Claude-Mem seamlessly preserves context across sessions by automatically capturing tool usage observations, generating semantic summaries, and making them available to future sessions. This enables Claude to maintain continuity of knowledge about projects even after sessions end or reconnect.
---
## Quick Start
Start a new Claude Code session in the terminal and enter the following commands:
```
/plugin marketplace add thedotmack/claude-mem
/plugin install claude-mem
```
Restart Claude Code. Context from previous sessions will automatically appear in new sessions.
**Key Features:**
- 🧠 **Persistent Memory** - Context survives across sessions
- 📊 **Progressive Disclosure** - Layered memory retrieval with token cost visibility
- 🔍 **Skill-Based Search** - Query your project history with mem-search skill
- 🖥️ **Web Viewer UI** - Real-time memory stream at http://localhost:37777
- 💻 **Claude Desktop Skill** - Search memory from Claude Desktop conversations
- 🔒 **Privacy Control** - Use `` tags to exclude sensitive content from storage
- ⚙️ **Context Configuration** - Fine-grained control over what context gets injected
- 🤖 **Automatic Operation** - No manual intervention required
- 🔗 **Citations** - Reference past observations with IDs (access via http://localhost:37777/api/observation/{id} or view all in the web viewer at http://localhost:37777)
- 🧪 **Beta Channel** - Try experimental features like Endless Mode via version switching
---
## Documentation
📚 **[View Full Documentation](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/)** - Browse on official website
### Getting Started
- **[Installation Guide](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/installation)** - Quick start & advanced installation
- **[Usage Guide](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/usage/getting-started)** - How Claude-Mem works automatically
- **[Search Tools](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/usage/search-tools)** - Query your project history with natural language
- **[Beta Features](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/beta-features)** - Try experimental features like Endless Mode
### Best Practices
- **[Context Engineering](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/context-engineering)** - AI agent context optimization principles
- **[Progressive Disclosure](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/progressive-disclosure)** - Philosophy behind Claude-Mem's context priming strategy
### Architecture
- **[Overview](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/architecture/overview)** - System components & data flow
- **[Architecture Evolution](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/architecture-evolution)** - The journey from v3 to v5
- **[Hooks Architecture](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/hooks-architecture)** - How Claude-Mem uses lifecycle hooks
- **[Hooks Reference](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/architecture/hooks)** - 7 hook scripts explained
- **[Worker Service](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/architecture/worker-service)** - HTTP API & Bun management
- **[Database](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/architecture/database)** - SQLite schema & FTS5 search
- **[Search Architecture](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/architecture/search-architecture)** - Hybrid search with Chroma vector database
### Configuration & Development
- **[Configuration](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/configuration)** - Environment variables & settings
- **[Development](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/development)** - Building, testing, contributing
- **[Troubleshooting](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/troubleshooting)** - Common issues & solutions
---
## How It Works
**Core Components:**
1. **5 Lifecycle Hooks** - SessionStart, UserPromptSubmit, PostToolUse, Stop, SessionEnd (6 hook scripts)
2. **Smart Install** - Cached dependency checker (pre-hook script, not a lifecycle hook)
3. **Worker Service** - HTTP API on port 37777 with web viewer UI and 10 search endpoints, managed by Bun
4. **SQLite Database** - Stores sessions, observations, summaries
5. **mem-search Skill** - Natural language queries with progressive disclosure
6. **Chroma Vector Database** - Hybrid semantic + keyword search for intelligent context retrieval
See [Architecture Overview](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/architecture/overview) for details.
