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Palimem Docsspec v1.7.0

Use Palimem with Claude Code plugin

The Claude Code plugin packages all of Palimem’s MCP server, hook scripts, and Python app into a single installable unit distributed through Claude Code’s plugin marketplace. This is the simplest install path for teams and shared machines.

Prerequisites

Section titled “Prerequisites”
  • Claude Code ≥ 1.0 with plugin marketplace support
  • Git (to add the marketplace source)
  • Python 3.13+ on your PATH
  • Node.js 18+ (vendored into the plugin, but Node must be available)
Section titled “Recommended install”
Section titled “From GitHub (recommended)”
Terminal window
claude plugin marketplace add palimem/palimem
claude plugin install memory-service@palimem

This registers the Palimem marketplace source and installs the plugin. All hook scripts, the MCP server, and the Python app are vendored inside the plugin directory — no sibling repository paths required.

From a local clone (development)

Section titled “From a local clone (development)”
Terminal window
# Add the plugin directory directly for local iteration
claude plugin marketplace add /path/to/palimem/examples/claude-code-plugin


claude plugin install memory-service@palimem

Config block

Section titled “Config block”

The plugin uses ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/vendor/... paths so it works from any marketplace installation location.

Plugin MCP config (.mcp.json, vendored paths):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "memory-service": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/vendor/app/scripts/memory-service-mcp.js"],
      "env": {
        "MEMORY_SERVICE_DATA_DIR": ".ai-memory/data"
      }
    }
  }
}

You do not need to edit this file manually — the plugin installer configures it automatically.

Verification

Section titled “Verification”

After installing the plugin, start Claude Code and ask the agent to call tools/list (11 tools), then memory_status with scope and namespace (ok: true, index_status.state: "current").

Agent prompt

Section titled “Agent prompt”

Paste this into Claude Code to let the agent install or verify the Palimem plugin:

Install Palimem as governed local memory using the Claude Code plugin.


- Plugin source: palimem/palimem
- Install: claude plugin marketplace add palimem/palimem && claude plugin install memory-service@palimem
- Data directory: .ai-memory/data
- Verify: tools/list (11 tools), then memory_status — expect ok and index_status current


Do not enable cloud services.

Optional SessionEnd consolidation

Section titled “Optional SessionEnd consolidation”

Enable automatic memory consolidation when a Claude Code session ends:

Terminal window
export MEMORY_SERVICE_RUN_CONSOLIDATION_ON_SESSION_END=1
export MEMORY_SERVICE_REVIEW_EXPORT_PATH=.ai-memory/review.md

Plugin update workflow

Section titled “Plugin update workflow”

When a new version of Palimem ships:

Terminal window
claude plugin marketplace update palimem
claude plugin upgrade memory-service@palimem

Or from a local clone, refresh the vendored files:

Terminal window
bash examples/claude-code-plugin/scripts/vendor-plugin.sh
git add examples/claude-code-plugin/vendor/

Troubleshooting

Section titled “Troubleshooting”

Plugin not found in marketplace

Verify the marketplace source was added: claude plugin marketplace list. If palimem is not listed, re-run claude plugin marketplace add palimem/palimem.

MCP server fails to start after plugin install

Check that Node.js 18+ is on your PATH: node --version. The vendored plugin calls node from the system PATH.

ENOENT on vendored MCP script

The vendor directory may be stale. From the monorepo, re-run:

Terminal window
bash examples/claude-code-plugin/scripts/vendor-plugin.sh

Tools show 9 instead of 11

Your installed plugin is pinned to an older spec version. Update: claude plugin upgrade memory-service@palimem.

Next steps

Section titled “Next steps”