In profanity there are basically two options.

The first option is to use /history and /logging.
Logging will store the chat in files ~/.local/share/profanity/chatlogs/.

The second option is to use /mam. It not fully implemented, yet. In such case profanity will use a local database.
For a modern chat client you need to store the messages in a database, because of some features. 😕

There are still some open issues, I think OMEMO + MAM will show duplicated messages.

Settings will be stored with /save command.

CC: @uexo@mastodon.social @unplugged@linke.social @debacle@framapiaf.org