feat(memory): add CUSTOM strategy type to agentcore-cli (#677)

docs/commands.md

@@ -225,12 +225,12 @@ agentcore add memory \
   --expiry 30
 ```
 
-| Flag                   | Description                                                                 |
-| ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `--name <name>`        | Memory name                                                                 |
-| `--strategies <types>` | Comma-separated: `SEMANTIC`, `SUMMARIZATION`, `USER_PREFERENCE`, `EPISODIC` |
-| `--expiry <days>`      | Event expiry duration in days (default: 30, min: 7, max: 365)               |
-| `--json`               | JSON output                                                                 |
+| Flag                   | Description                                                                           |
+| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `--name <name>`        | Memory name                                                                           |
+| `--strategies <types>` | Comma-separated: `SEMANTIC`, `SUMMARIZATION`, `USER_PREFERENCE`, `EPISODIC`, `CUSTOM` |
+| `--expiry <days>`      | Event expiry duration in days (default: 30, min: 7, max: 365)                         |
+| `--json`               | JSON output                                                                           |
 
 ### add gateway
 

docs/configuration.md

@@ -239,11 +239,13 @@ on the next deployment.
 
 ### Memory Strategies
 
-| Strategy          | Description                                         |
-| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
-| `SEMANTIC`        | Vector-based similarity search for relevant context |
-| `SUMMARIZATION`   | Compressed conversation history                     |
-| `USER_PREFERENCE` | Store user-specific preferences and settings        |
+| Strategy          | Description                                                 |
+| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `SEMANTIC`        | Vector-based similarity search for relevant context         |
+| `SUMMARIZATION`   | Compressed conversation history                             |
+| `USER_PREFERENCE` | Store user-specific preferences and settings                |
+| `EPISODIC`        | Capture and reflect on meaningful interaction episodes      |
+| `CUSTOM`          | Self-managed strategy with user-controlled extraction logic |
 
 Strategy configuration:
 

docs/memory.md

@@ -151,12 +151,13 @@ async def invoke(payload, context):
 
 ## Memory Strategies
 
-| Strategy          | Description                                            |
-| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
-| `SEMANTIC`        | Vector-based similarity search for relevant context    |
-| `SUMMARIZATION`   | Compressed conversation history                        |
-| `USER_PREFERENCE` | Store user-specific preferences and settings           |
-| `EPISODIC`        | Capture and reflect on meaningful interaction episodes |
+| Strategy          | Description                                                 |
+| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `SEMANTIC`        | Vector-based similarity search for relevant context         |
+| `SUMMARIZATION`   | Compressed conversation history                             |
+| `USER_PREFERENCE` | Store user-specific preferences and settings                |
+| `EPISODIC`        | Capture and reflect on meaningful interaction episodes      |
+| `CUSTOM`          | Self-managed strategy with user-controlled extraction logic |
 
 You can combine multiple strategies:
 
@@ -171,6 +172,36 @@ You can combine multiple strategies:
 }
 ```
 
+### Self-Managed (Custom) Strategy
+
+The `CUSTOM` strategy lets you control memory extraction logic externally rather than relying on built-in
+implementations. This is useful when you need specialized extraction pipelines or want to integrate with your own
+processing infrastructure.
+
+**Prerequisites:** CUSTOM strategies require user-managed extraction logic and are not functional without it. You must
+implement your own extraction mechanism (e.g., via AWS Lambda).
+
+**Key characteristics:**
+
+- No default namespaces are assigned — you provide your own or omit them
+- Each memory supports at most one CUSTOM strategy
+- You are responsible for implementing the extraction logic that processes memory events
+
+```json
+{
+  "type": "AgentCoreMemory",
+  "name": "MyMemory",
+  "eventExpiryDuration": 30,
+  "strategies": [
+    {
+      "type": "CUSTOM",
+      "name": "my_custom_strategy",
+      "description": "Custom extraction logic"
+    }
+  ]
+}
+```
+
 ### Strategy Options
 
