# Claude Desktop Integration
ContextFS integrates with Claude Desktop via the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
## Installation
```bash
contextfs install-claude-desktop
```
This automatically configures Claude Desktop. Restart the app to activate.
## Manual Configuration
If automatic installation doesn't work, add to your Claude Desktop config:
=== "macOS"
Edit `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"contextfs": {
"command": "/path/to/contextfs-mcp"
}
}
}
```
=== "Windows"
Edit `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"contextfs": {
"command": "C:\\path\\to\\contextfs-mcp.exe"
}
}
}
```
=== "Linux"
Edit `~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"contextfs": {
"command": "/path/to/contextfs-mcp"
}
}
}
```
**Note:** ContextFS auto-detects the source tool (`claude-desktop` vs `claude-code`) based on environment. No manual configuration needed.
## Available Tools
After installation, Claude Desktop has access to these tools:
### `contextfs_save`
Save memories to the store.
```
Save to memory: We decided to use PostgreSQL for better JSON support.
Type: decision
Tags: database, architecture
```
### `contextfs_search`
Search memories semantically.
```
Search memory for: database decisions
```
### `contextfs_list`
List recent memories.
```
Show my recent memories
```
### `contextfs_recall`
Recall a specific memory by ID.
```
Recall memory abc123
```
### `contextfs_update`
Update an existing memory.
```
Update memory abc123 with new tags: auth, jwt, production
```
### `contextfs_delete`
Delete a memory by ID.
```
Delete memory abc123
```
### `contextfs_index`
Index the current repository.
```
Index this codebase for search
```
### `contextfs_index_status`
Check or cancel background indexing.
```
Check indexing progress
```
### `contextfs_sessions`
List conversation sessions.
```
Show recent sessions
```
### `contextfs_update_session`
Update session label or summary.
```
Update session xyz with label "feature-complete"
```
### `contextfs_delete_session`
Delete a session and its messages.
```
Delete session xyz
```
### `contextfs_import_conversation`
Import a JSON conversation export as episodic memory.
```
Import this conversation JSON to memory
```
### `contextfs_list_tools`
List source tools that have created memories.
```
Show which tools have saved memories
```
## Usage Examples
### Saving Decisions
> **You:** We just decided to use React 18 with TypeScript for the frontend. Save this to memory.
>
> **Claude:** I'll save that decision to memory.
>
> *Uses contextfs_save with type="decision", tags=["frontend", "react", "typescript"]*
### Searching Context
> **You:** What database decisions have we made?
>
> **Claude:** Let me search our memory for database decisions.
>
> *Uses contextfs_search with query="database decisions"*
>
> Found 3 relevant memories:
> 1. [decision] PostgreSQL for user data - JSON support
> 2. [decision] Redis for session caching
> 3. [fact] Database connection pool size is 20
### Building on Prior Context
> **You:** Implement user authentication following our patterns
>
> **Claude:** Let me check what authentication decisions we've made.
>
> *Uses contextfs_search with query="authentication patterns"*
>
> Based on our prior decisions, I'll implement using JWT with RS256...
## Prompts
ContextFS provides built-in prompts accessible via Claude Desktop:
### Session Guide
Helps Claude understand how to use ContextFS effectively:
```
Use the contextfs-session-guide prompt
```
### Index Repository
Guides through indexing a codebase:
```
Use the contextfs-index-repo prompt
```
## Best Practices
### 1. Save Important Decisions
When you make architectural decisions, explicitly save them:
> "Save to memory: We're using GraphQL instead of REST for the mobile API because of bandwidth constraints"
### 2. Search Before Implementing
Ask Claude to check memory before major implementations:
> "Before implementing auth, check our memory for any authentication decisions"
### 3. Use Tags Consistently
Establish tag conventions for your project:
- `auth`, `database`, `api` - feature areas
- `production`, `development` - environments
- `urgent`, `deprecated` - status
### 4. Summarize Sessions
At the end of important conversations:
> "Summarize what we accomplished and save it to memory"
## Troubleshooting
### Tools Not Appearing
1. Restart Claude Desktop completely
2. Check the config file syntax (valid JSON)
3. Verify `contextfs-mcp` is in your PATH:
```bash
which contextfs-mcp
```
### Permission Errors
Ensure the MCP executable has proper permissions:
```bash
chmod +x $(which contextfs-mcp)
```
### Connection Issues
Check Claude Desktop logs:
- macOS: `~/Library/Logs/Claude/`
- Windows: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Claude\logs\`
### Uninstall
```bash
contextfs install-claude-desktop --uninstall
```
