Merge pull request #785 from MemPalace/pr/strip-noise-from-transcripts

fix: strip system tags, hook output, and Claude UI chrome from drawers
This commit is contained in:
Igor Lins e Silva
2026-04-13 16:33:27 -03:00
committed by GitHub
7 changed files with 470 additions and 14 deletions
+26 -3
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@@ -16,7 +16,13 @@ from datetime import datetime
from collections import defaultdict
from .normalize import normalize
from .palace import SKIP_DIRS, get_collection, file_already_mined, mine_lock
from .palace import (
NORMALIZE_VERSION,
SKIP_DIRS,
file_already_mined,
get_collection,
mine_lock,
)
# File types that might contain conversations
@@ -51,6 +57,7 @@ def _register_file(collection, source_file: str, wing: str, agent: str):
"added_by": agent,
"filed_at": datetime.now().isoformat(),
"ingest_mode": "registry",
"normalize_version": NORMALIZE_VERSION,
}
],
)
@@ -273,7 +280,11 @@ def scan_convos(convo_dir: str) -> list:
def _file_chunks_locked(collection, source_file, chunks, wing, room, agent, extract_mode):
"""Acquire the per-file lock, double-check mined status, and upsert chunks.
"""Lock the source file, purge stale drawers, and upsert fresh chunks.
Combines the per-file serialization that prevents concurrent agents from
duplicating work (via mine_lock) with the normalize-version rebuild
contract (purge-before-insert so pre-v2 drawers don't survive).
Returns (drawers_added, room_counts_delta, skipped).
"""
@@ -281,9 +292,19 @@ def _file_chunks_locked(collection, source_file, chunks, wing, room, agent, extr
drawers_added = 0
with mine_lock(source_file):
# Re-check after lock — another agent may have just finished this file
# at the current schema. A stale-version hit here returns False, so we
# still fall through to the purge+rebuild path below.
if file_already_mined(collection, source_file):
return 0, room_counts_delta, True
# Purge stale drawers first. When the normalize schema bumps,
# file_already_mined() returned False for pre-v2 drawers — clean
# them out so the source doesn't end up with mixed old/new drawers.
try:
collection.delete(where={"source_file": source_file})
except Exception:
pass
for chunk in chunks:
chunk_room = chunk.get("memory_type", room) if extract_mode == "general" else room
if extract_mode == "general":
@@ -303,6 +324,7 @@ def _file_chunks_locked(collection, source_file, chunks, wing, room, agent, extr
"filed_at": datetime.now().isoformat(),
"ingest_mode": "convos",
"extract_mode": extract_mode,
"normalize_version": NORMALIZE_VERSION,
}
],
)
@@ -416,7 +438,8 @@ def mine_convos(
if extract_mode != "general":
room_counts[room] += 1
# File each chunk — lock to prevent concurrent agents duplicating
# Lock + purge stale + file fresh chunks. Lock serializes concurrent
# agents; purge removes pre-v2 drawers so the schema bump applies.
drawers_added, room_delta, skipped = _file_chunks_locked(
collection, source_file, chunks, wing, room, agent, extract_mode
)
+8 -1
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@@ -15,7 +15,13 @@ from pathlib import Path
from datetime import datetime
from collections import defaultdict
from .palace import SKIP_DIRS, get_collection, file_already_mined, mine_lock
from .palace import (
NORMALIZE_VERSION,
SKIP_DIRS,
file_already_mined,
get_collection,
mine_lock,
)
READABLE_EXTENSIONS = {
".txt",
@@ -381,6 +387,7 @@ def add_drawer(
"chunk_index": chunk_index,
"added_by": agent,
"filed_at": datetime.now().isoformat(),
"normalize_version": NORMALIZE_VERSION,
}
# Store file mtime so we can detect modifications later.
try:
+93 -2
View File
@@ -16,10 +16,93 @@ No API key. No internet. Everything local.
