @@ pub fn compact_session(session: &Session, config: CompactionConfig) -> Compactio
     }
 }
 
+fn persist_compact_summary(formatted_summary: &str) {
+    if formatted_summary.trim().is_empty() {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    let Ok(cwd) = std::env::current_dir() else {
+        return;
+    };
+    let memory_dir = cwd.join(".claude").join("memory");
+    if fs::create_dir_all(&memory_dir).is_err() {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    let path = memory_dir.join(compact_summary_filename());
+    let _ = fs::write(path, render_memory_file(formatted_summary));
+}
+
+fn compact_summary_filename() -> String {
+    let timestamp = SystemTime::now()
+        .duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
+        .unwrap_or_default()
+        .as_secs();
+    format!("summary-{timestamp}.md")
+}
+
+fn render_memory_file(formatted_summary: &str) -> String {
+    format!("# Project memory\n\n{}\n", formatted_summary.trim())
+}
+
 fn summarize_messages(messages: &[ConversationMessage]) -> String {
     let user_messages = messages
         .iter()
@@ -378,14 +411,21 @@ fn collapse_blank_lines(content: &str) -> String {
 mod tests {
     use super::{
         collect_key_files, compact_session, estimate_session_tokens, format_compact_summary,
-        infer_pending_work, should_compact, CompactionConfig,
+        infer_pending_work, render_memory_file, should_compact, CompactionConfig,
     };
+    use std::fs;
+    use std::time::{SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
+
     use crate::session::{ContentBlock, ConversationMessage, MessageRole, Session};
 
     #[test]
     fn formats_compact_summary_like_upstream() {
         let summary = "<analysis>scratch</analysis>\n<summary>Kept work</summary>";
         assert_eq!(format_compact_summary(summary), "Summary:\nKept work");
+        assert_eq!(
+            render_memory_file("Summary:\nKept work"),
+            "# Project memory\n\nSummary:\nKept work\n"
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -402,6 +442,63 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(result.formatted_summary.is_empty());
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn persists_compacted_summaries_under_dot_claude_memory() {
+        let _guard = crate::test_env_lock();
+        let temp = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!(
+            "runtime-compact-memory-{}",
+            SystemTime::now()
+                .duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
+                .expect("time after epoch")
+                .as_nanos()
+        ));
+        fs::create_dir_all(&temp).expect("temp dir");
+        let previous = std::env::current_dir().expect("cwd");
+        std::env::set_current_dir(&temp).expect("set cwd");
+
+        let session = Session {
+            version: 1,
+            messages: vec![
+                ConversationMessage::user_text("one ".repeat(200)),
+                ConversationMessage::assistant(vec![ContentBlock::Text {
+                    text: "two ".repeat(200),
+                }]),
+                ConversationMessage::tool_result("1", "bash", "ok ".repeat(200), false),
+                ConversationMessage {
+                    role: MessageRole::Assistant,
+                    blocks: vec![ContentBlock::Text {
+                        text: "recent".to_string(),
+                    }],
+                    usage: None,
+                },
+            ],
+        };
+
+        let result = compact_session(
+            &session,
+            CompactionConfig {
+                preserve_recent_messages: 2,
+                max_estimated_tokens: 1,
+            },
+        );
+        let memory_dir = temp.join(".claude").join("memory");
+        let files = fs::read_dir(&memory_dir)
+            .expect("memory dir exists")
+            .flatten()
+            .map(|entry| entry.path())
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
+        assert_eq!(result.removed_message_count, 2);
+        assert_eq!(files.len(), 1);
+        let persisted = fs::read_to_string(&files[0]).expect("memory file readable");
+
+        std::env::set_current_dir(previous).expect("restore cwd");
+        fs::remove_dir_all(temp).expect("cleanup temp dir");
+
+        assert!(persisted.contains("# Project memory"));
+        assert!(persisted.contains("Summary:"));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn compacts_older_messages_into_a_system_summary() {
         let session = Session {

rust/crates/runtime/src/conversation.rs

@@ -415,6 +415,7 @@ mod tests {
                 current_date: "2026-03-31".to_string(),
                 git_status: None,
                 instruction_files: Vec::new(),
+                memory_files: Vec::new(),
             })
             .with_os("linux", "6.8")
             .build();

