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Agent Memory & RAG

Hippo

Hippo is a TypeScript CLI and local-first memory layer for coding agents. It stores memories in SQLite on the user's machine and keeps Markdown mirrors that can be read and committed. BM25 search works by default without a model or network call; embeddings are optional. Its documented integrations include Cursor, Claude Code and Codex, and it supports MCP clients.

Independent OpenViST project profile, based on linked sources.

Hippo — OpenViST project profile in Agent Memory & RAG.
OpenViST project illustration. See the linked sources for product details.
Understand the project

Practical overview

When it fits

Use Hippo when coding-agent context needs to persist locally across sessions or tools, and when you want memory files that can be inspected or tracked with project work.

Who it is for

  • Developers using coding agents who want project context to persist between sessions.
  • People working across supported agent tools who want a shared local memory store.
  • Developers who want to inspect or commit agent-memory notes as Markdown.

Documented uses

  • Create a local project memory store and connect documented coding-agent integrations.
  • Save a project lesson and search for relevant stored context.
  • Lower the ranking of a memory marked wrong or remove a superseded fact from recall.
  • Import supported existing notes and histories into a shared memory store.
Before you choose

Requirements & limits

The documented CLI requires Node.js 22.16 or later. The repository identifies the project as MIT-licensed.

  • The core store is local SQLite with readable Markdown mirrors.
  • Default search is BM25 and does not require a model or network call.
  • Automatic capture depends on completing setup and on the particular agent integration.
  • Codex hooks require explicit trust through /hooks; session capture also has a documented wrapper option.
  • Optional embeddings require an additional install or an opt-in API embedder.

Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.

Source-based practical guide

Install Hippo and initialize one project

Create a project memory store and let Hippo configure the agent integrations it finds.

Before you start

  • Node.js 22.16 or later
  • A project directory in which to run initialization

Steps

  1. Install the CLI with the command below.

    Documented command
    npm install -g hippo-memory
  2. Change to the project directory and run hippo init.

Expected outcome

Hippo creates a `.hippo/` store with SQLite and Markdown mirrors, and configures documented project or machine-level integration files for agents it finds.

Guide limitations

  • Initialization adds instructions to an existing CLAUDE.md or AGENTS.md; it does not create those files.
  • Codex hooks run only after you trust them once in /hooks.
  • Package installation alone does not enable automatic memory preservation for every agent.
Source-based practical guide

Save and retrieve a project memory from the CLI

Add a note to Hippo and search the memory store.

Before you start

  • Hippo installed and initialized in the project

Steps

  1. Run hippo remember with the note and an optional tag.

  2. Run hippo recall with a search query.

Expected outcome

The note is stored and can be retrieved through Hippo's documented BM25 search.

Guide limitations

  • The README examples document the commands but do not specify a guaranteed search result.
  • Default BM25 search uses no model or network call; embeddings are an optional separately installed feature.
COMPARE OPTIONS

Compare options for AI coding assistance

These projects document a common task and share a project role. This is a source-based comparison, not an execution benchmark or a guarantee of interchangeability.

ProjectDocumented purposePlatformAccess and requirements
HippoCreate a local project memory store and connect documented coding-agent integrations.CLI, Self-hostedThe documented CLI requires Node.js 22.16 or later. The repository identifies the project as MIT-licensed.
Continuum — pouyahasanamrejiStore project lessons so coding agents can retrieve them across conversations.CLI, Self-hosted, ServerThe repository documents local Docker Compose and bare-metal development setups. Bare-metal startup requires Node 22.12.0 or later and pnpm 10.33 or later; the Compose path skips these host prerequisites.
HaftRecord the problem a project is solving and the options considered.CLI, Self-hosted
Evidence and transparency

Sources & review

Source record details
Source availability
Active
Sources checked
12 October 2026
Original website title
kitfunso/hippo-memory · Official homepage title · retained in its source language