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How to Integrate with MCP (Model Context Protocol)

Use SochDB as persistent memory for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients.

Problem​

You want to give your LLM agent (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Goose, etc.) persistent memory using SochDB.

Solution​

1. Install SochDB MCP Server​

# Build from source
cd sochdb
cargo build --release -p sochdb-mcp

# Or install binary
cp target/release/sochdb-mcp /usr/local/bin/

2. Configure Claude Desktop​

Add to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or equivalent:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sochdb": {
      "command": "sochdb-mcp",
      "args": ["--db", "~/.sochdb/claude_memory"],
      "env": {
        "RUST_LOG": "sochdb=info"
      }
    }
  }
}

3. Configure Cursor​

Add to Cursor MCP settings:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sochdb": {
      "command": "/usr/local/bin/sochdb-mcp",
      "args": ["--db", "~/.sochdb/cursor_memory"]
    }
  }
}

4. Configure Goose​

Add to ~/.config/goose/mcp.json:

{
  "servers": {
    "sochdb": {
      "command": "sochdb-mcp",
      "args": ["--db", "~/.sochdb/goose_memory"]
    }
  }
}

Available MCP Tools​

Once configured, your LLM has access to these tools:

sochdb_put​

Store a value at a path.

Tool: sochdb_put
Arguments:
  path: "users/alice/preferences"
  value: '{"theme": "dark", "language": "en"}'

sochdb_get​

Retrieve a value by path.

Tool: sochdb_get
Arguments:
  path: "users/alice/preferences"

sochdb_delete​

Delete a key.

Tool: sochdb_delete
Arguments:
  path: "users/alice/old_data"

sochdb_query​

Execute a SochQL query. Returns results in TOON format.

Tool: sochdb_query
Arguments:
  query: "SELECT id,name FROM users WHERE score > 80"
  format: "toon"
  limit: 100

sochdb_context_query​

Assemble LLM context with token budgeting.

Tool: sochdb_context_query
Arguments:
  sections:
    - name: "user_prefs"
      kind: "get"
      path: "users/alice/preferences"
      priority: 1
    - name: "history"
      kind: "last"
      table: "messages"
      top_k: 10
      priority: 2
  token_budget: 4096
  format: "toon"
  truncation: "tail_drop"

sochdb_list_tables​

List all tables with semantic metadata.

Tool: sochdb_list_tables
Arguments:
  include_metadata: true

sochdb_describe​

Get detailed schema for a table.

Tool: sochdb_describe
Arguments:
  table: "users"

Memory Tools​

The MCP server also provides specialized memory tools:

  • memory_search_episodes - Search for similar past episodes by semantic similarity
  • memory_get_episode_timeline - Get the event timeline for an episode

Example: Agent with Persistent Memory​

Here's how an agent might use SochDB for memory:

Storing Conversation​

User: Remember that I prefer dark mode

Claude thinks: I should store this preference
Claude uses tool: sochdb_put
  path: "user/preferences/theme"
  value: "dark"

Claude: I've noted your preference for dark mode. I'll remember this for future sessions.

Recalling Information​

User: What theme do I prefer?

Claude thinks: Let me check stored preferences
Claude uses tool: sochdb_get
  path: "user/preferences/theme"
  result: "dark"

Claude: You prefer dark mode.

Building Context​

User: Summarize what we discussed yesterday

Claude thinks: I need to retrieve conversation history
Claude uses tool: sochdb_context_query
  sections:
    - name: "history"
      kind: "last"
      table: "conversations"
      top_k: 20
      priority: 1
  token_budget: 2000

Claude: Based on our conversation yesterday, we discussed...

Advanced Configuration​

Custom Tool Definitions​

Create mcp-tools.json for custom tool schemas:

{
  "tools": [
    {
      "name": "remember",
      "description": "Store information for later recall",
      "parameters": {
        "key": { "type": "string", "description": "What to remember" },
        "value": { "type": "string", "description": "The information" }
      }
    }
  ],
  "mappings": {
    "remember": {
      "tool": "sochdb_put",
      "path_template": "memory/{key}"
    }
  }
}

Server Options​

sochdb-mcp --help

Options:
  --db <PATH>           Database path [default: ~/.sochdb/mcp]
  --socket <PATH>       Unix socket path for IPC mode
  --read-only           Disable write operations
  --max-value-size <N>  Maximum value size in bytes [default: 1048576]
  --log-level <LEVEL>   Logging level [default: info]

Troubleshooting​

MCP Server Not Starting​

Check logs:

RUST_LOG=debug sochdb-mcp --db ./test_db

Permission Denied​

Ensure the database directory is writable:

mkdir -p ~/.sochdb
chmod 755 ~/.sochdb

Claude Not Seeing Tools​

  1. Restart Claude Desktop
  2. Check config JSON syntax
  3. Verify binary path is correct

Debug Mode​

Add to MCP config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sochdb": {
      "command": "sochdb-mcp",
      "args": ["--db", "~/.sochdb/debug", "--log-level", "debug"],
      "env": {
        "RUST_LOG": "sochdb=trace",
        "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1"
      }
    }
  }
}

Discussion​

Security Considerations​

  • MCP servers run locally with your user permissions
  • Data is stored unencrypted by default
  • Consider --read-only for shared databases

Performance Tips​

  • Use context_query instead of multiple get calls
  • Limit scan results with limit parameter
  • Use vector search for semantic queries

See Also​