COAIA Memory

MCP server for structural tension charts based on Robert Fritz's creative methodology

Extends @modelcontextprotocol/server-memory with structural tension charts - a different orientation from problem-solving, focused on bringing desired outcomes into being through structural dynamics.

Quick Start

npx coaia-memory --memory-path ./charts.jsonl

Configuration

Minimal Setup (STC Tools Only - Default)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "coaia-memory": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "coaia-memory", "--memory-path", "/path/to/charts.jsonl"]
    }
  }
}

Exposes 12 tools: list_active_charts, create_structural_tension_chart, add_action_step, remove_action_step, telescope_action_step, mark_action_complete, get_chart_progress, update_action_progress, update_current_reality, update_desired_outcome, update_action_step_title, init_llm_guidance

Full Setup (STC + Knowledge Graph Tools)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "coaia-memory": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "coaia-memory", "--memory-path", "/path/to/charts.jsonl"],
      "env": {
        "COAIA_TOOLS": "STC_TOOLS,KG_TOOLS,init_llm_guidance"
      }
    }
  }
}

Adds 9 KG tools: create_entities, create_relations, add_observations, delete_entities, delete_observations, delete_relations, search_nodes, open_nodes, read_graph

Environment Variables

| Variable | Description | Default | |----------|-------------|---------| | COAIA_TOOLS | Tool groups/names to enable (comma/space separated) | STC_TOOLS,init_llm_guidance | | COAIA_DISABLED_TOOLS | Tools to exclude from enabled set | - |

Tool Groups:

• STC_TOOLS - Structural tension chart tools (11)
• KG_TOOLS - Knowledge graph tools (9)
• CORE_TOOLS - Essential tools only (4): list_active_charts, create_structural_tension_chart, add_action_step, mark_action_complete

Core Concepts

Structural Tension

┌─────────────────┐                    ┌─────────────────┐
│ Current Reality │ ══ TENSION ══════> │ Desired Outcome │
│ (where you are) │                    │ (what to create)│
└─────────────────┘                    └─────────────────┘
         │                                      ▲
         │       Strategic Secondary Choices    │
         └──────────────────────────────────────┘
        (action steps understood in context of tension)

• Desired Outcome: What you want to CREATE (not fix/solve). Specific, quantified where possible, avoiding comparative terms (more, better, less).
• Current Reality: Honest factual assessment - objective facts only, no readiness assumptions ("ready to begin" destroys tension).
• Structural Tension: The dynamic force between current reality and desired outcome that naturally seeks resolution. NOT a gap to fill, but a generative force.

Action Steps: NOT a To-Do List

Critical distinction: Action steps are strategic secondary choices that support the primary goal, NOT tasks to check off.

They are:

• Understood in the context of structural tension
• Related to each other as part of an overview
• Strategic actions designed to enable creating the goal
• Answers to: "If we took these steps, would we achieve this result?"

Three types of actions (use appropriately):

1. Overview actions - Strategic steps early in process (what we put on charts)
2. Experimental actions - Learning, exploring, "sketches before the painting"
3. Refinement actions - Polishing near completion (too early = stifled energy)

Test question: "If we took these steps, would we achieve this result?" If No → add more steps. If Yes → done.

Goal Refinement Principles (Robert Fritz)

| Principle | Wrong | Right | |-----------|-------|-------| | Quantify | "Increased business" | "5 new business clients" | | No comparatives | "Better health" | "Very good health" | | Create, not solve | "Overcome weight problem" | "I weigh 150 pounds" | | Result, not process | "Run 4 miles daily" | "Well-toned, healthy body" | | Specific, not vague | "Improve my skills" | "Mastery of Photoshop" |

Creator Moment of Truth (Review Process)

When assessing progress, use this four-step process:

1. Acknowledge: What was expected vs. what was delivered? (facts only)
2. Analyze: How did it happen? (step-by-step, not blame)
3. Plan: How will I do it differently next time?
4. Feedback: How will I track the changes?

This transforms discrepancies into learning opportunities, not failures.

Usage Examples

Create a chart:

{
  "desiredOutcome": "Launch personal website",
  "currentReality": "Have domain, no design or content yet",
  "dueDate": "2025-03-01T00:00:00Z",
  "actionSteps": ["Design homepage", "Write about page", "Deploy to hosting"]
}

Add action step to existing chart:

{
  "parentChartId": "chart_1234567890",
  "actionStepTitle": "Set up CI/CD pipeline",
  "currentReality": "Manual deployment only, no automation experience"
}

Mark action complete:

{ "actionStepName": "chart_1234567890_desired_outcome" }

Development

git clone https://github.com/jgwill/coaia-memory
cd coaia-memory
npm install
npm run build

Credits

• Author: J.Guillaume D.-Isabelle (@jgwill)
• Methodology: Robert Fritz - Structural Tension
• Foundation: @modelcontextprotocol/server-memory
• License: MIT