Robrain MCP Server

Self-hosted decision memory for AI coding agents; warns before re-proposing a rejected approach.

Remote serverstreamable-http

What is the Robrain MCP server?

Self-hosted decision memory for AI coding agents; warns before re-proposing a rejected approach. The robrain mcp server wraps that behind the Model Context Protocol, so an assistant can use it rather than through you.

What it actually does

RoBrain isn't just another memory layer — it's the brain that helps you and your agents make better decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

Adding it to your client

Being a remote server, there is no local install. You register the endpoint with your client, authorise it once, and the tools appear.

Configuration

You will need 3 environment variables: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, PERCEPTION_API_KEY. The server will not start without them, which is usually why the tools fail to appear on a first run. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than in a file you might commit.

  • Docker + Docker Compose (runs Postgres and Perception locally) - Node.js with pnpm (build and CLI) - An LLM key for the classifier — Anthropic Haiku or OpenAI — or a local OpenAI-compatible server (see Fully-local LLM) - An embedding key (e.g. OpenAI) — or the same local server for embeddings - No data leaves your machine in self-hosted

Caveats

  • Your data travels to the provider's service, so the usual questions apply about what you send and what they retain.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • MCP clients confirm each tool call by default. Leave that on until you have watched what the robrain mcp server does with a few real requests.

When to reach for it

Among the knowledge and memory options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. It is maintained by adelinamart; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against Robrain's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

How to install the Robrain MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "robrain": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "robrain"],
      "env": {
        "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "your-value",
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-value",
        "PERCEPTION_API_KEY": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Configuration

  • Docker + Docker Compose (runs Postgres and Perception locally) - Node.js with pnpm (build and CLI) - An LLM key for the classifier — Anthropic Haiku or OpenAI — or a local OpenAI-compatible server (see Fully-local LLM) - An embedding key (e.g. OpenAI) — or the same local server for embeddings - No data leaves your machine in self-hosted
VariableDescriptionRequired
ANTHROPIC_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
OPENAI_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
PERCEPTION_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes

Frequently asked questions

It connects Robrain to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Robrain directly.