Iwe
Markdown memory system for you and your AI agent
What is Iwe?
Iwe is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to markdown memory system for you and your ai agent
Markdown memory system for you and your AI agent
This server falls under the Knowledge & Memory category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Markdown memory system for you and your AI agent
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx iweConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Iwe
Iwe is a Markdown-native personal knowledge management system and MCP server written in Rust, designed to give both humans and AI agents structured access to a local notes workspace. It exposes a command-line interface with eight operations — including fuzzy find, hierarchical retrieval, subtree squashing, section extraction, and automatic link refactoring on rename — and integrates with editors like Helix via an LSP server. The `iwec` MCP client binary lets Claude Desktop, Cursor, and Windsurf query and manipulate your notes through natural language.
Prerequisites
- Rust toolchain or Homebrew (macOS/Linux) for installation
- A directory of Markdown notes to use as the workspace
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf
- Basic familiarity with Markdown and knowledge management concepts
Install iwe
Install the iwe suite — the core `iwe` CLI, the `iwes` LSP server, and the `iwec` MCP client — using Homebrew or Cargo.
# Homebrew (macOS/Linux)
brew tap iwe-org/iwe
brew install iwe
# Or via Cargo
cargo install iwe iwes iwecInitialize your notes workspace
Navigate to the directory that contains (or will contain) your Markdown notes and run `iwe init` to set up the workspace metadata.
cd ~/notes
iwe initTest basic CLI operations
Verify the installation by running a fuzzy search across your notes and retrieving a note with its hierarchy context.
iwe find auth
iwe retrieve --key authentication --depth 2
iwe treeConfigure Claude Desktop
Add the `iwec` MCP server to your Claude Desktop configuration file. Replace `~/notes` with the absolute path to your workspace.
Restart Claude Desktop and verify connection
Restart Claude Desktop. The iwe server should appear in the connected tools list. Ask Claude to list or search your notes to confirm the integration works.
Iwe Examples
Client configuration
Add this block to `claude_desktop_config.json`. Replace `~/notes` with the absolute path to your Markdown workspace.
{
"mcpServers": {
"iwe": {
"command": "iwec",
"args": ["--project", "/Users/yourname/notes"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Sample prompts to use with iwe connected to Claude Desktop.
- "Search my notes for anything related to authentication and summarize what I have."
- "Show me the hierarchical structure of my project notes."
- "Retrieve my note on OAuth2 with two levels of sub-notes."
- "Create a new note titled 'API Design Patterns' with these key points: [your points]."
- "Rename my note 'old-project' to 'legacy-api' and update all links automatically."Troubleshooting Iwe
`iwec` command not found after installation
Ensure the Cargo bin directory (`~/.cargo/bin`) is in your PATH, or that the Homebrew prefix is on your PATH. Run `which iwec` to verify. If missing, re-run `cargo install iwec` or `brew install iwe`.
Claude Desktop shows iwe as connected but find/retrieve return empty results
Verify the `--project` path in the config is an absolute path (not `~/notes`) and that the directory was initialized with `iwe init`. Confirm your notes are `.md` files directly inside that directory.
LSP server (iwes) crashes in Helix or another editor
Update to the latest version with `brew upgrade iwe` or `cargo install iwe iwes iwec`. Check that the editor's LSP config points to the `iwes` binary, not the `iwe` CLI.
Frequently Asked Questions about Iwe
What is Iwe?
Iwe is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that markdown memory system for you and your ai agent It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Iwe?
Follow the installation instructions on the Iwe GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Iwe?
Iwe works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Iwe free to use?
Yes, Iwe is open source and available under the Apache-2.0 license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
Iwe Alternatives — Similar Knowledge & Memory Servers
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Browse More Knowledge & Memory MCP Servers
Explore all knowledge & memory servers available in the MCPgee directory. Each server includes setup guides for Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
Set Up Iwe in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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