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Generic MCP Client

Use this guide for Claude Desktop, Cline, Codex, OpenCode, Roo Code, Goose, or any other MCP client that accepts a standard MCP server definition.

Prerequisites​

  • PowerMem installed with MCP support. Use powermem[server,seekdb] for zero-config local seekdb, or powermem[server] when your .env points at non-seekdb storage/embedder providers.
  • PowerMem configured with your LLM provider, API key, and model.

Start an MCP server​

Choose one transport.

Stdio​

Use stdio when the client can launch a local command:

powermem-mcp stdio

Client config shape:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "powermem": {
      "command": "powermem-mcp",
      "args": ["stdio"]
    }
  }
}

Streamable HTTP​

Use streamable HTTP for remote or long-running MCP:

powermem-mcp streamable-http 8848

Client config shape:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "powermem": {
      "url": "http://localhost:8848/mcp"
    }
  }
}

SSE​

Use SSE when the client specifically expects SSE:

powermem-mcp sse 8848

Use the same URL shape:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "powermem": {
      "url": "http://localhost:8848/mcp"
    }
  }
}

OpenCode stores the same server under mcp.powermem instead of mcpServers.powermem; see OpenCode for the exact JSON shape.

Exposed tools​

PowerMem exposes core memory tools:

  • add_memory
  • search_memories
  • get_memory_by_id
  • update_memory
  • delete_memory
  • delete_all_memories
  • list_memories

It also exposes user-profile tools when supported by the client.

Verify​

  1. Reload the MCP client.
  2. Confirm the powermem server is connected.
  3. Confirm the tools above are listed.
  4. Add and search a probe memory containing dragonfruit-zx9.

Troubleshooting​

  • If stdio fails, confirm powermem-mcp stdio starts from the same environment where you installed PowerMem.
  • If remote MCP fails, confirm the URL and port match the transport you started.
  • If auth is enabled, pass POWERMEM_API_KEY through env for stdio or configure headers for remote MCP.
  • If memory operations fail, check .env, LLM provider, embedding provider, and server logs.

Uninstall​

Remove only the powermem MCP server entry from your client config, then reload the client.