Memory and knowledge · MCP server
Longhand: MCP server, setup and security
Longhand is an open-source MCP server published on GitHub that lets an AI agent semantically search verbatim Claude Code session history stored locally. Its repository has 14 stars and its last commit is from September 28, 2026 and it is licensed under MIT.
What Longhand does
According to its repository: “Persistent local memory for Claude Code: indexes all sessions verbatim into SQLite and ChromaDB for semantic recall across your history, with no API calls.”
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standard plug between an AI agent and an outside service: once the server is connected, its tools show up in the agent, which decides when to call them. Longhand is listed under Memory and knowledge, a category of 250 servers in the directory, where it ranks #174 by stars.
Topics declared by the repository: ai-memory, anthropic, chromadb, claude-code, forensic, local-first.
Installing and connecting Longhand
Distribution modes declared in the official MCP registry:
- PyPI package (Python, started with
uvxorpip)
It works with any MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and most recent agents). You add one entry to the client's MCP configuration: server name, start command or URL, environment variables. Project language: Python. Listed systems: macOS, Windows, Linux.
Security: what to check
Connecting an MCP server means installing software that talks straight to your agent: it runs with your rights and the model trusts its tool descriptions. The risk therefore depends on what it can touch and how far its code can be trusted.
None of the risk signals we track (system access, secrets, missing licence, abandonment) applies to Longhand. That does not replace reading the code.
Good practice: grant only the rights needed (least privilege), require human approval for irreversible actions, and run the AI agent security check.
Project activity and maintenance
Created on April 9, 2026, the Wynelson94/longhand repository has 14 stars and 5 forks, with 14 open issues. It has more stars than 32% of the servers in the directory. It received changes this month. Version published in the registry: 0.5.5 (April 15, 2026).
Stars measure attention, not quality: a recent, heavily promoted project can collect them fast, while a useful but niche server will have few.
Verdict
Longhand is a reasonable choice; check the points below before connecting it.
Strengths
- Active project: recent commit
- Listed in the official MCP registry
- Permissive licence (MIT)
Alternatives
- Context763.6K ★
- Basic memory4.3K ★
- Hindsight53.4K ★
- Cognee32.7K ★
- Skill Seekers15.2K ★
- Honcho7.8K ★
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
How do I install Longhand?
Longhand is distributed as PyPI package (Python, started with uvx or pip). Add it to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code…) following the README of Wynelson94/longhand.
Is Longhand free?
The code is published under the MIT licence and can be used free of charge.
Is Longhand safe?
No risk signal found (system access, secrets, licence, abandonment). As with any MCP server, keep rights minimal and read the code before sensitive use.
Is it an official server?
Nothing says so: it is a project published by Wynelson94 on GitHub. Check who maintains it before giving it access.
What are the alternatives to Longhand?
In the same category: Context7, Basic memory, Hindsight, and Cognee. Context7 and Basic memory score higher on our grid.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score