@continuity/mcp

Continuity MCP server — persistent AI memory for your codebase via the Model Context Protocol.

This npm package ships only the MCP server. License activation, repo init, journal maintenance, and shell logging live in @continuity/cli (continuity bin).

Requires Node.js 18+.

License: Proprietary software — not open source. Decision logging via MCP is free; premium MCP tools require Pro. Purchase at app.hackerware.co/pricing. Use @continuity/cli@^3.5.0 for license activation. Full license terms.

npm ecosystem

| Package | Global bin | Role | |---------|------------|------| | @continuity/mcp (this package) | continuity-mcp | MCP server — wire into Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Cline, etc. | | @continuity/cli | continuity | CLI — license activate, init, log, search, mcp setup, … | | @continuity/core | — | Shared library (journal, handoffs, licensing) — dependency, not end-user facing | | VS Code extension | — | Bundles this server + sidebar UI + passive auto-capture (marketplace) |

Both @continuity/mcp and @continuity/cli read/write the same license cache at ~/.continuity/license-cache.json.

Install

Recommended (CLI + MCP — one command):

npm install -g @continuity/cli@^3.5.9

This installs @continuity/mcp as a dependency. You get both bins:

which continuity       # → @continuity/cli
which continuity-mcp   # → @continuity/mcp

MCP server only (no CLI — e.g. server-only CI):

npm install -g @continuity/mcp

Quick start

1. Activate Pro (optional)

Use the CLI bin, not continuity-mcp:

continuity license activate YOUR-LEMONSQUEEZY-KEY
continuity license status

License state is stored in ~/.continuity/license-cache.json and picked up by the MCP server on the next tool call.

2. Initialize the repo (first time)

cd /path/to/your/repo
continuity init

Or use the bundled project helper:

continuity-setup /path/to/your/repo

(continuity-setup writes a starter .mcp.json; for global installs prefer the JSON below with continuity-mcp + WORKSPACE_ROOT.)

3. Configure your MCP client

Option A — CLI auto-setup (easiest):

continuity mcp setup

Option B — manual JSON (Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, etc.):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "continuity": {
      "command": "continuity-mcp",
      "args": [],
      "env": {
        "WORKSPACE_ROOT": "/absolute/path/to/your/repo"
      }
    }
  }
}

WORKSPACE_ROOT must be an absolute path to the repository Continuity should read and write.

Restart your MCP client after changing config.

4. Use in chat

@continuity search for authentication decisions
@continuity what changed since last session?

Free vs Pro

| Surface | Free | Pro / active trial | |---------|------|-------------------| | Decision logging (log_decision) | ✅ Always free | ✅ | | Search & read (search_decisions, get_quick_context, …) | ✅ | ✅ | | Premium MCP tools (code intelligence, graph, dream, exports, browser/perf tools, …) | 🔒 | ✅ |

Decision logging is never paywalled — intentional product policy. The paid surface is premium MCP write/analysis tools, not memory capture.

Without a license or active trial, the server runs in expired/free mode: reads work; premium tools return an upgrade message.

Tool profiles (Essential / Standard / Full) control how many tools are exposed per client — the VS Code extension manages this automatically; npm-only users configure via client MCP settings.

VS Code extension path

The Continuity Ultimate extension bundles this server, runs MCP health repair, and syncs trial/license state. The npm packages above are for MCP-only workflows without VS Code.

Verify your install (maintainers)

From a clone of the Continuity repo:

bash scripts/smoke-npm-tarball.sh

Troubleshooting

MCP server not connecting

• Confirm continuity-mcp is on PATH: which continuity-mcp
• Do not point MCP config at continuity — that is the CLI binary
• Set WORKSPACE_ROOT to an absolute path
• Restart the MCP client after config changes
• Check .continuity/mcp-health.json in the workspace

Premium tools blocked

continuity license status
continuity license activate YOUR-KEY

Cache may be stale (7-day offline grace applies).

Wrong bin in config

| Symptom | Fix | |---------|-----| | Server starts but no tools | Use continuity-mcp, not continuity | | continuity mcp start vs global MCP | Extension/CLI may spawn bundled copy; global clients need continuity-mcp on PATH |

License

Proprietary — Copyright © Hackerware. See LICENSE and Software License Terms.

• Free: log_decision, search, read context, and other documented free MCP tools.
• Pro: premium write/analysis MCP tools — activate with @continuity/cli@^3.5.0: continuity license activate YOUR-KEY.
• Pricing: app.hackerware.co/pricing