Palinode MCP Server - install, status & alternatives [2026]

01 · Install Palinode

before you install - you'll need

The README does not document required environment variables for a basic install.

Claude Code

claude mcp add phasespace-labs-palinode -- uvx palinode

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "phasespace-labs-palinode": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "palinode"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as local process (stdio) - runs on your machine with your user's permissions

license MIT - declared in the repository

pypi package palinode - check the name against the project README before installing (PyPI has no namespace ownership)

registry namespace io.github.phasespace-labs is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner

03 · What Palinode can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

What you can build

With this server connected, an agent can browse memory files by type, filter by core status, read the full content of a memory file, fetch a URL and save as research, and archive ephemeral memories whose TTL has expired.

Capability map

Tools grouped from the project's README - what Palinode lets an agent do.

read & search

3 tools - e.g. Hybrid BM25 + vector search with category filter; resolve attaches bounded evidence and a resolution per hit; Browse memory files by type, filter by core status; Read the full content of a memory file

search · list · read

Session

2 tools - e.g. Session-start context digest for the resolved project scope; Capture summary, decisions, and blockers at end of session

session_init · session_end

Latest releases

v0.21.0 · 2026-09-18

[0.21.0] - 2026-09-18 · automatic transcript capture now requires an explicit opt-in. · Fresh Claude Code setup uses palinode init --hook; plain palinode init no · longer installs transcript-reading hooks. Existing…

v0.20.1 · 2026-09-15

[0.20.1] - 2026-09-14 · one behaviour change arrives without opting in. update_policy is · sticky frontmatter, so a document that already carries update_policy: append now · grows on re-save instead of being…

v0.20.0 · 2026-09-13

[0.20.0] - 2026-09-13 · the one-time palinode prompt sync --force the 0.19.1 notes asked for · is no longer needed. prompt sync compares prompt bodies, so the frontmatter the · pre-0.19.1 cross-reference updater…

04 · Who maintains Palinode

Palinode is maintained by phasespace-labs. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Mar 2026.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/phasespace-labs/palinode
website: https://github.com/phasespace-labs/palinode
category: memory - ranked #31 of 321 actively-maintained memory servers as of 2026-09-30.
release cadence: 10+ releases in the last 90 days (latest 2026-09-18)
registry: io.github.phasespace-labs/palinode (active, first published 2026-04-30 · 27 versions)
packages: pypi:palinode · pypi:palinode

06 · Palinode FAQ

Is Palinode still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-09-30, its last commit was 2026-09-26 and it shipped 10+ releases in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.

What can Palinode do?

With this server connected, an agent can browse memory files by type, filter by core status, read the full content of a memory file, fetch a URL and save as research, and archive ephemeral memories whose TTL has expired.

How do I install Palinode?

Run `uvx palinode`. The README does not document required environment variables for a basic install. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Palinode run locally?

Yes - it's a stdio server: it runs on your machine (via uvx) with your user's permissions. Your data stays local unless the server itself calls external APIs.

07 · Alternatives to Palinode

Alternatives to Palinode

Maintained memory servers if Palinode isn't the fit.

Pairs well with

Servers that cover what Palinode doesn't - only shown when the pairing reason fits the companion.

More memory MCP servers · Anneal Memory · Bolor Brain MCP · Codeintel · Jarvis · Kernal MCP

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