Claude Code

Claude Code provides native support for Basic Memory through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), enabling persistent context across development sessions and building comprehensive coding knowledge.

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Setup

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Install Basic Memory cli

# Install Basic Memory
uv tool install basic-memory

# Or with pip
pip install basic-memory

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Configure Claude Code

Basic Memory works automatically with Claude Code through MCP. Install it with:

claude mcp add basic-memory basic-memory mcp

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Verify Installation

In Claude Code, check that Basic Memory tools are available:

You: "What tools do you have access to?"

You should see Basic Memory tools listed, including note creation, search, and project management.

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Quick Start

Once configured, you can immediately start using Basic Memory in your development workflow:

You: "Create a note about our authentication strategy for the API"
Claude: I'll document the authentication strategy we discussed...
[Creates structured note with technical details and rationale]

You: "Switch to my personal coding project"
Claude: [Changes context to personal project knowledge base]

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MCP Integration Benefits

Claude Code’s native MCP support provides:

• Automatic tool access - No manual setup required
• Project-aware context - Maintains separate knowledge bases per project
• Real-time sync - Changes are immediately available
• Persistent memory - Context survives between sessions
• Structured knowledge - Uses Basic Memory’s semantic format

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Available Tools

Through MCP, Claude Code can access all Basic Memory functionality:

• write_note - Create and update documentation
• read_note - Access existing knowledge and context
• search_notes - Find relevant information across projects
• edit_note - Update documentation incrementally
• recent_activity - Check what you’ve been working on
• project management - Switch between different knowledge bases
• build_context - Load conversation context from memory:// URLs

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Integration with Development

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CLAUDE.md Enhancement

Claude Code uses CLAUDE.md files for project instructions. Basic Memory complements this by:

• Storing detailed knowledge outside the context window
• Enabling search across your entire knowledge base
• Maintaining history of decisions and learnings
• Linking related concepts through relations

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Project Context

Basic Memory maintains separate knowledge bases for different projects:

You: "Switch to my work project"
Claude: [Loads work project context and knowledge]

You: "Based on our API design notes, what's the next step?"
Claude: [References existing documentation to provide contextual guidance]

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Troubleshooting

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Common Issues

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Performance Tips

• Multiple projects: Use separate Basic Memory projects for different codebases
• Organized structure: Keep consistent folder organization across projects
• Regular cleanup: Archive old projects to maintain performance

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Alternative Usage

If MCP isn’t working, you can still use Basic Memory:

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Next Steps