Locus MCP Server

Hierarchical markdown memory palace for AI agents — structured palace navigation via MCP tools.

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Locus MCP server?

Hierarchical markdown memory palace for AI agents — structured palace navigation via MCP tools. That is what the locus mcp server brings to an AI assistant: the same capability, reachable through the Model Context Protocol rather than a separate app or dashboard.

The short version

Hierarchical markdown-based memory system for autonomous AI agents. Each directory is a room (locus) in the palace, containing specific knowledge navigated on demand. Named for the atomic unit of the Method of Loci.

The tools it exposes

The server publishes 14 tools. What each one is for:

  • Skill — Command
  • locus — /locus
  • locus-consolidate — /locus-consolidate
  • locus-audit — /locus-audit
  • locus-feedback — /locus-feedback
  • locus-release — /locus-release
  • locus-security — /locus-security
  • locus-palace-init — /locus-palace-init
  • memory_list — Returns INDEX.md (no args) or lists a room's files
  • memory_read — Reads any file in the palace
  • memory_write — Atomically writes a file (guarded — cannot write to _metrics/, sessions/, .sig/, .security/)
  • memory_search — Full-text search across the palace (ripgrep or Python fallback)

Getting it running

Installation goes through your MCP client rather than a global install: point it at locus-mcp on PyPI and it is fetched when the client starts. The copy-paste blocks for Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor are further down this page.

What it needs from you

Configuration is passed through the environment: LOCUS_PALACE, FASTMCP_HOST. Treat anything key-shaped as a real credential — scope it to the minimum the server needs, and rotate it if it ever lands in a shared config.

How it compares

Plenty of knowledge and memory servers cover similar ground. The differences that matter in practice are scope of access and how much setup stands between you and a working tool call. Locus's toolset — Skill, locus, locus-consolidate and 11 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by EDKarlsson; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

SyncDev reviews every entry in this directory against the project's own documentation before publishing, and revisits them as servers change.

Things to watch

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • With 14 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Locus.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
SkillCommand
locus/locus
locus-consolidate/locus-consolidate
locus-audit/locus-audit
locus-feedback/locus-feedback
locus-release/locus-release
locus-security/locus-security
locus-palace-init/locus-palace-init
memory_listReturns INDEX.md (no args) or lists a room's files
memory_readReads any file in the palace
memory_writeAtomically writes a file (guarded — cannot write to _metrics/, sessions/, .sig/, .security/)
memory_searchFull-text search across the palace (ripgrep or Python fallback)
memory_batchReads up to 20 palace files in a single call — use for multi-room loads
MilestoneStatus

How to install the Locus MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "locus": {
      "command": "locus-mcp",
      "args": ["--palace", "/path/to/palace"]
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
LOCUS_PALACEConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
FASTMCP_HOSTEndpoint or connection string the server talks to.Optional

Example prompts to try

  • Use Locus to Skill.
  • Use Locus to locus.
  • Use Locus to locus-consolidate.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Locus to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 14 tools (Skill, locus, locus-consolidate, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Locus directly.