Data formats and locations
All Nerve-home paths move with NERVE_HOME; default is ~/.nerve.
| Data | Default location / format |
|---|---|
| Nerve-home marker | <NERVE_HOME>/manifest.json; nerve-home v1 |
| Canonical domain records | <NERVE_HOME>/data/nerve.sqlite plus SQLite WAL/SHM |
| Conversation/tool payloads | <NERVE_HOME>/data/conversations |
| Durable images and plans | <NERVE_HOME>/data/images and <NERVE_HOME>/data/plans |
| Sub-agent profiles | Versioned config/subagents.json at user, project and conversation scope; see profile format |
| Long sub-agent reports | <NERVE_HOME>/data/conversations/<id>/reports |
| Resource trust state | Tables in <NERVE_HOME>/data/nerve.sqlite |
| Other disposable caches | Other content under <NERVE_HOME>/cache |
| Launch configurations | <project>/.nerve/launches/definitions.json |
| Launch log bundles | <NERVE_HOME>/data/launches; live launch instances are memory-only |
| Async Bash output | Returned asset paths beneath <NERVE_HOME>/data/conversations/<id>/; physical layout depends on the asset owner |
| Agent resources | <NERVE_HOME>/agent |
| Desktop/daemon/event logs | <NERVE_HOME>/logs, JSONL |
| Crash/Node reports | <NERVE_HOME>/crashes; age-retained diagnostics |
| Configuration and credentials | <NERVE_HOME>/config and encrypted <NERVE_HOME>/secrets |
| TLS CA/leaf material | <NERVE_HOME>/tls when mobile HTTPS is enabled |
| Active daemon discovery/lease | <NERVE_HOME>/daemon.json; absent after clean shutdown |
| Migration history and backups | <NERVE_HOME>/migrations and <NERVE_HOME>/backups |
| Python/large tool artifacts | Nerve artifact paths returned by the tool |
| Pasted clipboard images | OS temp directory under nerve/; not durable attachments |
Conversation backups
Section titled “Conversation backups”The current runtime does not expose conversation bundle import or JSON/Markdown/HTML export. Preserve history by backing up the complete stopped home, including SQLite sidecars and managed assets. Project source and .nerve configuration require a separate project backup; see storage operations.
Electron profile
Section titled “Electron profile”Electron browser cache, cookies, and local/session storage live in the platform Electron userData profile outside NERVE_HOME. Back up/isolate both only when browser state is required.
Sensitive data
Section titled “Sensitive data”Logs, exports, reports, artifacts, and process output can contain prompts, source, paths, commands, remote URLs, or provider details. Redact before sharing.