---
## MCP Search Tools
Claude-Mem provides intelligent memory search through **5 MCP tools** following a token-efficient **3-layer workflow pattern**:
**The 3-Layer Workflow:**
1. **`search`** - Get compact index with IDs (~50-100 tokens/result)
2. **`timeline`** - Get chronological context around interesting results
3. **`get_observations`** - Fetch full details ONLY for filtered IDs (~500-1,000 tokens/result)
**How It Works:**
- Claude uses MCP tools to search your memory
- Start with `search` to get an index of results
- Use `timeline` to see what was happening around specific observations
- Use `get_observations` to fetch full details for relevant IDs
- Use `save_memory` to manually store important information
- **~10x token savings** by filtering before fetching details
**Available MCP Tools:**
1. **`search`** - Search memory index with full-text queries, filters by type/date/project
2. **`timeline`** - Get chronological context around a specific observation or query
3. **`get_observations`** - Fetch full observation details by IDs (always batch multiple IDs)
4. **`save_memory`** - Manually save a memory/observation for semantic search
5. **`__IMPORTANT`** - Workflow documentation (always visible to Claude)
**Example Usage:**
```typescript
// Step 1: Search for index
search(query="authentication bug", type="bugfix", limit=10)
// Step 2: Review index, identify relevant IDs (e.g., #123, #456)
// Step 3: Fetch full details
get_observations(ids=[123, 456])
// Save important information manually
save_memory(text="API requires auth header X-API-Key", title="API Auth")
```
See [Search Tools Guide](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/usage/search-tools) for detailed examples.
---
## Beta Features
Claude-Mem offers a **beta channel** with experimental features like **Endless Mode** (biomimetic memory architecture for extended sessions). Switch between stable and beta versions from the web viewer UI at http://localhost:37777 → Settings.
See **[Beta Features Documentation](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/beta-features)** for details on Endless Mode and how to try it.
---
## System Requirements
- **Node.js**: 18.0.0 or higher
- **Claude Code**: Latest version with plugin support
- **Bun**: JavaScript runtime and process manager (auto-installed if missing)
- **uv**: Python package manager for vector search (auto-installed if missing)
- **SQLite 3**: For persistent storage (bundled)
---
### Windows Setup Notes
If you see an error like:
```powershell
npm : The term 'npm' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet
```
Make sure Node.js and npm are installed and added to your PATH. Download the latest Node.js installer from https://nodejs.org and restart your terminal after installation.
---
## Configuration
Settings are managed in `~/.claude-mem/settings.json` (auto-created with defaults on first run). Configure AI model, worker port, data directory, log level, and context injection settings.
See the **[Configuration Guide](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/configuration)** for all available settings and examples.
---
## Development
See the **[Development Guide](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/development)** for build instructions, testing, and contribution workflow.
---
## Troubleshooting
If experiencing issues, describe the problem to Claude and the troubleshoot skill will automatically diagnose and provide fixes.
See the **[Troubleshooting Guide](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/troubleshooting)** for common issues and solutions.
---
## Bug Reports
Create comprehensive bug reports with the automated generator:
```bash
cd ~/.claude/plugins/marketplaces/thedotmack
npm run bug-report
```
## Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please:
1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes with tests
4. Update documentation
5. Submit a Pull Request
See [Development Guide](https://docs.claude-mem.ai/development) for contribution workflow.
---
## License
This project is licensed under the **GNU Affero General Public License v3.0** (AGPL-3.0).
Copyright (C) 2025 Alex Newman (@thedotmack). All rights reserved.
See the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for full details.
**What This Means:**
- You can use, modify, and distribute this software freely
- If you modify and deploy on a network server, you must make your source code available
- Derivative works must also be licensed under AGPL-3.0
- There is NO WARRANTY for this software
**Note on Ragtime**: The `ragtime/` directory is licensed separately under the **PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0**. See [ragtime/LICENSE](ragtime/LICENSE) for details.
---
## Support
- **Documentation**: [docs/](docs/)
- **Issues**: [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/thedotmack/claude-mem/issues)
- **Repository**: [github.com/thedotmack/claude-mem](https://github.com/thedotmack/claude-mem)
- **Official X Account**: [@Claude_Memory](https://x.com/Claude_Memory)
- **Official Discord**: [Join Discord](https://discord.com/invite/J4wttp9vDu)
- **Author**: Alex Newman ([@thedotmack](https://github.com/thedotmack))
---
**Built with Claude Agent SDK** | **Powered by Claude Code** | **Made with TypeScript**
