MCPUpdated 2026-05-30

MCP Setup

Connect RetainDB to MCP clients and expose the company brain to agents.

Applies to: RetainDB MCP

RetainDB MCP gives agent hosts direct tools for company knowledge, memory, source status, and handoffs.

Use it for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode, Windsurf, Cline, or any MCP-compatible client.

Install By Config

Most hosts can run the MCP server through npx:

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "retaindb": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@retaindb/mcp-server@latest"],
      "env": {
        "RETAINDB_API_KEY": "rdb_...",
        "RETAINDB_API_URL": "https://api.retaindb.com",
        "RETAINDB_PROJECT": "production"
      }
    }
  }
}

Merge this into your existing MCP config. Do not replace other servers.

Tool Surface

RetainDB MCP exposes the same core product surfaces as the dashboard and HTTP API.

Company Brain And Sources

Tool	Use it for
`context`	ask the company brain
`search`	semantic search across indexed sources and local code
`index`	create a source from the agent host
`list_sources`	inspect source status before relying on answers
`update_source`	update source config and optionally resync
`read_context_file`	read `/context/company.md` or another agent filesystem file
`list_context_files`	browse agent filesystem paths

index is useful for agent-driven setup, but account-backed tools still need valid credentials or a connected account. For normal users, prefer the dashboard Sources and Connected Accounts flows.

Memory

Tool	Use it for
`remember`	store durable facts, preferences, and corrections
`list_memories`	review stored memories before deleting or correcting
`forget`	delete incorrect memory
`compress`	store older conversation context as memory and keep recent turns

Agent Work

Tool	Use it for
`agent_event`	record decision, failure, tool result, constraint, update, or observation
`agent_context`	retrieve task, agent, project, session, and user memory
`agent_handoff`	create a handoff packet for another agent
`agent_handoff_resume`	resume a handoff into a new session

Project And Local Code Helpers

Tool	Use it for
`list_projects`	find the right project when multiple projects exist
`grep`	text search local files from the agent runtime
`read`	read a local file after `grep` finds it

First Verification

After restarting your MCP host, ask:

txt

List RetainDB sources and tell me which ones are ready.

Then:

txt

Ask RetainDB what the company brain knows about billing retries. Cite the source names if available.

Then:

txt

Read /context/company.md from RetainDB.

If these work, your agent can see RetainDB.

Suggested Agent Instruction

Add a short instruction to your agent or project rules:

txt

Use RetainDB when the task depends on company knowledge, project history, prior decisions, or user memory.
Call list_sources before relying on source data.
If RetainDB has no relevant context, say what is missing instead of guessing.

When To Use Which Tool

Need	Tool
answer from company docs/repos/files	`context`
check whether a source is usable	`list_sources`
create a manual source from the agent host	`index`
inspect agent-readable summary files	`read_context_file`
remember a user preference or correction	`remember`
record important agent work	`agent_event`
pass work to another agent	`agent_handoff`
search local files	`grep`, then `read`

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Fix
tools do not appear	restart host and confirm MCP config path
401	verify `RETAINDB_API_KEY` is in the MCP env
empty answers	call `list_sources`; check `RETAINDB_PROJECT`
stale source answers	sync or reconnect the source
agent ignores RetainDB	add an instruction that tells it when to call RetainDB

Next: Agent host snippets, Connect Agents, or Company Brain API.

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