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VS Code

Use the first-party PowerMem VS Code extension to connect VS Code to PowerMem, query memories from the editor, save selected text, and link other AI tools.

Recommended setup — let VS Code agent set it up​

First download the code and enter the directory:

git clone https://github.com/oceanbase/powermem
cd powermem

Then open the AI agent window in VS Code and paste this one line:

Read and follow apps/vscode-extension/SETUP.md to setup PowerMem

The agent follows apps/vscode-extension/SETUP.md, reuses or starts the HTTP API backend first, and only falls back to MCP-only when HTTP cannot be made healthy.

Prerequisites​

  • VS Code 1.104 or newer.
  • A running PowerMem backend:
    • powermem-server --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8848 for HTTP API + MCP.
    • powermem-mcp sse (port 8848) when you only need MCP.
  • A configured PowerMem .env or equivalent environment variables. Set your LLM provider, API key, and model before starting the backend.

Install powermem[server] for the HTTP API server. Install powermem[mcp] for the local MCP command, and add seekdb when using the default embedded seekdb storage/embedder.

Manual setup​

Use this section only when you want to wire VS Code by hand.

Install​

From source:

cd apps/vscode-extension
npm install
npm run compile

Then press F5 in VS Code to launch an Extension Development Host.

From a packaged .vsix:

code --install-extension powermem-vscode-*.vsix

Configure​

  1. Open the command palette.
  2. Run PowerMem: Setup.
  3. Set Backend URL to http://localhost:8848 or your remote PowerMem server.
  4. Set API key only if the server requires X-API-Key.
  5. Keep Connection Mode as mcp unless you need HTTP-only context integration.
  6. Run Test connection.

The full agent-friendly setup prompt is apps/vscode-extension/SETUP.md.

Use​

  • PowerMem: Query Memories searches saved memories.
  • PowerMem: Add Selection to Memory saves highlighted text.
  • PowerMem: Quick Note saves a short note.
  • PowerMem: Dashboard opens the extension dashboard.
  • PowerMem: Link to AI Tools writes supported client configs for Cursor, Claude, Windsurf, and GitHub Copilot.

Verify​

  1. Confirm the status bar shows PowerMem without a warning icon.
  2. Run PowerMem: Quick Note and save PowerMem VS Code probe: dragonfruit-zx9.
  3. Run PowerMem: Query Memories and search dragonfruit-zx9.
  4. Confirm the probe appears in the results.

Troubleshooting​

  • If the status bar is disconnected, verify powermem.backendUrl and the backend health endpoint.
  • If search returns nothing, check the server logs and confirm the same userId scope is used.
  • If linked clients do not detect PowerMem, rerun PowerMem: Link to AI Tools and reload the target client.

Uninstall​

See apps/vscode-extension/UNINSTALL.md.