# 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 It falls into the same traps, repeats outdated assumptions, and recreates issues you already resolved yesterday.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- Zero Adaptability: Outdated instructions keep firing even when requirements change.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 and directives 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,ingest) 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 Convention
# Record a project convention
memcell remember "Always use pnpm for package operations; never invoke npm directly"
# Bind an invariant to a specific lifecycle trigger
memcell remember "Check database migrations for column locks before altering tables" --at "before db:migrate"
3. Report What Happened
Memories sharpen when told what happened. When an approach succeeds or fails, report the outcome:
memcell report stmt_019a4b2c worked --note "CI suite passed cleanly"
memcell report stmt_019a4b2c failed --note "broke Next.js 15 async cookies"
4. Ingest Specs and Existing Guidelines
# Ingest an architecture doc, spec, or post-mortem
memcell ingest docs/architecture/auth.md
# 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
Command Cheat Sheet
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/cli/issues
Apache License 2.0 · © 2026 OpenOri