rust/crates/runtime/src/prompt.rs

@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ pub struct ProjectContext {
     pub current_date: String,
     pub git_status: Option<String>,
     pub instruction_files: Vec<ContextFile>,
+    pub memory_files: Vec<ContextFile>,
 }
 
 impl ProjectContext {
@@ -60,11 +61,13 @@ impl ProjectContext {
     ) -> std::io::Result<Self> {
         let cwd = cwd.into();
         let instruction_files = discover_instruction_files(&cwd)?;
+        let memory_files = discover_memory_files(&cwd)?;
         Ok(Self {
             cwd,
             current_date: current_date.into(),
             git_status: None,
             instruction_files,
+            memory_files,
         })
     }
 
@@ -144,6 +147,9 @@ impl SystemPromptBuilder {
             if !project_context.instruction_files.is_empty() {
                 sections.push(render_instruction_files(&project_context.instruction_files));
             }
+            if !project_context.memory_files.is_empty() {
+                sections.push(render_memory_files(&project_context.memory_files));
+            }
         }
         if let Some(config) = &self.config {
             sections.push(render_config_section(config));
@@ -186,7 +192,7 @@ pub fn prepend_bullets(items: Vec<String>) -> Vec<String> {
     items.into_iter().map(|item| format!(" - {item}")).collect()
 }
 
-fn discover_instruction_files(cwd: &Path) -> std::io::Result<Vec<ContextFile>> {
+fn discover_context_directories(cwd: &Path) -> Vec<PathBuf> {
     let mut directories = Vec::new();
     let mut cursor = Some(cwd);
     while let Some(dir) = cursor {
@@ -194,6 +200,11 @@ fn discover_instruction_files(cwd: &Path) -> std::io::Result<Vec<ContextFile>> {
         cursor = dir.parent();
     }
     directories.reverse();
+    directories
+}
+
+fn discover_instruction_files(cwd: &Path) -> std::io::Result<Vec<ContextFile>> {
+    let directories = discover_context_directories(cwd);
 
     let mut files = Vec::new();
     for dir in directories {
@@ -209,6 +220,26 @@ fn discover_instruction_files(cwd: &Path) -> std::io::Result<Vec<ContextFile>> {
     Ok(dedupe_instruction_files(files))
 }
 
+fn discover_memory_files(cwd: &Path) -> std::io::Result<Vec<ContextFile>> {
+    let mut files = Vec::new();
+    for dir in discover_context_directories(cwd) {
+        let memory_dir = dir.join(".claude").join("memory");
+        let Ok(entries) = fs::read_dir(&memory_dir) else {
+            continue;
+        };
+        let mut paths = entries
+            .flatten()
+            .map(|entry| entry.path())
+            .filter(|path| path.is_file())
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        paths.sort();
+        for path in paths {
+            push_context_file(&mut files, path)?;
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(dedupe_instruction_files(files))
+}
+
 fn push_context_file(files: &mut Vec<ContextFile>, path: PathBuf) -> std::io::Result<()> {
     match fs::read_to_string(&path) {
         Ok(content) if !content.trim().is_empty() => {
@@ -251,6 +282,12 @@ fn render_project_context(project_context: &ProjectContext) -> String {
             project_context.instruction_files.len()
         ));
     }
+    if !project_context.memory_files.is_empty() {
+        bullets.push(format!(
+            "Project memory files discovered: {}.",
+            project_context.memory_files.len()
+        ));
+    }
     lines.extend(prepend_bullets(bullets));
     if let Some(status) = &project_context.git_status {
         lines.push(String::new());
@@ -261,7 +298,15 @@ fn render_project_context(project_context: &ProjectContext) -> String {
 }
 