import json
import os
import re
from pathlib import Path
from typing import Optional
# ─── Noise stripping ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# Claude Code and other tools inject system tags, hook output, and UI chrome
# into transcripts. These waste drawer space and pollute search results.
#
# Verbatim is sacred — every pattern here is anchored to line boundaries and
# refuses to cross blank lines, so a stray unclosed tag in one message can
# never eat content from neighboring messages. When in doubt, leave text
# alone.
_NOISE_TAGS = (
"system-reminder",
"command-message",
"command-name",
"task-notification",
"user-prompt-submit-hook",
"hook_output",
)
def _tag_pattern(name: str) -> "re.Pattern[str]":
# Opening tag must begin a line (optionally after a `> ` blockquote marker,
# since _messages_to_transcript prefixes lines with `> `). Body is lazy but
# forbidden from crossing a blank line, so a dangling open tag can't span
# multiple messages. Closing tag eats optional trailing whitespace + newline.
return re.compile(
rf"(?m)^(?:> )?<{name}(?:\s[^>]*)?>" rf"(?:(?!\n\s*\n)[\s\S])*?" rf"</{name}>[ \t]*\n?"
)
_NOISE_TAG_PATTERNS = [_tag_pattern(t) for t in _NOISE_TAGS]
# Strings that identify an entire noise line when found at its start.
# Matched case-sensitively and anchored to line-start so user prose mentioning
# e.g. "current time:" in a sentence is untouched.
_NOISE_LINE_PREFIXES = (
"CURRENT TIME:",
"VERIFIED FACTS (do not contradict)",
"AGENT SPECIALIZATION:",
"Checking verified facts...",
"Injecting timestamp...",
"Starting background pipeline...",
"Checking emotional weights...",
"Auto-save reminder...",
"Checking pipeline...",
"MemPalace auto-save checkpoint.",
)
_NOISE_LINE_PATTERNS = [
re.compile(rf"(?m)^(?:> )?{re.escape(p)}.*\n?") for p in _NOISE_LINE_PREFIXES
]
# Claude Code TUI hook-run chrome, e.g. "Ran 2 Stop hook", "Ran 1 PreCompact hook".
# Line-anchored, case-sensitive, explicit hook names — prose like
# "our CI has a stop hook" stays intact.
_HOOK_LINE_RE = re.compile(
r"(?m)^(?:> )?Ran \d+ (?:Stop|PreCompact|PreToolUse|PostToolUse|UserPromptSubmit|Notification|SessionStart|SessionEnd) hook[s]?.*\n?"
)
# "… +N lines" collapsed-output marker, line-anchored.
_COLLAPSED_LINES_RE = re.compile(r"(?m)^(?:> )?…\s*\+\d+ lines.*\n?")
def strip_noise(text: str) -> str:
"""Remove system tags, hook output, and Claude Code UI chrome from text.
All patterns are line-anchored. User prose that happens to mention these
strings inline (e.g., documenting them) is preserved verbatim.
"""
for pat in _NOISE_TAG_PATTERNS:
text = pat.sub("", text)
for pat in _NOISE_LINE_PATTERNS:
text = pat.sub("", text)
text = _HOOK_LINE_RE.sub("", text)
text = _COLLAPSED_LINES_RE.sub("", text)
# Strip the Claude Code collapsed-output chrome "[N tokens] (ctrl+o to expand)".
# Narrow shape — a bare "(ctrl+o to expand)" in user prose stays intact.
text = re.sub(r"\s*\[\d+\s+tokens?\]\s*\(ctrl\+o to expand\)", "", text)
# Collapse runs of blank lines created by the removals
text = re.sub(r"\n{4,}", "\n\n\n", text)
return text.strip()
def normalize(filepath: str) -> str:
"""
Load a file and normalize to transcript format if it's a chat export.
