OpenLoci — A filesystem-native memory palace generator for finite and infinite games.

A finite game is played for the purpose of winning. An infinite game is played for the purpose of continuing the play.
— James P. Carse, Finite and Infinite Games (1986)

⚠ OpenLoci is early software under active development.
Feedback welcome → GitHub Issues

What is OpenLoci?

OpenLoci is a filesystem-native memory palace generator. It creates structured project environments — palaces — from plain text and directory hierarchies, using the Method of Loci as both metaphor and architecture.

Every room is a directory. Every artifact is a markdown file. Every agent session leaves a trace. Your conversation with the agent is the walk thorugh space.

OpenLoci values Minimal Computing and is built on top of simple and stable technologies, such as file system directories and plain text files. This simplicity is also platform agnostic, and OpenLoci is compatible with any Large Language Model that can access your filesystem.

OpenLoci also ships with a Journal for regular blogging about your sessions, in short narrative form.

For finite games — bounded projects with clear outputs: a blog migration, a job hunt, an investigation. You win when the work is done.

For infinite games — ongoing practices: research, writing, learning, building a company. The palace grows through use, not intention.

The Tabernacle

The contemporary memory space utilized by OpenLoci is the Tudor Mansion from the board game Clue. Nine rooms. Six suspects. A mystery that may or may not have a solution. OpenLoci treats Clue as a tabernacle — a cosmology that defines sacred space whether or not it’s physically instantiated. Skins change the cultural frame. The structure stays.

my-palace/
├── Makefile            ← start here
├── The Vestibule/      ← global config, characters, principles, Journal
└── The Palace/
    ├── intake_*        ← routing, inboxes, triage
    ├── build_*         ← active work, deep focus
    ├── ops_*           ← infrastructure, devops
    ├── collab_*        ← pair work, implementation
    ├── meet_*          ← decisions, charters
    ├── think_*         ← research, references
    ├── priv_*          ← private deliberation
    ├── pitch_*         ← external relations
    └── retro_*         ← retrospectives, personal writing

Available Skins

Skin	Description
`clue`	The original Clue. Prof. Plum, Col. Mustard, Ms. Scarlet.
`xfiles`	X-Files over the Clue chassis. Mulder, Scully, Skinner, CSM.
`siliconvalley`	Silicon Valley. Pied Piper. Not a bug, a pivot.
`muppets`	The Muppets. Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo. It ain’t easy being green.
`digitalcircus`	The Amazing Digital Circus. Pomni, Caine, Jax, Ragatha. You know none of this is real, right?

Community skins are welcome. See the Skin Authoring Guide.

The Stack

Layer	Technology	Function
Memory	Filesystem	The palace itself
Protocol	YAML Frontmatter	Metadata, rules, routing
Templating	Cookiecutter	Palace generation
Presentation	Hugo	Rendering, journal, navigation
Chronicle	Git	Truth, history, version
CLI	Typer + Rich	Pretty interface

The Shell Game Constraint

A session that leaves no files did not happen.

All significant outputs must be grounded in material receipts — notes, evidence, summaries, handoffs. The palace grows through use, not intention. Read more about the philosophy →

Get Started

pip install openloci
openloci new my-project
openloci new my-investigation --skin xfiles

Full Quick Start →

GPL-3.0 · github.com/openloci/OpenLoci · The palace is being built. ∃∞❤️