 fn render_instruction_files(files: &[ContextFile]) -> String {
-    let mut sections = vec!["# Claude instructions".to_string()];
+    render_context_file_section("# Claude instructions", files)
+}
+
+fn render_memory_files(files: &[ContextFile]) -> String {
+    render_context_file_section("# Project memory", files)
+}
+
+fn render_context_file_section(title: &str, files: &[ContextFile]) -> String {
+    let mut sections = vec![title.to_string()];
     let mut remaining_chars = MAX_TOTAL_INSTRUCTION_CHARS;
     for file in files {
         if remaining_chars == 0 {
@@ -453,8 +498,9 @@ fn get_actions_section() -> String {
 mod tests {
     use super::{
         collapse_blank_lines, display_context_path, normalize_instruction_content,
-        render_instruction_content, render_instruction_files, truncate_instruction_content,
-        ContextFile, ProjectContext, SystemPromptBuilder, SYSTEM_PROMPT_DYNAMIC_BOUNDARY,
+        render_instruction_content, render_instruction_files, render_memory_files,
+        truncate_instruction_content, ContextFile, ProjectContext, SystemPromptBuilder,
+        SYSTEM_PROMPT_DYNAMIC_BOUNDARY,
     };
     use crate::config::ConfigLoader;
     use std::fs;
@@ -519,6 +565,35 @@ mod tests {
         fs::remove_dir_all(root).expect("cleanup temp dir");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn discovers_project_memory_files_from_ancestor_chain() {
+        let root = temp_dir();
+        let nested = root.join("apps").join("api");
+        fs::create_dir_all(root.join(".claude").join("memory")).expect("root memory dir");
+        fs::create_dir_all(nested.join(".claude").join("memory")).expect("nested memory dir");
+        fs::write(
+            root.join(".claude").join("memory").join("2026-03-30.md"),
+            "root memory",
+        )
+        .expect("write root memory");
+        fs::write(
+            nested.join(".claude").join("memory").join("2026-03-31.md"),
+            "nested memory",
+        )
+        .expect("write nested memory");
+
+        let context = ProjectContext::discover(&nested, "2026-03-31").expect("context should load");
+        let contents = context
+            .memory_files
+            .iter()
+            .map(|file| file.content.as_str())
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
+        assert_eq!(contents, vec!["root memory", "nested memory"]);
+        assert!(render_memory_files(&context.memory_files).contains("# Project memory"));
+        fs::remove_dir_all(root).expect("cleanup temp dir");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn dedupes_identical_instruction_content_across_scopes() {
         let root = temp_dir();

rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs

@@ -1542,7 +1542,8 @@ fn status_context(
         session_path: session_path.map(Path::to_path_buf),
         loaded_config_files: runtime_config.loaded_entries().len(),
         discovered_config_files,
-        memory_file_count: project_context.instruction_files.len(),
+        memory_file_count: project_context.instruction_files.len()
+            + project_context.memory_files.len(),
         project_root,
         git_branch,
     })
@@ -1687,26 +1688,50 @@ fn render_memory_report() -> Result<String, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let mut lines = vec![format!(
         "Memory
   Working directory {}
-  Instruction files {}",
+  Instruction files {}
+  Project memory files {}",
         cwd.display(),
-        project_context.instruction_files.len()
+        project_context.instruction_files.len(),
+        project_context.memory_files.len()
     )];
-    if project_context.instruction_files.is_empty() {
-        lines.push("Discovered files".to_string());
-        lines.push(
-            "  No CLAUDE instruction files discovered in the current directory ancestry."
-                .to_string(),
+    append_memory_section(
+        &mut lines,
+        "Instruction files",
+        &project_context.instruction_files,
+        "No CLAUDE instruction files discovered in the current directory ancestry.",
     );
-    } else {
-        lines.push("Discovered files".to_string());
-        for (index, file) in project_context.instruction_files.iter().enumerate() {
+    append_memory_section(
+        &mut lines,
+        "Project memory files",
+        &project_context.memory_files,
+        "No persisted project memory files discovered in .claude/memory.",
+    );
+    Ok(lines.join(
+        "
+",
+    ))
+}
+
+fn append_memory_section(
+    lines: &mut Vec<String>,
+    title: &str,
+    files: &[runtime::ContextFile],
+    empty_message: &str,
+) {
+    lines.push(title.to_string());
+    if files.is_empty() {
+        lines.push(format!("  {empty_message}"));
+        return;
+    }
+
+    for (index, file) in files.iter().enumerate() {
         let preview = file.content.lines().next().unwrap_or("").trim();
         let preview = if preview.is_empty() {
             "<empty>"
         } else {
             preview
         };
-            lines.push(format!("  {}. {}", index + 1, file.path.display(),));
+        lines.push(format!("  {}. {}", index + 1, file.path.display()));
         lines.push(format!(
             "     lines={} preview={}",
             file.content.lines().count(),
@@ -1714,11 +1739,6 @@ fn render_memory_report() -> Result<String, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         ));
     }
 }
-    Ok(lines.join(
-        "
-",
-    ))
-}
 
