memcell
Persistent, adaptive memory engine for AI agents.
Stop your agents from repeating the same mistakes across sessions.
# Install globally
npm install -g memcell
# In any project:
memcell connect
Run it in any project. memcell connect automatically:
- Approves in 1 tap: Opens browser approval (no upfront account needed; guest memories carry over seamlessly on sign-in).
- Auto-detects agents: Wires Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot CLI, Gemini CLI, OpenAI Codex, OpenCode, Cline, Windsurf, and more with non-destructive lifecycle hooks and the local stdio MCP server (
memcell mcp). - Secures credentials: Stores scoped agent keys directly in your OS keyring (Keychain / Secret Service / Credential Manager).
- Creates
.memcell: Adds a clean, git-safe project descriptor to your repo root.
Verify anytime:
memcell status
Why MemCell?
Every time you start a new session with an AI agent, it starts with complete amnesia. It falls into the same traps, repeats outdated assumptions, and recreates issues you already resolved yesterday.
Static instruction files and monolithic system prompts don't solve this:
- Context Bloat: Stacking dozens of instructions wastes tokens on every turn and dilutes model attention.
- Zero Adaptability: Outdated instructions keep firing even when requirements change.
- Manual Overhead: You remain the sole feedback loop, constantly hand-editing markdown files.
MemCell gives your agents closed-loop memory:
- Pre-Action Recall — Before taking action, agents receive verified memories relevant to the current task.
- Execution & Feedback — When actions succeed or fail, real outcomes are reported back.
- Earned Confidence — Memories that work gain confidence; memories that fail decay. Zero manual prompt maintenance.
How It Works
MemCell pairs two lightweight layers so agents stay aligned without getting in your way:
- Deterministic Hooks (Zero-Touch): Fire automatically on session start, prompt submit, and turn end. Relevant memories, active session threads, and instructions are checked before actions begin—without relying on the model remembering to call a tool. Hooks fail open in <50ms, so offline or slow networks never block your editor.
- MCP Tool Bridge (
memcell mcp): Provides interactive tools (recall,remember,report) when agents need to search memory or record discoveries mid-turn.
Everyday Usage
Once connected, agents recall and report memory automatically. You can also interact with memory directly from your terminal:
1. Recall Verified Context Before Implementing
memcell recall "how do we handle multi-tenant database sessions?"
2. Record a Decision or Instruction
# Record a workspace instruction
memcell remember "Always use pnpm for package operations; never invoke npm directly" --type instruction
# Record an architectural decision
memcell remember "Use Next.js for both backend and frontend with shadcn for UI" --type decision
# Bind an instruction to a specific lifecycle trigger
memcell remember "Check database migrations for column locks before altering tables" --type instruction --at change
3. Report What Happened
Memories sharpen when told what happened. When an approach succeeds or fails, report the outcome:
memcell report mem_019a4b2c worked --note "CI suite passed cleanly"
memcell report mem_019a4b2c failed --note "broke Next.js 15 async cookies"
4. Ingest Specs and Existing Guidelines
# Index workspace docs and project manifests for grounded RAG and graph extraction
memcell ingest
# Scan and import existing guideline files (CLAUDE.md, etc.)
memcell import
5. Check Attributed Token Savings
memcell stats
Displays memories followed, errors avoided, estimated tokens saved from prevented error loops, and 30-day activity sparklines.
Supported Agents & IDEs
| Agent / Harness | Integration | How It Runs |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | Hooks + MCP + Plugin | Automatic lifecycle hooks or marketplace plugin (/plugin marketplace add memcell-ai/mcp) |
| Cursor | Hooks + MCP Bridge | Native lifecycle hooks in .cursor/hooks.json and stdio bridge in .cursor/mcp.json |
| Gemini CLI | Hooks + MCP | Session and prompt hooks via native CLI harness |
| GitHub Copilot CLI | Lifecycle Hooks | Pre-command validation hooks |
| OpenAI Codex / OpenCode | Hooks + MCP | Workspace descriptor hooks and stdio tools |
| Cline & Windsurf | MCP Bridge | Native editor MCP client configuration |
| Factory Droid, Devin, Kiro, Goose | Hooks + MCP | Workspace adapters and tool harnesses |
Command Cheat Sheet
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
memcell start [--daemon] | Run local MemCell server with embedded PGlite vector engine |
memcell stop | Halt background local server daemon |
memcell connect | Connect this directory to MemCell, install hooks, and configure MCP |
memcell status | Check authentication standing, active workspace, and connection health |
memcell stats | Show memories followed, errors avoided, and token savings |
memcell recall <intent> | Query memory for verified memories, threads, and documents |
memcell remember <text> | File an instruction, decision, fact, or preference |
memcell report <id> <outcome> | Report worked, failed, or avoided to update confidence |
memcell thread | List, inspect, resume, or complete working session threads |
memcell ingest [paths...] | Index workspace docs and manifests into grounded RAG and memory graph |
memcell document | List, search, or delete indexed workspace documents |
memcell import [files...] | Import existing guideline files (CLAUDE.md, etc.) |
memcell export | Export workspace memories as a portable document (--format json|md) |
memcell orgs | List or switch active organization (memcell orgs switch <slug>) |
memcell workspaces | List or switch active workspace (memcell workspaces use <slug>) |
memcell hook remove | Cleanly remove all MemCell hooks from this directory |
memcell reset | Clear all cached credentials, keys, and tokens on this machine |
Run memcell --help or memcell <command> --help for full flag details.
Clean Uninstall
To remove MemCell hooks from a repository without touching your code:
memcell hook remove
rm .memcell
To remove all stored keys and credentials from your local machine:
memcell reset
Links
- Documentation: https://memcell.ai/docs
- Website: https://memcell.ai
- Issues: https://github.com/memcell-ai/devkit/issues
Apache License 2.0 · © 2026 Memcell, Inc.