In-depth architectural comparison of the NoteDiscovery and Codebase Memory MCP 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
NoteDiscovery
Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio
Quality: 53/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required
Codebase Memory MCP
Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio
Quality: 73/100 (Great) | Auth: No auth required
Verdict Summary: Choose NoteDiscovery if you need specialized Knowledge & Memory tools running via a local process. Choose Codebase Memory MCP if your workspace requires Knowledge & Memory integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.
Which MCP Server Should You Choose?
Choose NoteDiscovery when:
You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
You have access to required keys: NOTEDISCOVERY_URL.
Primary tools included: Search and read Markdown notes, Create and edit notes, Apply tags and organize folders.
Self-hosted plain-markdown knowledge base with a built-in MCP server. Lets Claude Desktop, Cursor, and any MCP client search, read, create, edit, tag, and template notes — same vault that powers the web UI. Pure-stdlib client, no extra deps, MIT-licensed. Can run in Docker.
Code-intelligence engine that indexes a repo into a persistent knowledge graph — functions, classes, call chains, HTTP routes, cross-service links. 159 languages via tree-sitter + Hybrid LSP, sub-ms structural queries, 99% fewer tokens than grep. Single static binary, zero dependencies, 100% local. npx codebase-memory-mcp
Category & Scope
Tools & Capabilities Breakdown
NoteDiscovery Tools (6)
Search and read Markdown notes
Create and edit notes
Apply tags and organize folders
Create notes from templates
Explore connected notes
Run through Docker
Codebase Memory MCP Tools (17)
index_repository
Index a repository. full/moderate add semantics; fast omits them; cross-repo-intelligence links services. Reports coverage gaps.
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).
NoteDiscovery is categorized under Knowledge & Memory and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Codebase Memory MCP belongs to Knowledge & Memory using local stdio subprocess. Select NoteDiscovery when you need capabilities focused on knowledge & memory and Codebase Memory MCP when you require tools for knowledge & memory.
Find symbols via BM25 query, regex name/qn filters, or semantic_query. Rows keep qn/file/lines and in/out over CALLS/USAGE/CALL_REFERENCE/INHERITS/IMPLEMENTS.
query_graph
Read-only Cypher for multi-hop, aggregation, complexity, or cross-service analysis. Default: 200 visible rows with exact/lower-bound totals and truncation; continue safely with next_cursor. graph=missed is a file tree of flagged coverage gaps; absence is not proof of completeness. Use get_graph_schema(diagnostics=full) for properties.
trace_path
Trace callers/callees, data flow, or cross-service paths. Defaults exclude tests and resolver evidence. Rows keep qn/hop with explicit totals, relations, and continuations.
get_code_snippet
Read a search_graph symbol. auto bounds source and outlines large containers; full restores up to 500 lines. Source/outline pages continue; coverage_note marks gaps.
get_file_outline
Declaration outline of one exact repository-relative file: optional exact label filter, source order, exact total/offset/limit paging; file/folder/container nodes excluded.
get_graph_schema
Get node-label and edge-type counts. diagnostics=full also lists queryable properties.
compare_graphs
Compare two indexed snapshots: deterministic target-only additions and base-only removals of stable node/edge identities; each set capped by limit and a 512 KiB budget with exact totals and truncation reasons.