 fn init_claude_md() -> Result<String, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let cwd = env::current_dir()?;
@@ -2772,7 +2792,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(report.contains("Memory"));
         assert!(report.contains("Working directory"));
         assert!(report.contains("Instruction files"));
-        assert!(report.contains("Discovered files"));
+        assert!(report.contains("Project memory files"));
     }
 
     #[test]

rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/render.rs

@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ pub struct ColorTheme {
     inline_code: Color,
     link: Color,
     quote: Color,
-    table_border: Color,
     spinner_active: Color,
     spinner_done: Color,
     spinner_failed: Color,
@@ -36,7 +35,6 @@ impl Default for ColorTheme {
             inline_code: Color::Green,
             link: Color::Blue,
             quote: Color::DarkGrey,
-            table_border: Color::DarkCyan,
             spinner_active: Color::Blue,
             spinner_done: Color::Green,
             spinner_failed: Color::Red,
@@ -115,70 +113,24 @@ impl Spinner {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
-enum ListKind {
-    Unordered,
-    Ordered { next_index: u64 },
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Default, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
-struct TableState {
-    headers: Vec<String>,
-    rows: Vec<Vec<String>>,
-    current_row: Vec<String>,
-    current_cell: String,
-    in_head: bool,
-}
-
-impl TableState {
-    fn push_cell(&mut self) {
-        let cell = self.current_cell.trim().to_string();
-        self.current_row.push(cell);
-        self.current_cell.clear();
-    }
-
-    fn finish_row(&mut self) {
-        if self.current_row.is_empty() {
-            return;
-        }
-        let row = std::mem::take(&mut self.current_row);
-        if self.in_head {
-            self.headers = row;
-        } else {
-            self.rows.push(row);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 #[derive(Debug, Default, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
 struct RenderState {
     emphasis: usize,
     strong: usize,
     quote: usize,
-    list_stack: Vec<ListKind>,
-    table: Option<TableState>,
+    list: usize,
 }
 
 impl RenderState {
     fn style_text(&self, text: &str, theme: &ColorTheme) -> String {
-        let mut styled = text.to_string();
         if self.strong > 0 {
-            styled = format!("{}", styled.bold().with(theme.strong));
-        }
-        if self.emphasis > 0 {
-            styled = format!("{}", styled.italic().with(theme.emphasis));
-        }
-        if self.quote > 0 {
-            styled = format!("{}", styled.with(theme.quote));
-        }
-        styled
-    }
-
-    fn capture_target_mut<'a>(&'a mut self, output: &'a mut String) -> &'a mut String {
-        if let Some(table) = self.table.as_mut() {
-            &mut table.current_cell
+            format!("{}", text.bold().with(theme.strong))
+        } else if self.emphasis > 0 {
+            format!("{}", text.italic().with(theme.emphasis))
+        } else if self.quote > 0 {
+            format!("{}", text.with(theme.quote))
         } else {
-            output
+            text.to_string()
         }
     }
 }
@@ -238,7 +190,6 @@ impl TerminalRenderer {
         output.trim_end().to_string()
     }
 