 Each strategy can have optional configuration:

src/assets/__tests__/__snapshots__/assets.snapshot.test.ts.snap

@@ -1701,6 +1701,11 @@ def get_memory_session_manager(session_id: str, actor_id: str) -> Optional[Agent
 {{/if}}
 {{#if (includes memoryProviders.[0].strategies "SUMMARIZATION")}}
         f"/summaries/{actor_id}/{session_id}": RetrievalConfig(top_k=3, relevance_score=0.5),
+{{/if}}
+{{#if (includes memoryProviders.[0].strategies "CUSTOM")}}
+        # TODO: Add your custom namespace and retrieval config.
+        # Custom strategies use user-controlled extraction logic.
+        # Example: f"/custom/{actor_id}/data": RetrievalConfig(top_k=3, relevance_score=0.5),
 {{/if}}
     }
 {{/if}}
@@ -3986,6 +3991,11 @@ def get_memory_session_manager(session_id: str, actor_id: str) -> Optional[Agent
 {{/if}}
 {{#if (includes memoryProviders.[0].strategies "SUMMARIZATION")}}
         f"/summaries/{actor_id}/{session_id}": RetrievalConfig(top_k=3, relevance_score=0.5),
+{{/if}}
+{{#if (includes memoryProviders.[0].strategies "CUSTOM")}}
+        # TODO: Add your custom namespace and retrieval config.
+        # Custom strategies use user-controlled extraction logic.
+        # Example: f"/custom/{actor_id}/data": RetrievalConfig(top_k=3, relevance_score=0.5),
 {{/if}}
     }
 {{/if}}
@@ -4330,7 +4340,7 @@ file maps to a JSON config file and includes validation constraints as comments.
 - **BuildType**: \`'CodeZip'\` | \`'Container'\`
 - **NetworkMode**: \`'PUBLIC'\`
 - **RuntimeVersion**: \`'PYTHON_3_10'\` | \`'PYTHON_3_11'\` | \`'PYTHON_3_12'\` | \`'PYTHON_3_13'\`
-- **MemoryStrategyType**: \`'SEMANTIC'\` | \`'SUMMARIZATION'\` | \`'USER_PREFERENCE'\` | \`'EPISODIC'\`
+- **MemoryStrategyType**: \`'SEMANTIC'\` | \`'SUMMARIZATION'\` | \`'USER_PREFERENCE'\` | \`'EPISODIC'\` | \`'CUSTOM'\`
 
 ### Build Types
 

src/assets/agents/AGENTS.md

@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ file maps to a JSON config file and includes validation constraints as comments.
 - **BuildType**: `'CodeZip'` | `'Container'`
 - **NetworkMode**: `'PUBLIC'`
 - **RuntimeVersion**: `'PYTHON_3_10'` | `'PYTHON_3_11'` | `'PYTHON_3_12'` | `'PYTHON_3_13'`
-- **MemoryStrategyType**: `'SEMANTIC'` | `'SUMMARIZATION'` | `'USER_PREFERENCE'` | `'EPISODIC'`
+- **MemoryStrategyType**: `'SEMANTIC'` | `'SUMMARIZATION'` | `'USER_PREFERENCE'` | `'EPISODIC'` | `'CUSTOM'`
 
 ### Build Types
 

src/assets/python/a2a/strands/capabilities/memory/session.py

@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ def get_memory_session_manager(session_id: str, actor_id: str) -> Optional[Agent
 {{/if}}
 {{#if (includes memoryProviders.[0].strategies "SUMMARIZATION")}}
         f"/summaries/{actor_id}/{session_id}": RetrievalConfig(top_k=3, relevance_score=0.5),
+{{/if}}
+{{#if (includes memoryProviders.[0].strategies "CUSTOM")}}
+        # TODO: Add your custom namespace and retrieval config.
+        # Custom strategies use user-controlled extraction logic.
+        # Example: f"/custom/{actor_id}/data": RetrievalConfig(top_k=3, relevance_score=0.5),
 {{/if}}
     }
 {{/if}}

