VS Code

VS Code provides excellent support for Basic Memory through direct file editing, terminal integration, and rich markdown features, making it ideal for maintaining development documentation alongside your code.

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Setup

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Configure VS Code Settings

Create or update .vscode/settings.json for enhanced markdown editing:

{
  "files.associations": {
    "*.md": "markdown"
  },
  "markdown.preview.breaks": true,
  "markdown.preview.linkify": true,
  "editor.wordWrap": "on",
  "editor.quickSuggestions": {
    "other": true,
    "comments": true,
    "strings": true
  },
  "search.exclude": {
    "**/node_modules": true,
    "**/.git": true
  }
}

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Install Basic Memory (optional)

# Install Basic Memory
uv tool install basic-memory

# Or with pip
pip install basic-memory

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Install Recommended Extensions

Essential Extensions:

• Markdown All in One - Rich markdown editing with preview
• Markdown Preview Enhanced - Advanced preview features
• Git Graph - Visual git history for your knowledge base
• Terminal - Built-in terminal for Basic Memory CLI

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Integration Features

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File-Based Editing

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Terminal Integration

Set up CLI aliases for quick access:

# Add to your shell profile (.bashrc, .zshrc, etc.)
alias note="basic-memory tools write-note"
alias search="basic-memory tools search-notes --query"
alias recent="basic-memory tools recent-activity"

# Usage in VS Code terminal
note --title "Authentication Flow" --folder "architecture"
search "database patterns"
recent --timeframe="2 days"

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Multi-Root Workspace

Combine multiple projects in one workspace:

{
  "folders": [
    {
      "name": "Project Code",
      "path": "./src"
    },
    {
      "name": "Documentation",
      "path": "./docs"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shared Knowledge",
      "path": "~/knowledge"
    }
  ],
  "settings": {
    "search.exclude": {
      "**/node_modules": true,
      "**/.git": true
    }
  }
}

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Quick Start

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Project Structure

Organize your project with integrated knowledge:

my-project/
├── src/
├── tests/
├── docs/           # Basic Memory project folder
│   ├── architecture/
│   ├── decisions/
│   ├── patterns/
│   └── api/
├── .vscode/
│   └── settings.json
└── README.md

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Basic Usage

1. Edit documentation in VS Code with full IDE features
2. Use split editor - code on left, documentation on right
3. Terminal commands for quick Basic Memory operations
4. File explorer to navigate between code and docs
5. Git integration to version control everything together

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VS Code Snippets

Create custom snippets for Basic Memory patterns. Add to .vscode/markdown.json:

{
  "Basic Memory Note": {
    "prefix": "bmnote",
    "body": [
      "---",
      "title: ${1:Note Title}",
      "tags: [${2:tag1, tag2}]",
      "---",
      "",
      "# ${1:Note Title}",
      "",
      "## Observations",
      "- [${3:category}] ${4:observation} #${5:tag}",
      "",
      "## Relations",
      "- ${6:relation_type} [[${7:Related Note}]]",
      "",
      "$0"
    ],
    "description": "Create a Basic Memory note template"
  }
}

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Troubleshooting

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Common Issues

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Performance Tips

• Exclude large files: Configure search.exclude appropriately
• Use workspace: Better performance than opening large folders
• Limit extensions: Only install needed extensions
• Regular cleanup: Archive old documentation periodically

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Integration Benefits

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Development Workflow

• Real-time documentation - Edit docs as you code
• Unified search - Search code and documentation together
• Git versioning - Track changes to both code and knowledge
• Split editing - View code and docs simultaneously
• Terminal access - Quick Basic Memory commands

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File Management

• Direct editing - No need for external tools
• Rich preview - See formatted markdown in real-time
• Folder organization - Maintain clear structure
• Link navigation - Follow wikilinks between notes
• Syntax highlighting - Clear visual editing

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Next Steps