-    #[allow(clippy::too_many_lines)]
     fn render_event(
         &self,
         event: Event<'_>,
@@ -252,22 +203,12 @@ impl TerminalRenderer {
             Event::Start(Tag::Heading { level, .. }) => self.start_heading(level as u8, output),
             Event::End(TagEnd::Heading(..) | TagEnd::Paragraph) => output.push_str("\n\n"),
             Event::Start(Tag::BlockQuote(..)) => self.start_quote(state, output),
-            Event::End(TagEnd::BlockQuote(..)) => {
-                state.quote = state.quote.saturating_sub(1);
-                output.push('\n');
-            }
-            Event::End(TagEnd::Item) | Event::SoftBreak | Event::HardBreak => {
-                state.capture_target_mut(output).push('\n');
-            }
-            Event::Start(Tag::List(first_item)) => {
-                let kind = match first_item {
-                    Some(index) => ListKind::Ordered { next_index: index },
-                    None => ListKind::Unordered,
-                };
-                state.list_stack.push(kind);
-            }
+            Event::End(TagEnd::BlockQuote(..) | TagEnd::Item)
+            | Event::SoftBreak
+            | Event::HardBreak => output.push('\n'),
+            Event::Start(Tag::List(_)) => state.list += 1,
             Event::End(TagEnd::List(..)) => {
-                state.list_stack.pop();
+                state.list = state.list.saturating_sub(1);
                 output.push('\n');
             }
             Event::Start(Tag::Item) => Self::start_item(state, output),
@@ -291,85 +232,57 @@ impl TerminalRenderer {
             Event::Start(Tag::Strong) => state.strong += 1,
             Event::End(TagEnd::Strong) => state.strong = state.strong.saturating_sub(1),
             Event::Code(code) => {
-                let rendered =
-                    format!("{}", format!("`{code}`").with(self.color_theme.inline_code));
-                state.capture_target_mut(output).push_str(&rendered);
+                let _ = write!(
+                    output,
+                    "{}",
+                    format!("`{code}`").with(self.color_theme.inline_code)
+                );
             }
             Event::Rule => output.push_str("---\n"),
             Event::Text(text) => {
                 self.push_text(text.as_ref(), state, output, code_buffer, *in_code_block);
             }
-            Event::Html(html) | Event::InlineHtml(html) => {
-                state.capture_target_mut(output).push_str(&html);
-            }
+            Event::Html(html) | Event::InlineHtml(html) => output.push_str(&html),
             Event::FootnoteReference(reference) => {
-                let _ = write!(state.capture_target_mut(output), "[{reference}]");
-            }
-            Event::TaskListMarker(done) => {
-                state
-                    .capture_target_mut(output)
-                    .push_str(if done { "[x] " } else { "[ ] " });
-            }
-            Event::InlineMath(math) | Event::DisplayMath(math) => {
-                state.capture_target_mut(output).push_str(&math);
+                let _ = write!(output, "[{reference}]");
             }
+            Event::TaskListMarker(done) => output.push_str(if done { "[x] " } else { "[ ] " }),
+            Event::InlineMath(math) | Event::DisplayMath(math) => output.push_str(&math),
             Event::Start(Tag::Link { dest_url, .. }) => {
-                let rendered = format!(
+                let _ = write!(
+                    output,
                     "{}",
                     format!("[{dest_url}]")
                         .underlined()
                         .with(self.color_theme.link)
                 );
-                state.capture_target_mut(output).push_str(&rendered);
             }
             Event::Start(Tag::Image { dest_url, .. }) => {
-                let rendered = format!(
+                let _ = write!(
+                    output,
                     "{}",
                     format!("[image:{dest_url}]").with(self.color_theme.link)
                 );
-                state.capture_target_mut(output).push_str(&rendered);
             }
-            Event::Start(Tag::Table(..)) => state.table = Some(TableState::default()),
-            Event::End(TagEnd::Table) => {
-                if let Some(table) = state.table.take() {
-                    output.push_str(&self.render_table(&table));
-                    output.push_str("\n\n");
-                }
-            }
-            Event::Start(Tag::TableHead) => {
-                if let Some(table) = state.table.as_mut() {
-                    table.in_head = true;
-                }
-            }
-            Event::End(TagEnd::TableHead) => {
-                if let Some(table) = state.table.as_mut() {
-                    table.finish_row();
-                    table.in_head = false;
-                }
-            }
-            Event::Start(Tag::TableRow) => {
-                if let Some(table) = state.table.as_mut() {
-                    table.current_row.clear();
-                    table.current_cell.clear();
-                }
-            }
-            Event::End(TagEnd::TableRow) => {
-                if let Some(table) = state.table.as_mut() {
-                    table.finish_row();
-                }
-            }
-            Event::Start(Tag::TableCell) => {
-                if let Some(table) = state.table.as_mut() {
-                    table.current_cell.clear();
-                }
-            }
-            Event::End(TagEnd::TableCell) => {
-                if let Some(table) = state.table.as_mut() {
-                    table.push_cell();
-                }
-            }
-            Event::Start(Tag::Paragraph | Tag::MetadataBlock(..) | _)
-            | Event::End(TagEnd::Link | TagEnd::Image | TagEnd::MetadataBlock(..) | _) => {}
+            Event::Start(
+                Tag::Paragraph
+                | Tag::Table(..)
+                | Tag::TableHead
+                | Tag::TableRow
+                | Tag::TableCell
+                | Tag::MetadataBlock(..)
+                | _,
+            )
+            | Event::End(
+                TagEnd::Link
+                | TagEnd::Image
+                | TagEnd::Table
+                | TagEnd::TableHead
+                | TagEnd::TableRow
+                | TagEnd::TableCell
+                | TagEnd::MetadataBlock(..)
+                | _,
+            ) => {}
         }
     }
 
