NEXO Brain
🐍 🏠 - Cognitive memory for AI agents with Atkinson-Shiffrin memory model (STM/LTM/sensory register), semantic
What is NEXO Brain?
NEXO Brain is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to 🐍 🏠 - cognitive memory for ai agents with atkinson-shiffrin memory model (stm/ltm/sensory register), semantic
🐍 🏠 - Cognitive memory for AI agents with Atkinson-Shiffrin memory model (STM/LTM/sensory register), semantic
This server falls under the Knowledge & Memory and Coding Agents categories on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- MCP protocol support
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
NPM
npx -y nexo-brainManual Installation
npx -y nexo-brainConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use NEXO Brain
NEXO Brain is a cognitive memory runtime for AI agents that transforms stateless MCP-compatible assistants (Claude Code, Codex, Claude Desktop, and others) into persistent cognitive partners using the Atkinson-Shiffrin memory model with short-term memory, long-term memory, and a sensory register. It exposes 150+ MCP tools for memory storage and recall, knowledge graph traversal, semantic search, durable workflow tracking, background job scheduling, overnight learning (Deep Sleep), local file indexing, and self-healing diagnostics. It is benchmarked on the LoCoMo long-term conversation dataset with an F1 score of 0.588, outperforming GPT-4 by 55%.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18 or higher (for running via npx) or npm installed
- macOS, Linux, or Windows (WSL supported for background services)
- An MCP-compatible client: Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Codex
- Optional: an Anthropic or OpenAI API key if you want the agent runtime features beyond memory
Install NEXO Brain via npx
Run NEXO Brain with npx to download and start the server without a global install. The -y flag accepts the download prompt automatically.
npx -y nexo-brainAdd to Claude Code
Register NEXO Brain as an MCP server in Claude Code using the CLI. It will be available in all future Claude Code sessions.
claude mcp add nexo-brain -- npx -y nexo-brainAdd to Claude Desktop
Add the server to your Claude Desktop config file at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json.
Run the onboarding
On first launch, NEXO Brain walks you through onboarding to set your name, preferred language, and agent preferences. Follow the prompts from your AI client.
Test memory storage and recall
Ask your AI assistant to remember something and then retrieve it in a new session to confirm persistent memory is working.
NEXO Brain Examples
Client configuration
Add this block to your MCP client config file to register NEXO Brain.
{
"mcpServers": {
"nexo-brain": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "nexo-brain"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Use NEXO Brain's cognitive memory and workflow tools through your AI agent.
- "Remember that our API key for the staging environment expires on December 31st."
- "What do you remember about the project we discussed last week?"
- "Store a memory: I prefer Python for data scripts and TypeScript for web APIs."
- "Show me the knowledge graph of everything you know about my current project."
- "Run a doctor diagnostic to check the health of the NEXO Brain runtime."Troubleshooting NEXO Brain
Memory is not persisting between sessions
Confirm that the NEXO Brain MCP server is registered and running before your session starts. Check with claude mcp list (for Claude Code) or by inspecting your MCP client config. The server must start successfully for the SQLite memory database to be written.
Server fails to start with a Node.js version error
NEXO Brain requires Node.js 18 or higher. Run node --version to check. Upgrade using nvm: nvm install 18 && nvm use 18, then retry.
Background services (Deep Sleep, cron jobs) not running on macOS
NEXO Brain's background automation features require Full Disk Access for the terminal app on macOS. Grant access in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access, then restart the server.
Frequently Asked Questions about NEXO Brain
What is NEXO Brain?
NEXO Brain is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that 🐍 🏠 - cognitive memory for ai agents with atkinson-shiffrin memory model (stm/ltm/sensory register), semantic It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install NEXO Brain?
Install via npm with the command: npx -y nexo-brain. Then add the server configuration to your AI client's JSON config file (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json).
Which AI clients work with NEXO Brain?
NEXO Brain works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is NEXO Brain free to use?
Yes, NEXO Brain is open source and available under the NOASSERTION license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
NEXO Brain Alternatives — Similar Knowledge & Memory Servers
Looking for alternatives to NEXO Brain? Here are other popular knowledge & memory servers you can use with Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
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Everos
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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 NEXO Brain 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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