Cairn Mcp
by jasondostalcommunityv0.21.2
7
2
Cairn is a self-hosted memory and orchestration layer for AI agents and humans, allowing users to store and retrieve information across sessions and projects.
From the registry: Persistent memory for AI agents and humans. Store, search, and discover patterns.
Install & configure
Prerequisites
- requiredDocker Compose stackPull docker-compose.yml and start the four Cairn containers (cairn, cairn-ui, cairn-db, cairn-graph).
https://github.com/jasondostal/cairn-mcp$ curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jasondostal/cairn-mcp/main/docker-compose.yml && docker compose up -d - requiredLLM backendConfigure an LLM backend (default Ollama via host.docker.internal; Bedrock, Gemini, OpenAI-compatible also supported).
Install in your client
Paste into the AI you're chatting with — it will figure out the rest
Please install the `cairn-mcp` MCP server into my current AI client (that's you).
Required prerequisites (do these first if not already done):
- **Docker Compose stack** — Pull docker-compose.yml and start the four Cairn containers (cairn, cairn-ui, cairn-db, cairn-graph). Run: `curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jasondostal/cairn-mcp/main/docker-compose.yml && docker compose up -d` (https://github.com/jasondostal/cairn-mcp)
- **LLM backend** — Configure an LLM backend (default Ollama via host.docker.internal; Bedrock, Gemini, OpenAI-compatible also supported).
Canonical MCP server config (HTTP transport):
- url: `http://localhost:8000/mcp`
Note: Self-hosted only; clients connect to the Cairn container's HTTP MCP endpoint. Setup wizard at scripts/setup.sh walks through env, DB, and IDE config.
Add this MCP server to my current client's config in the correct format for you. If you need secrets or credentials I haven't provided, ASK me — do not invent values or leave raw placeholders. After adding it, tell me how to verify the server is connected.Note: Self-hosted only; clients connect to the Cairn container's HTTP MCP endpoint. Setup wizard at scripts/setup.sh walks through env, DB, and IDE config.
Tools (12)
store
Save a memory with auto-enrichment.
search
Find memories using vector and keyword searches.
recall
Get full content for specific memory IDs.
orient
Boot a session with rules and recent activity.
rules
Load behavioral guardrails.
beliefs
Manage durable epistemic state.
work_items
Create, claim, and complete tasks.
working_memory
Capture ephemeral thoughts.
projects
Manage project documents.
code_query
Perform structural queries on code.
arch_check
Validate architecture boundary rules.
dispatch
Dispatch work to a background agent.
Environment variables
CAIRN_DB_PASSrequiredDatabase password.CAIRN_AUTH_JWT_SECRETrequiredJWT signing secret (required when auth enabled).Packages
ghcr.io/jasondostal/cairn-mcp:0.21.2
ocitransport: stdio
Details
- Language
- Python
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Released
- Feb 11, 2026
- Last commit
- May 9, 2026
- Registry name
- io.github.jasondostal/cairn-mcp