@@ -389,19 +302,9 @@ impl TerminalRenderer {
         let _ = write!(output, "{}", "│ ".with(self.color_theme.quote));
     }
 
-    fn start_item(state: &mut RenderState, output: &mut String) {
-        let depth = state.list_stack.len().saturating_sub(1);
-        output.push_str(&"  ".repeat(depth));
-
-        let marker = match state.list_stack.last_mut() {
-            Some(ListKind::Ordered { next_index }) => {
-                let value = *next_index;
-                *next_index += 1;
-                format!("{value}. ")
-            }
-            _ => "• ".to_string(),
-        };
-        output.push_str(&marker);
+    fn start_item(state: &RenderState, output: &mut String) {
+        output.push_str(&"  ".repeat(state.list.saturating_sub(1)));
+        output.push_str("• ");
     }
 
     fn start_code_block(&self, code_language: &str, output: &mut String) {
@@ -425,7 +328,7 @@ impl TerminalRenderer {
     fn push_text(
         &self,
         text: &str,
-        state: &mut RenderState,
+        state: &RenderState,
         output: &mut String,
         code_buffer: &mut String,
         in_code_block: bool,
@@ -433,82 +336,10 @@ impl TerminalRenderer {
         if in_code_block {
             code_buffer.push_str(text);
         } else {
-            let rendered = state.style_text(text, &self.color_theme);
-            state.capture_target_mut(output).push_str(&rendered);
+            output.push_str(&state.style_text(text, &self.color_theme));
         }
     }
 
