synapse-memory-mcp

Persistent memory for Claude Desktop and Claude Code via the Synapse API.

Installation

npm install -g synapse-memory-mcp

Claude Desktop Configuration

Add to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "synapse": {
      "command": "synapse-memory-mcp",
      "env": {
        "SYNAPSE_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Optional: Custom Agent ID

By default, memories are stored under claude-desktop. To namespace memories by agent or project, add SYNAPSE_AGENT_ID:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "synapse": {
      "command": "synapse-memory-mcp",
      "env": {
        "SYNAPSE_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here",
        "SYNAPSE_AGENT_ID": "my-project"
      }
    }
  }
}

npx (No Global Install)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "synapse": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "synapse-memory-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "SYNAPSE_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Note: npx has a slower cold start due to package resolution on first run.

Make Claude Actually Use It

Installing the package makes the tools available — but Claude won't use them automatically. Add this to your Claude system prompt (Settings → Claude.ai → Custom instructions, or your project's system prompt) to make it actually never forget:

You have access to Synapse memory tools. Use them as follows:

1. At the START of every conversation: call synapse_recall with query="recent context" and synapse_recent with limit=5 to retrieve what you know.
2. During conversation: whenever the user shares something important — their name, company, preferences, decisions, project details — call synapse_remember to save it immediately.
3. When asked "what do you remember?" or "what do you know about me?": call synapse_recall and synapse_recent to retrieve and summarize.

Never wait to be asked. If something is worth knowing next time, save it now.

Without this, Claude has the tools but won't proactively use them. With it, the memory is automatic.

Get an API Key

Free at https://synapse.by-kit.com

Tools

synapse_remember

Store a memory in Synapse.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |---|---|---|---| | content | string (max 60,000) | ✅ | The content to remember | | title | string (max 200) | — | Title; auto-derived from content if omitted | | type | enum | — | fact (default), decision, exchange, deliverable, open_item, signal | | client | string | — | Optional client/project label |

synapse_recall

Search memories by keyword.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |---|---|---|---| | query | string (max 500) | ✅ | Full-text search query | | limit | number (1–50) | — | Max results (default 10) | | type | enum | — | Filter by memory type |

synapse_recent

Fetch the most recent memories.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |---|---|---|---| | limit | number (1–50) | — | Max results (default 10) |

Requirements

• Node.js 18 or later (uses native fetch)

License

MIT