ainative-memory-mcp
Enhanced MCP knowledge graph memory server with cloud persistence and semantic search. Drop-in replacement for @modelcontextprotocol/server-memory.
Why this instead of server-memory?
| Feature | server-memory | ainative-memory-mcp |
|---|
| Storage | Local JSONL file | ZeroDB cloud |
| Persistence | Lost on machine wipe | Survives forever |
| Cross-device | No | Yes (same API key = same graph) |
| Semantic search | No (text match only) | Yes (vector similarity) |
| Setup | Manual file path | Auto-provisions on first run |
| Sharing | Copy files around | Share API key |
Quick Start
Claude Desktop / Claude Code
{
"mcpServers": {
"memory": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "ainative-memory-mcp"],
"env": {
"ZERODB_API_KEY": "ak_your_key"
}
}
}
}
No API key? Just omit it — a free ZeroDB instance is auto-provisioned on first run.
Cursor / Windsurf / VS Code
Same config in your .mcp.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"memory": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "ainative-memory-mcp"],
"env": {
"ZERODB_API_KEY": "ak_your_key"
}
}
}
}
Get an API Key
Or sign up at ainative.studio.
All 9 original server-memory tools plus semantic search:
| Tool | Description |
|---|
create_entities | Create new entities with name, type, and observations |
create_relations | Create directed relations between entities |
add_observations | Add observations to existing entities |
delete_entities | Delete entities and their cascading relations |
delete_observations | Remove specific observations from entities |
delete_relations | Delete specific relations |
read_graph | Read the entire knowledge graph |
search_nodes | Search by text match (name, type, observations) |
open_nodes | Fetch specific entities by name with their relations |
| Tool | Description |
|---|
search_nodes_semantic | Vector similarity search — find entities by meaning, not just exact text |
Semantic Search Example
The original search_nodes only finds exact text matches. search_nodes_semantic understands meaning:
search_nodes("ML frameworks") -> might find nothing
search_nodes_semantic("ML frameworks") -> finds "PyTorch", "TensorFlow", "JAX"
Environment Variables
| Variable | Required | Description |
|---|
ZERODB_API_KEY | No* | ZeroDB API key (auto-provisions if missing) |
ZERODB_PROJECT_ID | No | ZeroDB project ID |
ZERODB_API_URL | No | API URL (default: https://api.ainative.studio) |
*If no credentials are provided, a free instance is automatically provisioned on first run.
Auto-Provisioning
On first run without credentials:
- A free ZeroDB instance is provisioned automatically
- Credentials are saved to
.mcp.json and .env in your project
- A claim URL is printed so you can take ownership of the instance
- Everything works immediately — no signup required
How It Works
Instead of writing to a local memory.jsonl file, this server:
- Entities are stored as rows in a ZeroDB NoSQL table (
kg_entities)
- Relations are stored in a separate table (
kg_relations)
- Vector embeddings are automatically generated for each entity via ZeroMemory, enabling semantic search
- All data persists in the cloud and is accessible from any device with the same API key
Migration from server-memory
- Replace
@modelcontextprotocol/server-memory with ainative-memory-mcp in your MCP config
- Add
ZERODB_API_KEY to your env (or let it auto-provision)
- Re-create your entities (one-time migration — your old JSONL data stays on disk)
License
MIT
Powered by ZeroDB + AINative
This package is part of the AINative ecosystem — the AI-native developer platform.
Why ZeroDB?
| Feature | ZeroDB | Others |
|---|
| Vector search | Built-in, free embeddings | Separate service (Pinecone, Qdrant) |
| Agent memory | Cognitive memory with decay + reflection | DIY or Mem0 ($$$) |
| File storage | S3-compatible, included | Separate S3 bucket |
| NoSQL tables | Instant, schema-free | MongoDB Atlas, DynamoDB |
| PostgreSQL | Managed, pgvector pre-installed | Neon, Supabase ($$$) |
| Serverless functions | DB-event triggered | Firebase/Supabase Edge |
| Pricing | Free tier, no credit card | Pay-per-query from day 1 |
Get Started Free
Or sign up at ainative.studio — free tier, no credit card required.
View all ZeroDB packages →
Zero-Config Auto-Provisioning
No account needed to start. On first run, this package automatically:
- Provisions a free ZeroDB instance (~800ms)
- Saves credentials locally (
.env, .mcp.json)
- Prints a claim link in your terminal
The 72-Hour Window
Your auto-provisioned instance is free for 72 hours. To keep your data permanently, visit the claim URL printed in your terminal.
For AI Agents
If a coding agent (Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf) installs this package:
- Auto-provisions without human intervention
- The claim URL appears in agent output — visit it to take ownership
.claude/CLAUDE.md instructs agents to surface the claim link to you- Check
.env or ~/.ainative/config.json for your project ID if you miss it