@@ -40,12 +123,14 @@ def normalize(filepath: str) -> str:
if not content.strip():
return content
# Already has > markers — pass through
# Already has > markers — pass through unchanged.
lines = content.split("\n")
if sum(1 for line in lines if line.strip().startswith(">")) >= 3:
return content
# Try JSON normalization
# Try JSON normalization. strip_noise is applied inside the Claude Code
# JSONL parser (the only format that injects system tags/hook chrome);
# other formats pass through verbatim.
ext = Path(filepath).suffix.lower()
if ext in (".json", ".jsonl") or content.strip()[:1] in ("{", "["):
normalized = _try_normalize_json(content)
@@ -112,6 +197,10 @@ def _try_claude_code_jsonl(content: str) -> Optional[str]:
isinstance(b, dict) and b.get("type") == "tool_result" for b in msg_content
)
text = _extract_content(msg_content, tool_use_map=tool_use_map)
# Strip Claude Code system-injected noise per message, never across
# message boundaries — prevents span-eating.
if text:
text = strip_noise(text)
if text:
if is_tool_only and messages and messages[-1][0] == "assistant":
# Append tool results to the previous assistant message
@@ -121,6 +210,8 @@ def _try_claude_code_jsonl(content: str) -> Optional[str]:
messages.append(("user", text))
elif msg_type == "assistant":
text = _extract_content(msg_content, tool_use_map=tool_use_map)
if text:
text = strip_noise(text)
if text:
# If previous message is also assistant (multi-turn tool loop),
# merge into the same assistant turn
+24 -4
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@@ -38,6 +38,16 @@ SKIP_DIRS = {
_DEFAULT_BACKEND = ChromaBackend()
# Schema version for drawer normalization. Bump when the normalization
# pipeline changes in a way that existing drawers should be rebuilt to pick up
# (e.g., new noise-stripping rules). `file_already_mined` treats drawers with
# a missing or stale `normalize_version` as "not mined", so the next mine pass
# silently rebuilds them — users don't need to manually erase + re-mine.
#
# v2 (2026-04): introduced strip_noise() for Claude Code JSONL; previous
# drawers stored system tags / hook chrome verbatim.
NORMALIZE_VERSION = 2
def get_collection(
palace_path: str,
@@ -94,16 +104,26 @@ def mine_lock(source_file: str):
def file_already_mined(collection, source_file: str, check_mtime: bool = False) -> bool:
"""Check if a file has already been filed in the palace.
When check_mtime=True (used by project miner), returns False if the file
has been modified since it was last mined, so it gets re-mined.
When check_mtime=False (used by convo miner), just checks existence.
Returns False (so the file gets re-mined) when:
- no drawers exist for this source_file
- the stored `normalize_version` is missing or older than the current
schema (triggers silent rebuild after a normalization upgrade)
- `check_mtime=True` and the file's mtime differs from the stored one
When check_mtime=True (used by project miner), also re-mines on content
change. When check_mtime=False (used by convo miner), transcripts are
assumed immutable, so only the version gate triggers a rebuild.
"""
try:
results = collection.get(where={"source_file": source_file}, limit=1)
if not results.get("ids"):
return False
stored_meta = results.get("metadatas", [{}])[0] or {}
# Pre-v2 drawers have no version field — treat them as stale.
stored_version = stored_meta.get("normalize_version", 1)
if stored_version < NORMALIZE_VERSION:
return False
if check_mtime:
stored_meta = results.get("metadatas", [{}])[0]
stored_mtime = stored_meta.get("source_mtime")
if stored_mtime is None:
return False
+83
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@@ -75,3 +75,86 @@ def test_mine_convos_does_not_reprocess_empty_chunk_files(capsys):
assert "Files skipped (already filed): 1" in out2
finally:
shutil.rmtree(tmpdir, ignore_errors=True)
def test_mine_convos_rebuilds_stale_drawers_after_schema_bump(capsys):
"""When stored drawers have an older normalize_version, the next mine
silently purges them and refiles — no manual erase required.
