Claude-Mem — Persistent Memory Plugin

Deep Dive

What it solves

Use this when you need a repeatable, team-shareable workflow instead of one-off agent prompts. The goal is to make installation, first-run validation, and rollback predictable.

Minimal mental model

• Treat the GitHub repo as the source of truth: install instructions, configs, and upgrade paths live there.
• Keep your first run small: one command, one verification, one rollback plan.
• Capture a baseline: setup time, first successful run, and one real task completed end-to-end.

Safe rollout checklist

1. Verify source: confirm repo URL, stars, and license match what you expect.
2. Install using the Quick Use commands above.
3. Prove it works with the verification command; save the output in a note or issue.
4. Operationalize: document owner, upgrade command, and rollback command.

Troubleshooting (common)

• Install succeeds but nothing shows up

  • Likely cause: the tool needs a restart/reload (CLI/IDE) or a config file in the right path.
  • Fix: restart the client, then re-run the verification step.

• Works on one machine, fails on another

  • Likely cause: Node/Python/Docker versions differ or missing system dependencies.
  • Fix: pin versions (Node/Python), and copy a minimal known-good config.

• Token cost or latency is worse than expected

  • Likely cause: tool schemas or verbose outputs get injected into context.
  • Fix: prefer smaller steps, cache results, and keep tool responses concise when possible.

FAQ

Q: Is npm install -g enough? A: The repo warns the global npm install is SDK-only; use npx claude-mem install to register hooks and worker service.

Q: How do I control what gets stored? A: Use the repo's privacy controls (e.g., tags) and keep secrets out of logs by default.

Q: How do I validate it is working? A: Confirm the local viewer loads, then check that new sessions reference recent observations when relevant.