# Vault Cortex

Connects an Obsidian vault to an AI agent for search, task handling, memory, and file access. Useful when you want an agent to work with notes directly.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed · ★ 31
- Author: aliasunder
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/aliasunder/vault-cortex
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/vault-cortex

## What it does

Vault Cortex connects an Obsidian vault to an AI agent over MCP. It searches notes, reads and edits files, handles tasks, and keeps structured memory. Search combines text matches with semantic results; the server also works with Obsidian links, tags, and properties.

You need Docker and an Obsidian vault, or a folder containing `.md` files. The CLI requires Node.js `22.12` or later. The server reads files from disk, so Obsidian does not need to be open. One deployment detail matters: the CLI and Docker Compose manage containers separately, so use the same method for later updates.

## Requirements
- Needs: Docker
- Environment variables: `MCP_AUTH_TOKEN`, `PUBLIC_URL`, `EMBEDDING_ENABLED`, `RERANK_MODE`, `WINDOWS_MODE`, `MEMORY_ENABLED`, `FILE_TOOLS_ENABLED`, `READONLY_MODE`, `DISABLED_TOOLS`, `MEMORY_DIR` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Install**
- The MCP registry has no launch command for it: see the repository README

## When to use it
- find a note by meaning when its wording differs from the query
- read or edit a file in an Obsidian vault
- filter tasks by status, date, or priority
- save a dated entry to structured memory

## Example prompts
- Find notes about my previous trip and summarize the route from my vault.
- Show high-priority tasks and move the selected task to another status.
- Save this conclusion to memory with today's date.

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md