This is what makes the strip_noise upgrade apply to existing corpora:
users just run `mempalace mine` again and old noise-filled drawers get
replaced with clean ones."""
from mempalace.palace import NORMALIZE_VERSION
tmpdir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
try:
convo_path = Path(tmpdir) / "chat.txt"
convo_path.write_text(
"> What is memory?\nMemory is persistence.\n\n"
"> Why does it matter?\nIt enables continuity.\n\n"
"> How do we build it?\nWith structured storage.\n"
)
palace_path = os.path.join(tmpdir, "palace")
# First mine — stamps drawers with NORMALIZE_VERSION
mine_convos(tmpdir, palace_path, wing="test")
capsys.readouterr()
client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
col = client.get_collection("mempalace_drawers")
resolved = str(Path(tmpdir).resolve() / "chat.txt")
first_pass = col.get(where={"source_file": resolved})
first_ids = set(first_pass["ids"])
assert first_ids, "first mine should produce drawers"
for meta in first_pass["metadatas"]:
assert meta.get("normalize_version") == NORMALIZE_VERSION
# Simulate pre-v2 drawers: rewrite metadata to an older version,
# and replace content with "noise" so we can see it get cleaned up.
stale_metas = []
for meta in first_pass["metadatas"]:
stale = dict(meta)
stale["normalize_version"] = 1
stale_metas.append(stale)
col.update(
ids=list(first_pass["ids"]),
documents=["STALE NOISE"] * len(first_pass["ids"]),
metadatas=stale_metas,
)
# Add an extra orphan drawer that should also be purged.
col.add(
ids=["orphan_drawer"],
documents=["OLD ORPHAN"],
metadatas=[
{
"wing": "test",
"room": "default",
"source_file": resolved,
"chunk_index": 999,
"normalize_version": 1,
}
],
)
del col, client
# Second mine — version gate should trigger rebuild
mine_convos(tmpdir, palace_path, wing="test")
out = capsys.readouterr().out
assert (
"Files skipped (already filed): 0" in out
), "stale drawers should force a rebuild, not a skip"
client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
col = client.get_collection("mempalace_drawers")
rebuilt = col.get(where={"source_file": resolved})
# Orphan is gone
assert "orphan_drawer" not in rebuilt["ids"]
# No stale content survived
assert all("STALE NOISE" not in d for d in rebuilt["documents"])
assert all("OLD ORPHAN" not in d for d in rebuilt["documents"])
# All rebuilt drawers carry the current version
for meta in rebuilt["metadatas"]:
assert meta.get("normalize_version") == NORMALIZE_VERSION
del col, client
finally:
shutil.rmtree(tmpdir, ignore_errors=True)
+90 -4
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@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import chromadb
import yaml
from mempalace.miner import mine, scan_project, status
from mempalace.palace import file_already_mined
from mempalace.palace import NORMALIZE_VERSION, file_already_mined
def write_file(path: Path, content: str):
@@ -227,11 +227,17 @@ def test_file_already_mined_check_mtime():
assert file_already_mined(col, test_file) is False
assert file_already_mined(col, test_file, check_mtime=True) is False
# Add it with mtime
# Add it with mtime + current normalize_version
col.add(
ids=["d1"],
documents=["hello world"],
metadatas=[{"source_file": test_file, "source_mtime": str(mtime)}],
metadatas=[
{
"source_file": test_file,
"source_mtime": str(mtime),
"normalize_version": NORMALIZE_VERSION,
}
],
)
# Already mined (no mtime check)
@@ -253,7 +259,12 @@ def test_file_already_mined_check_mtime():
col.add(
ids=["d2"],
documents=["other"],
metadatas=[{"source_file": "/fake/no_mtime.txt"}],
metadatas=[
{
"source_file": "/fake/no_mtime.txt",
"normalize_version": NORMALIZE_VERSION,
}
],
)
assert file_already_mined(col, "/fake/no_mtime.txt", check_mtime=True) is False
finally:
@@ -296,3 +307,78 @@ def test_status_missing_palace_does_not_create_empty_collection(tmp_path, capsys
out = capsys.readouterr().out
assert "No palace found" in out
assert not palace_path.exists()
