---
title: "Installation"
description: "Install claude-recall plugin for persistent memory across sessions"
---
# Installation Guide
## Quick Start
Install claude-recall directly from the plugin marketplace:
```bash
/plugin marketplace add nhevers/claude-recall
/plugin install claude-recall
```
That's it! The plugin will automatically:
- Download prebuilt binaries (no compilation needed)
- Install all dependencies (including SQLite binaries)
- Configure hooks for session lifecycle management
- Auto-start the worker service on first session
Start a new Claude Code session and you'll see context from previous sessions automatically loaded.
## System Requirements
- **Node.js**: 18.0.0 or higher
- **Claude Code**: Latest version with plugin support
- **Bun**: JavaScript runtime and process manager (auto-installed if missing)
- **SQLite 3**: For persistent storage (bundled)
## Advanced Installation
For development or testing, you can clone and build from source:
### Clone and Build
```bash
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/nhevers/claude-recall.git
cd claude-recall
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Build hooks and worker service
npm run build
# Worker service will auto-start on first Claude Code session
# Or manually start with:
npm run worker:start
# Verify worker is running
npm run worker:status
```
### Post-Installation Verification
#### 1. Automatic Dependency Installation
Dependencies are installed automatically during plugin installation. The SessionStart hook also ensures dependencies are up-to-date on each session start (this is fast and idempotent). Works cross-platform on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
#### 2. Verify Plugin Installation
Check that hooks are configured in Claude Code:
```bash
cat extension/lifecycle/lifecycle.json
```
#### 3. Data Directory Location
Data is stored in `~/.claude-recall/`:
- Database: `~/.claude-recall/claude-recall.db`
- PID file: `~/.claude-recall/.worker.pid`
- Port file: `~/.claude-recall/.worker.port`
- Logs: `~/.claude-recall/logs/worker-YYYY-MM-DD.log`
- Settings: `~/.claude-recall/settings.json`
Override with environment variable:
```bash
export CLAUDE_RECALL_DATA_DIR=/custom/path
```
#### 4. Check Worker Logs
```bash
npm run worker:logs
```
#### 5. Test Context Retrieval
```bash
npm run test:context
```
## Upgrading
Upgrades are automatic when updating via the plugin marketplace. Key changes in recent versions:
**v7.1.0**: PM2 replaced with native Bun process management. Migration is automatic on first hook trigger.
**v7.0.0+**: 11 configuration settings, dual-tag privacy system.
**v5.4.0+**: Skill-based search replaces MCP tools, saving ~2,250 tokens per session.
See [CHANGELOG](https://github.com/nhevers/claude-recall/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md) for complete version history.
## Next Steps
- [Getting Started Guide](usage/getting-started) - Learn how claude-recall works automatically
- [MCP Search Tools](usage/search-tools) - Query your project history
- [Configuration](configuration) - Customize claude-recall behavior
