Lean Memory MCP Server

Embedded, local-first agent memory. No server, no daemon, no mandatory cloud key.

People connecting memory tools to Claude, Cursor, VS Code, or another MCP client. The project is written in Python.

VERIFIED ACTIVE

LAST COMMIT 2026-08-07 · ★ 47 · #56 OF 259 MAINTAINED MEMORY · VERIFIED 2026-08-25

Apache-2.0 · Python servers · how we verify → /methodology

01 · Install Lean Memory

before you install - you'll need

Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY before connecting. LM_DATA_ROOT is optional or environment-specific per the README.

Claude Code

claude mcp add wuesteon-lean-memory -- uvx lean-memory

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "wuesteon-lean-memory": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "lean-memory"
      ]
    }
  }
}

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 Apache-2.0 - declared in the repository

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

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

03 · What Lean Memory can do

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

Latest releases

v0.3.0 · 2026-08-07

Feature release. · Changed - entity names now resolve on a normalized key (schema v3, WP15): identity is (namespace, name_key, type) where name_key is NFC + Unicode casefold + whitespace collapse, so…

v0.2.4 · 2026-08-07

Patch release: the console's MCP wrapper tools get the same metadata treatment the core server got in v0.2.3 (WP14) - honest ToolAnnotations (readOnly/destructive/idempotent hints, openWorldHint=false), 100%…

v0.2.1 · 2026-07-21

Metadata-only release for the public launch - no code changes. · Fixed · lean-memory-console had a blank PyPI page: its README is now wired as the package long description, and license, authors, keywords, classifiers…

04 · Who maintains Lean Memory

lean-memory is maintained by wuesteon. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Jun 2026.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/wuesteon/lean-memory
category: memory - ranked #56 of 259 actively-maintained memory servers as of 2026-08-25.
release cadence: 6 releases in the last 90 days (latest 2026-08-07)
registry: io.github.Wuesteon/lean-memory (active, first published 2026-07-12 · 8 versions)
packages: pypi:lean-memory

06 · Lean Memory FAQ

What is Lean Memory?

Embedded, local-first agent memory. No server, no daemon, no mandatory cloud key.

Is Lean Memory still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-08-07 and it shipped 6 releases in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.

How do I install Lean Memory?

Run `uvx lean-memory`. The README documents 2 environment variables (LM_DATA_ROOT, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY) to set first. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY before connecting. LM_DATA_ROOT is optional or environment-specific per the README. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Lean Memory 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 Lean Memory

Alternatives to Lean Memory

Maintained memory servers if Lean Memory isn't the fit.

Pairs well with

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

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