Record · basic-memoryMCP serverOpen sourceVerified Sep 23, 2026

Basic Memory

Persistent AI memory as local Markdown files that both you and the model can read and edit.

Sources and review

Checked against public documentation on September 23, 2026. Suitability guidance is our editorial judgment; this is not a performance benchmark or an endorsement.

Best for

People who want AI memory they can read, edit and keep as plain files.

Avoid if

Your organisation can't adopt AGPL-3.0 software.

About Basic Memory

Basic Memory stores what an assistant learns as Markdown notes on your machine and links them into a knowledge graph, so Claude, Codex, Cursor, ChatGPT and other MCP clients can pick up where they left off. The files work in Obsidian-style vaults. A paid hosted and team service is offered alongside the open-source local server.

Basic Memory is an open-source project written primarily in Python, with 4.0k stars on GitHub. It was last updated in September 2026.

Add Basic Memory to your MCP client

Generated from the launch command in the project's README. Your client starts the server on demand.

Claude CodeRun in your terminal

claude mcp add basic-memory -- uvx --prerelease=allow basic-memory mcp

Cursor~/.cursor/mcp.json or .cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "basic-memory": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--prerelease=allow", "basic-memory", "mcp"]
    }
  }
}

VS Code.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "basic-memory": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--prerelease=allow", "basic-memory", "mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktopclaude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "basic-memory": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--prerelease=allow", "basic-memory", "mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Codex~/.codex/config.toml

[mcp_servers.basic-memory]
command = "uvx"
args = ["--prerelease=allow", "basic-memory", "mcp"]

Check the project's README for required accounts, keys and permissions before connecting. Setup guide for each client →

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