# ── normalize_version schema gate ───────────────────────────────────────
#
# When the normalization pipeline changes shape (e.g., strip_noise lands),
# `NORMALIZE_VERSION` is bumped so pre-existing drawers can be silently
# rebuilt on the next mine. These tests pin that contract.
def test_file_already_mined_returns_false_for_stale_normalize_version():
"""Pre-v2 drawers (no field, or older integer) must not short-circuit."""
tmpdir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
try:
palace_path = os.path.join(tmpdir, "palace")
os.makedirs(palace_path)
client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
col = client.get_or_create_collection("mempalace_drawers")
# Pre-v2 drawer: no normalize_version field at all
col.add(
ids=["d_old"],
documents=["old"],
metadatas=[{"source_file": "/fake/old.jsonl"}],
)
assert file_already_mined(col, "/fake/old.jsonl") is False
# Explicitly older version
col.add(
ids=["d_v1"],
documents=["v1"],
metadatas=[{"source_file": "/fake/v1.jsonl", "normalize_version": 1}],
)
assert file_already_mined(col, "/fake/v1.jsonl") is False
# Current version — short-circuits
col.add(
ids=["d_current"],
documents=["cur"],
metadatas=[
{
"source_file": "/fake/current.jsonl",
"normalize_version": NORMALIZE_VERSION,
}
],
)
assert file_already_mined(col, "/fake/current.jsonl") is True
finally:
del col, client
shutil.rmtree(tmpdir, ignore_errors=True)
def test_add_drawer_stamps_normalize_version(tmp_path):
"""Fresh drawers carry the current schema version so future upgrades work."""
from mempalace.miner import add_drawer
palace_path = tmp_path / "palace"
palace_path.mkdir()
client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=str(palace_path))
col = client.get_or_create_collection("mempalace_drawers")
try:
added = add_drawer(
collection=col,
wing="test",
room="notes",
content="hello",
source_file=str(tmp_path / "src.md"),
chunk_index=0,
agent="unit",
)
assert added is True
stored = col.get(limit=1)
meta = stored["metadatas"][0]
assert meta["normalize_version"] == NORMALIZE_VERSION
finally:
del col, client
+146
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@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from mempalace.normalize import (
_try_normalize_json,
_try_slack_json,
normalize,
strip_noise,
)
@@ -1048,3 +1049,148 @@ def test_normalize_rejects_large_file():
assert False, "Should have raised IOError"
except IOError as e:
assert "too large" in str(e).lower()
# ── strip_noise() — verbatim-safety boundary tests ─────────────────────
#
# The "Verbatim always" design principle requires that we never delete
# user-authored text. These tests pin down the boundary between system
# noise (which we strip) and user prose that happens to mention the same
# strings (which must survive untouched).
class TestStripNoisePreservesUserContent:
"""User prose that mentions noise strings inline must be preserved."""
def test_user_discusses_stop_hook_in_prose(self):
# Regression: original regex with IGNORECASE + `.*\n?` ate the second
# sentence from real user commentary.
text = (
"> User:\n"
"> Our CI has a stop hook that rejects merges after 5pm. "
"Ran 2 stop hooks last week.\n"
"> Assistant:\n"
"> Got it."
)
assert strip_noise(text) == text.strip()
def test_user_mentions_system_reminder_inline(self):
# Inline <system-reminder> tags inside user prose (e.g. documenting
# Claude Code behavior) must not be stripped.
text = (
"> User:\n"
"> Here is what Claude Code emits: "
"<system-reminder>Auto-save reminder...</system-reminder>"
" — I want to ignore it."
