What is the key difference between Dark Memory MCP and Memory Kernel?

Dark Memory MCP belongs to the Databases category with local stdio execution, while Memory Kernel belongs to the Databases category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Dark Memory MCP or Memory Kernel in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are Dark Memory MCP and Memory Kernel free or paid?

Dark Memory MCP operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Memory Kernel operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Dark Memory MCP lists 57 tools with 2 views and 1 GitHub stars. Memory Kernel lists 6 tools with 1 views and 3 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Dark Memory MCP and Memory Kernel together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Dark Memory MCP vs Memory Kernel

In-depth architectural comparison of the Dark Memory MCP and Memory Kernel MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

Dark Memory MCP

Databases · Local stdio

Quality: 59/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Memory Kernel

Databases · Local stdio

Quality: 37/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Dark Memory MCP if you need specialized Databases tools running via a local process. Choose Memory Kernel if your workspace requires Databases integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Dark Memory MCP when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Databases domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: dark_memory_project_create, dark_memory_session_start, dark_memory_session_resume.

Explore Dark Memory MCP Details

Choose Memory Kernel when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Databases domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: SQLite FTS5 local retrieval, Structured memory records, Deterministic search and context packing.

Explore Memory Kernel Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Dark Memory MCP Databases	Memory Kernel Databases
Summary	Persistent memory + vibe-loop engine for AI agents. Single Go binary, SQLite-backed, stdio MCP.	Local-first memory for AI agents: SQLite FTS5, deterministic recall, no vector DB, no cloud.
Category & Scope	Databases	Databases
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Dark Memory MCP Tools (57)

dark_memory_project_create

Create a new project (INV-7 tenant primitive). Idempotent on project_id — re-creating an existing project returns the existing row. The 'default' project is seeded on Open and cannot be re-created (returns ErrAlreadyExists).

dark_memory_session_start

Start an operational session. Returns the session_id. Use session_close to terminate.

dark_memory_session_resume

Resume an existing session by session_id. Validates the session exists, sets the active project to match, and returns the session row.

dark_memory_session_status

Return the current state of a session (id, operator, project, status, timestamps). Read-only. Includes closing_soon + seconds_until_close so harnesses can warn before the sweeper closes an idle session.

dark_memory_session_close

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

Dark Memory MCP Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "dark-memory-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@opitacode/dark-memory-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Memory Kernel Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "memory-kernel": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "amormorri-memory-kernel"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Dark Memory MCP is categorized under Databases and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Memory Kernel belongs to Databases using local stdio subprocess. Select Dark Memory MCP when you need capabilities focused on databases and Memory Kernel when you require tools for databases.