-    fn render_table(&self, table: &TableState) -> String {
-        let mut rows = Vec::new();
-        if !table.headers.is_empty() {
-            rows.push(table.headers.clone());
-        }
-        rows.extend(table.rows.iter().cloned());
-
-        if rows.is_empty() {
-            return String::new();
-        }
-
-        let column_count = rows.iter().map(Vec::len).max().unwrap_or(0);
-        let widths = (0..column_count)
-            .map(|column| {
-                rows.iter()
-                    .filter_map(|row| row.get(column))
-                    .map(|cell| visible_width(cell))
-                    .max()
-                    .unwrap_or(0)
-            })
-            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
-
-        let border = format!("{}", "│".with(self.color_theme.table_border));
-        let separator = widths
-            .iter()
-            .map(|width| "─".repeat(*width + 2))
-            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-            .join(&format!("{}", "┼".with(self.color_theme.table_border)));
-        let separator = format!("{border}{separator}{border}");
-
-        let mut output = String::new();
-        if !table.headers.is_empty() {
-            output.push_str(&self.render_table_row(&table.headers, &widths, true));
-            output.push('\n');
-            output.push_str(&separator);
-            if !table.rows.is_empty() {
-                output.push('\n');
-            }
-        }
-
-        for (index, row) in table.rows.iter().enumerate() {
-            output.push_str(&self.render_table_row(row, &widths, false));
-            if index + 1 < table.rows.len() {
-                output.push('\n');
-            }
-        }
-
-        output
-    }
-
-    fn render_table_row(&self, row: &[String], widths: &[usize], is_header: bool) -> String {
-        let border = format!("{}", "│".with(self.color_theme.table_border));
-        let mut line = String::new();
-        line.push_str(&border);
-
-        for (index, width) in widths.iter().enumerate() {
-            let cell = row.get(index).map_or("", String::as_str);
-            line.push(' ');
-            if is_header {
-                let _ = write!(line, "{}", cell.bold().with(self.color_theme.heading));
-            } else {
-                line.push_str(cell);
-            }
-            let padding = width.saturating_sub(visible_width(cell));
-            line.push_str(&" ".repeat(padding + 1));
-            line.push_str(&border);
-        }
-
-        line
-    }
-
     #[must_use]
     pub fn highlight_code(&self, code: &str, language: &str) -> String {
         let syntax = self
@@ -541,9 +372,9 @@ impl TerminalRenderer {
     }
 }
 
-fn visible_width(input: &str) -> usize {
-    strip_ansi(input).chars().count()
-}
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::{Spinner, TerminalRenderer};
 
     fn strip_ansi(input: &str) -> String {
         let mut output = String::new();
@@ -567,10 +398,6 @@ fn strip_ansi(input: &str) -> String {
         output
     }
 
-#[cfg(test)]
-mod tests {
-    use super::{strip_ansi, Spinner, TerminalRenderer};
-
     #[test]
     fn renders_markdown_with_styling_and_lists() {
         let terminal_renderer = TerminalRenderer::new();
@@ -595,34 +422,6 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(markdown_output.contains('\u{1b}'));
     }
 
-    #[test]
-    fn renders_ordered_and_nested_lists() {
-        let terminal_renderer = TerminalRenderer::new();
-        let markdown_output =
-            terminal_renderer.render_markdown("1. first\n2. second\n   - nested\n   - child");
-        let plain_text = strip_ansi(&markdown_output);
-
-        assert!(plain_text.contains("1. first"));
-        assert!(plain_text.contains("2. second"));
-        assert!(plain_text.contains("  • nested"));
-        assert!(plain_text.contains("  • child"));
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn renders_tables_with_alignment() {
-        let terminal_renderer = TerminalRenderer::new();
-        let markdown_output = terminal_renderer
-            .render_markdown("| Name | Value |\n| ---- | ----- |\n| alpha | 1 |\n| beta | 22 |");
-        let plain_text = strip_ansi(&markdown_output);
-        let lines = plain_text.lines().collect::<Vec<_>>();
-
-        assert_eq!(lines[0], "│ Name  │ Value │");
-        assert_eq!(lines[1], "│───────┼───────│");
-        assert_eq!(lines[2], "│ alpha │ 1     │");
-        assert_eq!(lines[3], "│ beta  │ 22    │");
-        assert!(markdown_output.contains('\u{1b}'));
-    }
-
     #[test]
     fn spinner_advances_frames() {
         let terminal_renderer = TerminalRenderer::new();

rust/crates/tools/src/lib.rs

@@ -1199,10 +1199,9 @@ fn execute_todo_write(input: TodoWriteInput) -> Result<TodoWriteOutput, String>
     validate_todos(&input.todos)?;
     let store_path = todo_store_path()?;
     let old_todos = if store_path.exists() {
-        serde_json::from_str::<Vec<TodoItem>>(
+        parse_todo_markdown(
             &std::fs::read_to_string(&store_path).map_err(|error| error.to_string())?,
-        )
-        .map_err(|error| error.to_string())?
+        )?
     } else {
         Vec::new()
     };
@@ -1220,10 +1219,7 @@ fn execute_todo_write(input: TodoWriteInput) -> Result<TodoWriteOutput, String>
     if let Some(parent) = store_path.parent() {
         std::fs::create_dir_all(parent).map_err(|error| error.to_string())?;
     }
-    std::fs::write(
-        &store_path,
-        serde_json::to_string_pretty(&persisted).map_err(|error| error.to_string())?,
-    )
+    std::fs::write(&store_path, render_todo_markdown(&persisted))
         .map_err(|error| error.to_string())?;
 
