FRENES

Memory and knowledge · MCP server

RTFM: MCP server, setup and security

RTFM is an open-source MCP server published on GitHub that lets an AI agent search locally across project code, documents and indexed data sources. Its repository has 27 stars and its last commit is from October 22, 2026 and it is licensed under MIT.

Score
64/100
Adoption (stars) 14/40
Maintenance 30/30
Framework (licence, registry, official) 20/30
Actively maintained

What RTFM does

According to its repository: “Local retrieval layer for coding agents: indexes a whole project (code, docs, PDFs, ebooks, spreadsheets, SQLite, Obsidian vaults) into SQLite FTS5 with optional local embeddings, 24 parsers, a link and import graph, and auto-sync hooks for Claude Code.”

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. RTFM is listed under Memory and knowledge, a category of 250 servers in the directory, where it ranks #132 by stars.

Topics declared by the repository: ai-agents, claude, claude-code, code-search, embeddings, fts.

Installing and connecting RTFM

Distribution modes declared in the official MCP registry:

  • PyPI package (Python, started with uvx or pip)

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 RTFM. 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 February 20, 2026, the roomi-fields/rtfm repository has 27 stars and 6 forks, with 4 open issues. It has more stars than 43% of the servers in the directory. It received changes this month. Version published in the registry: 0.55.1 (October 22, 2026).

Stars measure attention, not quality: a recent, heavily promoted project can collect them fast, while a useful but niche server will have few.

Context7Context7 : 63.6K63.6KHindsightHindsight : 53.4K53.4KCogneeCognee : 32.7K32.7KSkill SeekersSkill Seekers : 15.2K15.2KHonchoHoncho : 7.8K7.8KBasic memoryBasic memory : 4.3K4.3KNoteDiscoveryNoteDiscovery : 2.8K2.8KMemantoMemanto : 2.3K2.3KRTFMRTFM : 2727
GitHub stars of the most followed servers in the category (log scale); RTFM in orange. Checked October 25, 2026.

Verdict

RTFM 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)

Frequently asked questions

How do I install RTFM?

RTFM 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 roomi-fields/rtfm.

Is RTFM free?

The code is published under the MIT licence and can be used free of charge.

Is RTFM 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 roomi-fields on GitHub. Check who maintains it before giving it access.

What are the alternatives to RTFM?

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