Common questions
Is Codebase Memory
right for your workflow?
-
When should I use Codebase Memory?
Choose CBM when you want your coding agent and your own source-navigation workspace to use the same local graph of code, docs and infrastructure. It brings structural search, source evidence, CBM Lens, agent integrations and experimental test selection into one open-source package. Native releases run on macOS, Linux and Windows without Docker or a language runtime. Explore the capabilities and Smart CI’s current scope.
+
When should I use Codebase Memory?
Choose CBM when your coding agent needs a persistent local graph of code, docs and infrastructure. The MCP server brings structural search, source evidence, agent integrations and experimental test selection into one open-source package. The CLI provides direct access, and CBM Lens adds an optional visual workspace in open beta. Native releases run on macOS, Linux and Windows without Docker or a language runtime. Explore the capabilities and Smart CI’s current scope.
How does Codebase Memory reduce AI token use?
Your agent can query indexed relationships and retrieve the relevant symbols or source snippets instead of repeatedly exploring whole files. Compact results and pagination control how much context each query returns. The benefit depends on the task; explore the published token-use measurements.
Does Codebase Memory send my source code anywhere?
The backend indexes source and stores and queries its graph locally. Your coding agent has its own data-handling settings. Lens can optionally download a browser model after you enable it, with inference on-device. Installers and update checks use the network to obtain releases and assets.
How does the index stay current?
Incremental indexing updates changed files. With auto-watch enabled, an eligible active MCP session can watch an already indexed project. Automatic first indexing is a separate opt-in setting. The local UI daemon is not a promise of a permanent background watcher.
diff --git a/docs/llms.txt b/docs/llms.txt
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# codebase-memory-mcp
-> Local code intelligence for developers and AI agents. Connect code, documentation, configuration, and infrastructure in a persistent knowledge graph. Search for a feature, follow callers and dependencies, trace services and deployments, inspect change impact, and explore the evidence in CBM Lens. Access the same backend through MCP or the CLI. Indexing, graph queries, and semantic embeddings run locally without a hosted service or API key; Lens optionally downloads a browser model after opt-in for on-device code chat.
+> Codebase Memory is an open-source local MCP server for AI coding agents. It connects code, documentation, configuration, and infrastructure in a persistent knowledge graph, with 17 MCP tools and native CLI access. Search for a feature, follow callers and dependencies, trace services and deployments, and inspect change impact. Indexing, graph queries, and semantic embeddings run locally without a hosted service or API key. CBM Lens is the optional visual companion, currently in open beta (v0.0.1); its optional browser model supports on-device code chat after an opt-in download.
## Capabilities
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
- Change impact: detect_changes maps diffs to affected symbols and investigates related tests with scope: "tests"; compare_graphs compares indexed snapshots.
- Smart CI (experimental): repository-specific changed-file rules select CI jobs; test-impact select combines static reachability, changed tests, and admitted per-test coverage to select tests. Narrowing supports C/C++ family code with supported test-harness conventions and an explicitly configured runner. Missing or doubtful evidence broadens the selection or runs all tests. Other indexed languages are not automatically supported for test narrowing. test-impact publish creates the baseline graph-and-coverage bundle. Start in shadow mode; consult the guide for version requirements.
- Architecture decisions and runtime evidence: manage_adr stores the project's decision record; ingest_traces adds separately collected observed call relationships alongside static analysis.
-- CBM Lens Beta: local browser interface with source exploration, Galaxy graph navigation, architecture and behavior views, ADR editing, index-coverage diagnostics, daemon/system information, and optional local code chat. Static graph animations are not live execution traces. Activity overlays are experimental source-build features, not a standard-release promise.
+- CBM Lens open beta (v0.0.1): optional visual companion to the MCP server, with a local browser interface with source exploration, Galaxy graph navigation, architecture and behavior views, ADR editing, index-coverage diagnostics, daemon/system information, and optional local code chat. Static graph animations are not live execution traces. Activity overlays are experimental source-build features, not a standard-release promise.
- Agent integrations: 45 automatic or conditional client surfaces. Installation configures supported MCP entries, durable instructions, skills, Scout/Verify/Auditor profiles, and applicable session, compaction, search, and read hooks. Coverage and activation vary by client and platform. Hooks provide context without blocking or replacing the user's tool call; some clients require trust or use parent-agent handoff instead.
- Persistent operation: a per-account daemon coordinates sessions and indexing. Existing indexes can stay synchronized during eligible active MCP sessions; initial auto-indexing is separately opt-in. Optional team graph artifacts share a baseline while each user keeps a local query database.
- Token-efficient retrieval: targeted graph queries, focused source snippets, and compact, paged results can reduce token use and repeated file reads during code exploration.
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ The ordinary `cli` mode runs one command locally, but it is not disconnected fro
### CBM Lens Beta: code visualization and source navigation
-CBM Lens Beta is the browser interface included in standard native releases and UI-enabled source builds. It builds on [CodeAtlasWeb](graph-ui/README.md) by [Bernhard Jackiewicz](https://github.com/BernhardJackiewicz) (design and tracking in #1964). Lens is served on loopback. Browser AI downloads its optional model only after you enable it; inference stays on-device. Each panel names where its facts come from, and what the index did not record is shown as a gap. Start the local server:
+**CBM Lens is an optional visual companion to the MCP server, currently in open beta (v0.0.1).** Its browser interface is included in standard native releases and UI-enabled source builds. It builds on [CodeAtlasWeb](graph-ui/README.md) by [Bernhard Jackiewicz](https://github.com/BernhardJackiewicz) (design and tracking in #1964). Lens is served on loopback. Browser AI downloads its optional model only after you enable it; inference stays on-device. Each panel names where its facts come from, and what the index did not record is shown as a gap. Start the local server:
```bash
codebase-memory-mcp daemon start --open --port=9749
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