     let verification_nudge_needed = (all_done
@@ -1282,7 +1278,58 @@ fn todo_store_path() -> Result<std::path::PathBuf, String> {
         return Ok(std::path::PathBuf::from(path));
     }
     let cwd = std::env::current_dir().map_err(|error| error.to_string())?;
-    Ok(cwd.join(".clawd-todos.json"))
+    Ok(cwd.join(".claude").join("todos.md"))
+}
+
+fn render_todo_markdown(todos: &[TodoItem]) -> String {
+    let mut lines = vec!["# Todo list".to_string(), String::new()];
+    for todo in todos {
+        let marker = match todo.status {
+            TodoStatus::Pending => "[ ]",
+            TodoStatus::InProgress => "[~]",
+            TodoStatus::Completed => "[x]",
+        };
+        lines.push(format!(
+            "- {marker} {} :: {}",
+            todo.content, todo.active_form
+        ));
+    }
+    lines.push(String::new());
+    lines.join("\n")
+}
+
+fn parse_todo_markdown(content: &str) -> Result<Vec<TodoItem>, String> {
+    let mut todos = Vec::new();
+    for line in content.lines() {
+        let trimmed = line.trim();
+        if trimmed.is_empty() || trimmed.starts_with('#') {
+            continue;
+        }
+        let Some(rest) = trimmed.strip_prefix("- [") else {
+            continue;
+        };
+        let mut chars = rest.chars();
+        let status = match chars.next() {
+            Some(' ') => TodoStatus::Pending,
+            Some('~') => TodoStatus::InProgress,
+            Some('x' | 'X') => TodoStatus::Completed,
+            Some(other) => return Err(format!("unsupported todo status marker: {other}")),
+            None => return Err(String::from("malformed todo line")),
+        };
+        let remainder = chars.as_str();
+        let Some(body) = remainder.strip_prefix("] ") else {
+            return Err(String::from("malformed todo line"));
+        };
+        let Some((content, active_form)) = body.split_once(" :: ") else {
+            return Err(String::from("todo line missing active form separator"));
+        };
+        todos.push(TodoItem {
+            content: content.trim().to_string(),
+            active_form: active_form.trim().to_string(),
+            status,
+        });
+    }
+    Ok(todos)
 }
 
 fn resolve_skill_path(skill: &str) -> Result<std::path::PathBuf, String> {
@@ -2638,6 +2685,37 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(second_output["verificationNudgeNeeded"].is_null());
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn todo_write_persists_markdown_in_claude_directory() {
+        let _guard = env_lock()
+            .lock()
+            .unwrap_or_else(std::sync::PoisonError::into_inner);
+        let temp = temp_path("todos-md-dir");
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&temp).expect("temp dir");
+        let previous = std::env::current_dir().expect("cwd");
+        std::env::set_current_dir(&temp).expect("set cwd");
+
+        execute_tool(
+            "TodoWrite",
+            &json!({
+                "todos": [
+                    {"content": "Add tool", "activeForm": "Adding tool", "status": "in_progress"},
+                    {"content": "Run tests", "activeForm": "Running tests", "status": "pending"}
+                ]
+            }),
+        )
+        .expect("TodoWrite should succeed");
+
+        let persisted = std::fs::read_to_string(temp.join(".claude").join("todos.md"))
+            .expect("todo markdown exists");
+        std::env::set_current_dir(previous).expect("restore cwd");
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(temp);
+
+        assert!(persisted.contains("# Todo list"));
+        assert!(persisted.contains("- [~] Add tool :: Adding tool"));
+        assert!(persisted.contains("- [ ] Run tests :: Running tests"));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn todo_write_rejects_invalid_payloads_and_sets_verification_nudge() {
         let _guard = env_lock()