Cortex Memory Engine — Claude Code MCP server: features and setup
Cortex gives an agent memory that carries across sessions, so it can retrieve earlier project details and preferences when you need them.
claude mcp add cortex-memory-engine -- docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/gambletan/cortex:v1.8.0What Cortex Memory Engine does
Cortex connects to an agent over MCP and organizes stored information into four tiers: working, episodic, semantic, and procedural. It also builds links between people and revises beliefs as new evidence arrives.
The memory system supports retrieval across sessions and channels, with automatic conversation compression. The Claude Code setup runs a Docker command, so Docker needs to be available in the environment. Its --rm flag removes the container when it stops.
This MCP server is added under the name cortex-memory-engine. It gives Claude Code a separate memory connection rather than invoking a built-in command.
What it helps with
- carry project preferences across agent sessions
- retrieve an earlier decision about a project
- sort stored details into memory tiers
- connect references to the same person across channels
- revise a stored belief when new evidence appears
Example prompts for the agent
- Remember that I run tests before sending changes.
- What did we decide earlier about this project's structure?
- What preferences have you saved about how I work on this project?
How to install Cortex Memory Engine
Platform CLI
claude mcp add cortex-memory-engine -- docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/gambletan/cortex:v1.8.0Platform CLI
codex mcp add cortex-memory-engine -- docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/gambletan/cortex:v1.8.0Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"cortex-memory-engine": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"ghcr.io/gambletan/cortex:v1.8.0"
]
}
}
}Config file
{
"servers": {
"cortex-memory-engine": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"ghcr.io/gambletan/cortex:v1.8.0"
]
}
}
}Platform CLI
gemini mcp add cortex-memory-engine docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/gambletan/cortex:v1.8.0Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about Cortex Memory Engine
How do I install Cortex Memory Engine in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add cortex-memory-engine -- docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/gambletan/cortex:v1.8.0. This setup uses Docker.
What does Cortex Memory Engine do?
It is an MCP server that gives AI agents memory across sessions. Stored information is organized into four tiers.
What are Cortex Memory Engine's memory tiers?
They are working, episodic, semantic, and procedural. The server also links people and adjusts beliefs as evidence changes.