src/assets/python/http/strands/capabilities/memory/session.py

@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ def get_memory_session_manager(session_id: str, actor_id: str) -> Optional[Agent
 {{/if}}
 {{#if (includes memoryProviders.[0].strategies "SUMMARIZATION")}}
         f"/summaries/{actor_id}/{session_id}": RetrievalConfig(top_k=3, relevance_score=0.5),
+{{/if}}
+{{#if (includes memoryProviders.[0].strategies "CUSTOM")}}
+        # TODO: Add your custom namespace and retrieval config.
+        # Custom strategies use user-controlled extraction logic.
+        # Example: f"/custom/{actor_id}/data": RetrievalConfig(top_k=3, relevance_score=0.5),
 {{/if}}
     }
 {{/if}}

src/cli/commands/add/__tests__/add-memory.test.ts

@@ -51,16 +51,17 @@ describe('add memory command', () => {
       expect(json.error.includes('INVALID'), `Error: ${json.error}`).toBeTruthy();
     });
 
-    // Issue #235: CUSTOM strategy has been removed
-    it('rejects CUSTOM strategy', async () => {
+    // Issue #677: CUSTOM strategy is now supported
+    it('creates memory with CUSTOM strategy', async () => {
+      const memoryName = `memCustom${Date.now()}`;
       const result = await runCLI(
-        ['add', 'memory', '--name', 'testCustom', '--strategies', 'CUSTOM', '--json'],
+        ['add', 'memory', '--name', memoryName, '--strategies', 'CUSTOM', '--json'],
         projectDir
       );
-      expect(result.exitCode).toBe(1);
+      expect(result.exitCode, `stdout: ${result.stdout}, stderr: ${result.stderr}`).toBe(0);
       const json = JSON.parse(result.stdout);
-      expect(json.success).toBe(false);
-      expect(json.error.includes('CUSTOM'), `Error: ${json.error}`).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(json.success).toBe(true);
+      expect(json.memoryName).toBe(memoryName);
     });
   });
 

src/cli/commands/add/__tests__/validate.test.ts

@@ -953,17 +953,15 @@ describe('validate', () => {
       ).toEqual({ valid: true });
     });
 
-    // AC23: CUSTOM strategy is not supported (Issue #235)
-    it('rejects CUSTOM strategy', () => {
+    // Issue #677: CUSTOM strategy is now supported
+    it('accepts CUSTOM strategy', () => {
       const result = validateAddMemoryOptions({ ...validMemoryOptions, strategies: 'CUSTOM' });
-      expect(result.valid).toBe(false);
-      expect(result.error).toContain('Invalid strategy: CUSTOM');
+      expect(result.valid).toBe(true);
     });
 
-    it('rejects CUSTOM even when mixed with valid strategies', () => {
+    it('accepts CUSTOM mixed with other strategies', () => {
       const result = validateAddMemoryOptions({ ...validMemoryOptions, strategies: 'SEMANTIC,CUSTOM' });
-      expect(result.valid).toBe(false);
-      expect(result.error).toContain('Invalid strategy: CUSTOM');
+      expect(result.valid).toBe(true);
     });
 
     // AC24: Each individual valid strategy should pass

src/cli/commands/add/validate.ts

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import {
   BuildTypeSchema,
   GatewayExceptionLevelSchema,
   GatewayNameSchema,
+  MemoryStrategyTypeSchema,
   ModelProviderSchema,
   ProtocolModeSchema,
   RuntimeAuthorizerTypeSchema,
@@ -33,8 +34,8 @@ export interface ValidationResult {
 }
 
 // Constants
-const MEMORY_OPTIONS = ['none', 'shortTerm', 'longAndShortTerm'] as const;
-const VALID_STRATEGIES = ['SEMANTIC', 'SUMMARIZATION', 'USER_PREFERENCE', 'EPISODIC'];
+const MEMORY_OPTIONS = ['none', 'shortTerm', 'longAndShortTerm', 'custom'] as const;
+const VALID_STRATEGIES: readonly string[] = MemoryStrategyTypeSchema.options;
 
