Sequential Thinking Working Notes — Claude Code MCP server for notes
A local MCP server that keeps working notes, decisions and next actions in SQLite. Sessions survive a restart.
claude mcp add --env MCP_STORAGE_DIR=<MCP_STORAGE_DIR> --transport stdio sequential-thinking-working-notes -- uvx mcp-sequential-thinkingWhat Sequential Thinking Working Notes does
The server stores whatever the caller sends: observations, evidence, assumptions, options, risks, decisions and next actions. It does not produce or grade reasoning on its own. Notes belong to a session, which starts from a title and can be located later with list_sessions when the ID is gone after a restart.
Notes link to each other through parent_step_id, supersedes_step_id and branch_from_step_id. A superseded note disappears from the resume view but stays in the full history. Repeating a write with the same request_id and the same input returns the earlier result; different input under that ID raises IDEMPOTENCY_CONFLICT. Reads return 20 entries and 12,000 characters by default, and paging continues through cursor.
Storage sits in ~/.mcp_sequential_thinking or in the directory named by MCP_STORAGE_DIR, as plaintext SQLite. A local disk is required: network file systems and multiple hosts are out. With uv present, uvx mcp-sequential-thinking starts the server without a manual install. --ephemeral keeps everything in memory, and --health runs a diagnostic check.
What it helps with
- keep a record of how a hard task was worked through and pick it up after a restart
- separate evidence, assumptions and risks into distinct notes
- mark an older note as replaced by a newer one
- export one session to JSON and bring it back
- find a session by title when the ID is lost
Example prompts for the agent
- Create a session titled “Choose a local store” and record the evidence and the decision
- Add a note of kind
riskto session<id>about concurrent writers - Show the active notes of session
<id>inresumeview
How to install Sequential Thinking Working Notes
Platform CLI
claude mcp add --env MCP_STORAGE_DIR=<MCP_STORAGE_DIR> --transport stdio sequential-thinking-working-notes -- uvx mcp-sequential-thinkingReplace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from mcp-sequential-thinking <command>
Platform CLI
codex mcp add sequential-thinking-working-notes --env MCP_STORAGE_DIR=<MCP_STORAGE_DIR> -- uvx mcp-sequential-thinkingReplace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from mcp-sequential-thinking <command>
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"sequential-thinking-working-notes": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"mcp-sequential-thinking"
],
"env": {
"MCP_STORAGE_DIR": "<MCP_STORAGE_DIR>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from mcp-sequential-thinking <command>
Config file
{
"servers": {
"sequential-thinking-working-notes": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"mcp-sequential-thinking"
],
"env": {
"MCP_STORAGE_DIR": "<MCP_STORAGE_DIR>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from mcp-sequential-thinking <command>
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e MCP_STORAGE_DIR=<MCP_STORAGE_DIR> sequential-thinking-working-notes uvx mcp-sequential-thinkingReplace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from mcp-sequential-thinking <command>
Step 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 Sequential Thinking Working Notes
How do I install Sequential Thinking Working Notes in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add mcp-sequential-thinking -- uvx mcp-sequential-thinking. To point storage at your own directory, use claude mcp add --env MCP_STORAGE_DIR=<MCP_STORAGE_DIR> --transport stdio sequential-thinking-working-notes -- uvx mcp-sequential-thinking.
What does Sequential Thinking Working Notes do?
It keeps working notes, decisions and next actions for a task in SQLite and lets a session continue after a restart. It only records what the caller passes in.
Where is the data stored, and can several machines share it?
By default in ~/.mcp_sequential_thinking, or in the directory set by MCP_STORAGE_DIR. A local disk is needed; network file systems and multiple hosts are out.
