Citadel MCP Server

MockEmbedder needs no download and is enough to try the API. For real recall quality use CandleEmbedder with a local e5-large, which is the benchmark setup.

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

VERIFIED ACTIVE

LAST COMMIT 2026-08-19 · ★ 3 · #68 OF 259 MAINTAINED MEMORY · VERIFIED 2026-08-25

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

01 · Install Citadel

before you install - you'll need

CITADEL_KEY

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

Claude Code

claude mcp add yp3y5akh0v-citadel -- uvx citadeldb-mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "yp3y5akh0v-citadel": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "citadeldb-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

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 citadeldb-mcp - check the name against the project README before installing (PyPI has no namespace ownership)

registry vendor namespace dev.citadeldb - domain-verified with the official MCP registry

03 · What Citadel can do

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

Latest releases

v2.0.0 · 2026-08-19

Local-first encrypted memory for AI agents. · Framework integrations · Seven new adapters, bringing the total to nine. Each implements the framework's own storage · interface. · | Framework | Package | Interface |…

v1.15.0 · 2026-08-10

Local-first encrypted memory for AI agents. · LangGraph store - citadeldb-langgraph implements LangGraph's BaseStore: namespace prefix search, TTL, and deletes that destroy the record's key. · CrewAI backend…

v1.14.0 · 2026-08-07

Local-first encrypted memory engine for AI agents, built on an embedded SQL/vector database. · Apache-2.0 - the dual MIT/Apache license is now Apache-2.0 only. · citadeldb-llm - the LLM client layer is split out of…

04 · Who maintains Citadel

Citadel is maintained by yp3y5akh0v. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Mar 2026.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/yp3y5akh0v/citadel
website: https://citadeldb.dev/
category: memory - ranked #68 of 259 actively-maintained memory servers as of 2026-08-25.
release cadence: 10+ releases in the last 90 days (latest 2026-08-19)
registry: dev.citadeldb/mcp (active, first published 2026-07-03 · 6 versions)
packages: pypi:citadeldb-mcp

06 · Citadel FAQ

What is Citadel?

MockEmbedder needs no download and is enough to try the API. For real recall quality use CandleEmbedder with a local e5-large, which is the benchmark setup.

Is Citadel still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-08-19 and it shipped 10+ releases in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.

How do I install Citadel?

Run `uvx citadeldb-mcp`. The README documents one environment variable (CITADEL_KEY) to set first. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Citadel 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 Citadel

Alternatives to Citadel

Maintained memory servers if Citadel isn't the fit.

Pairs well with

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

More memory MCP servers · Chat Crystal · Local Keep · Ori Memory · Waggle MCP · Neuromcp

More Rust MCP servers · Zenith · Unterm · Office Oxide MCP · Rtblint · Vastlint · see all