 /**
  * Validate that a credential name exists in the project spec.
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ export function validateAddAgentOptions(options: AddAgentOptions): ValidationRes
     if (!MEMORY_OPTIONS.includes(options.memory as (typeof MEMORY_OPTIONS)[number])) {
       return {
         valid: false,
-        error: `Invalid memory option: ${options.memory}. Use none, shortTerm, or longAndShortTerm`,
+        error: `Invalid memory option: ${options.memory}. Use none, shortTerm, longAndShortTerm, or custom`,
       };
     }
     // Parse and validate lifecycle configuration for import path
@@ -242,7 +243,7 @@ export function validateAddAgentOptions(options: AddAgentOptions): ValidationRes
     if (!MEMORY_OPTIONS.includes(options.memory as (typeof MEMORY_OPTIONS)[number])) {
       return {
         valid: false,
-        error: `Invalid memory option: ${options.memory}. Use none, shortTerm, or longAndShortTerm`,
+        error: `Invalid memory option: ${options.memory}. Use none, shortTerm, longAndShortTerm, or custom`,
       };
     }
   }

src/cli/commands/create/action.ts

@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ export async function createProject(options: CreateProjectOptions): Promise<Crea
   }
 }
 
-type MemoryOption = 'none' | 'shortTerm' | 'longAndShortTerm';
+type MemoryOption = 'none' | 'shortTerm' | 'longAndShortTerm' | 'custom';
 
 export interface CreateWithAgentOptions {
   name: string;

src/cli/commands/create/command.tsx

@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ async function handleCreateCLI(options: CreateOptions): Promise<void> {
         framework: options.framework as SDKFramework | undefined,
         modelProvider: options.modelProvider as ModelProvider | undefined,
         apiKey: options.apiKey,
-        memory: (options.memory as 'none' | 'shortTerm' | 'longAndShortTerm') ?? 'none',
+        memory: (options.memory as 'none' | 'shortTerm' | 'longAndShortTerm' | 'custom') ?? 'none',
         protocol: options.protocol as ProtocolMode | undefined,
         agentId: options.agentId,
         agentAliasId: options.agentAliasId,
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ export const registerCreate = (program: Command) => {
     )
     .option('--model-provider <provider>', 'Model provider (Bedrock, Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini) [non-interactive]')
     .option('--api-key <key>', 'API key for non-Bedrock providers [non-interactive]')
-    .option('--memory <option>', 'Memory option (none, shortTerm, longAndShortTerm) [non-interactive]')
+    .option('--memory <option>', 'Memory option (none, shortTerm, longAndShortTerm, custom) [non-interactive]')
     .option('--protocol <protocol>', 'Protocol: HTTP, MCP, A2A (default: HTTP) [non-interactive]')
     .option('--type <type>', 'Agent type: create or import (default: create) [non-interactive]')
     .option('--agent-id <id>', 'Bedrock Agent ID (required for --type import) [non-interactive]')

src/cli/commands/create/validate.ts

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export interface ValidationResult {
   error?: string;
 }
 
-const MEMORY_OPTIONS = ['none', 'shortTerm', 'longAndShortTerm'] as const;
+const MEMORY_OPTIONS = ['none', 'shortTerm', 'longAndShortTerm', 'custom'] as const;
 
 /** Check if a folder with the given name already exists in the directory */
 export function validateFolderNotExists(name: string, cwd: string): true | string {
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ export function validateCreateOptions(options: CreateOptions, cwd?: string): Val
     if (!MEMORY_OPTIONS.includes(options.memory as (typeof MEMORY_OPTIONS)[number])) {
       return {
         valid: false,
-        error: `Invalid memory option: ${options.memory}. Use none, shortTerm, or longAndShortTerm`,
+        error: `Invalid memory option: ${options.memory}. Use none, shortTerm, longAndShortTerm, or custom`,
       };
     }
     return { valid: true };
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ export function validateCreateOptions(options: CreateOptions, cwd?: string): Val
     if (!MEMORY_OPTIONS.includes(options.memory as (typeof MEMORY_OPTIONS)[number])) {
       return {
         valid: false,
-        error: `Invalid memory option: ${options.memory}. Use none, shortTerm, or longAndShortTerm`,
+        error: `Invalid memory option: ${options.memory}. Use none, shortTerm, longAndShortTerm, or custom`,
       };
     }
   }