)
assert strip_noise(text) == text.strip()
def test_ctrl_o_hint_in_prose_preserved(self):
# Regression: original `.*\(ctrl\+o to expand\).*\n?` nuked the whole
# line whenever a user documented the TUI shortcut.
text = (
"> User:\n"
"> In the TUI you hit (ctrl+o to expand) to see more. "
"That is the shortcut I want to document."
)
assert strip_noise(text) == text.strip()
def test_current_time_inline_in_prose(self):
text = "> User:\n> At CURRENT TIME: the meeting starts, not before."
assert strip_noise(text) == text.strip()
def test_plus_n_lines_marker_inline(self):
text = "> User:\n> The log showed … +50 lines of stack trace, useful."
assert strip_noise(text) == text.strip()
def test_dangling_open_tag_does_not_span_messages(self):
# THE span-eating bug: a stray unclosed <system-reminder> in one
# message must NOT merge with a closing tag in another message and
# silently delete everything in between.
text = (
"> User 1: normal content <system-reminder>A\n"
"> Assistant: reply\n"
"> User 2: more content</system-reminder> tail"
)
out = strip_noise(text)
assert "Assistant: reply" in out
assert "User 2: more content" in out
assert "User 1: normal content" in out
class TestStripNoiseRemovesSystemChrome:
"""System-injected noise with standalone/line-anchored shape must be stripped."""
def test_strips_line_anchored_system_reminder_block(self):
text = (
"> User:\n"
"<system-reminder>\n"
"Auto-save reminder...\n"
"</system-reminder>\n"
"> Real message."
)
out = strip_noise(text)
assert "system-reminder" not in out
assert "Auto-save reminder" not in out
assert "Real message." in out
def test_strips_system_reminder_with_blockquote_prefix(self):
# _messages_to_transcript prefixes lines with "> ", so the line
# anchor must also accept that shape.
text = "> User:\n" "> <system-reminder>Injected noise</system-reminder>\n" "> Real message."
out = strip_noise(text)
assert "Injected noise" not in out
assert "Real message." in out
def test_strips_standalone_ran_hook_line(self):
text = "Ran 2 Stop hook\n> User: real content"
out = strip_noise(text)
assert "Ran 2 Stop hook" not in out
assert "real content" in out
def test_strips_known_hook_names(self):
for hook in ("Stop", "PreCompact", "PreToolUse", "PostToolUse", "UserPromptSubmit"):
text = f"Ran 1 {hook} hook\n> User: content"
assert hook not in strip_noise(text)
def test_strips_current_time_standalone(self):
text = "CURRENT TIME: 2026-04-13 10:00 UTC\n> User: Hello"
out = strip_noise(text)
assert "CURRENT TIME" not in out
assert "Hello" in out
def test_strips_collapsed_lines_marker(self):
text = "… +42 lines\n> User: Hello"
out = strip_noise(text)
assert "+42 lines" not in out
assert "Hello" in out
def test_strips_token_count_ctrl_o_chrome(self):
# Claude Code's actual collapsed-output chrome: "[N tokens] (ctrl+o to expand)"
text = "> Assistant: some output [5 tokens] (ctrl+o to expand)\n> User: ok"
out = strip_noise(text)
assert "(ctrl+o to expand)" not in out
assert "[5 tokens]" not in out
assert "some output" in out
def test_strips_each_known_noise_tag(self):
for tag in (
"system-reminder",
"command-message",
"command-name",
"task-notification",
"user-prompt-submit-hook",
"hook_output",
):
text = f"> User:\n<{tag}>junk</{tag}>\n> Real."
out = strip_noise(text)
assert tag not in out, f"{tag} leaked into output"
assert "Real." in out
def test_collapses_excessive_blank_lines(self):
text = "line one\n\n\n\n\n\nline two"
out = strip_noise(text)
assert "line one" in out
assert "line two" in out
# Should collapse to no more than 3 newlines
assert "\n\n\n\n" not in out