Thebrain MCP Server

An MCP server for TheBrain 15, built on its local API. Its 15 documented tools cover brain, thought.

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

VERIFIED ACTIVE

LAST COMMIT 2026-08-12 · ★ 4 · #124 OF 259 MAINTAINED MEMORY · VERIFIED 2026-08-25

MIT · TypeScript servers · how we verify → /methodology

01 · Install Thebrain

before you install - you'll need

THEBRAIN_API_KEY

Environment variables documented in the project's README - it lists which are required and which have defaults.

Claude Code

claude mcp add ybookoff-thebrain-mcp -- npx -y thebrain-mcp-server

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ybookoff-thebrain-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "thebrain-mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

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

repo age created 2026-08-11 - young repo, little track record yet

license MIT - declared in the repository

npm package thebrain-mcp-server - unscoped; check the name against the project README before installing

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

03 · What Thebrain 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 search by meaning, index status, build and refresh, connect two thoughts, with a label, and open a thought on the user's screen.

The 15 tools it gives your agent

Extracted from the project's README - what thebrain lets an agent do.

brain_list: - Brains, which one is open, whether the index is ready
brain_get_thought: - A thought, its graph and its note in one call
brain_search: - Search by meaning
brain_traverse: - Walk the graph several hops out
brain_list_types_and_tags: - The brain's vocabulary
brain_recent_changes: - What changed, in plain language
brain_index: - Index status, build and refresh
brain_create_thought: - A thought together with its note, type and tags
brain_update_thought: - Name, label, type, colours
brain_link: - Connect two thoughts, with a label
brain_tag: - Attach and detach tags
brain_attach_url: - Attach a link, without duplicates

show all 15 tools

brain_activate: - Open a thought on the user's screen
brain_delete_thought: - Delete, with human confirmation
brain_ingest: - Write a whole structure in one call

04 · Who maintains Thebrain

thebrain is maintained by ybookoff. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Aug 2026.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/ybookoff/thebrain-mcp
category: memory - ranked #124 of 259 actively-maintained memory servers as of 2026-08-25.
registry: io.github.yBookoff/thebrain (active, first published 2026-08-12)
packages: npm:thebrain-mcp-server

06 · Thebrain FAQ

Is Thebrain still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-08-12. We re-verify nightly.

What can Thebrain do?

With this server connected, an agent can search by meaning, index status, build and refresh, connect two thoughts, with a label, and open a thought on the user's screen.

How do I install Thebrain?

Run `npx -y thebrain-mcp-server`. The README documents one environment variable (THEBRAIN_API_KEY) to set first. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Thebrain run locally?

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

07 · Alternatives to Thebrain

Alternatives to Thebrain

Maintained memory servers if Thebrain isn't the fit.

Pairs well with

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

More memory MCP servers · Xmemo · Citadel · Chat Crystal · Local Keep · Ori Memory

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