OpenAI Codex

Set up Basic Memory with OpenAI Codex for persistent development knowledge and enhanced coding sessions

OpenAI Codex provides native support for Basic Memory through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), enabling persistent context across development sessions and building comprehensive coding knowledge.

Setup

Video Tutorial

Watch this quick guide to get started with Basic Memory and OpenAI Codex:

Configure Codex

Basic Memory works with Codex through MCP. Install it with:

codex mcp add basic-memory bash -c "uvx basic-memory mcp"

codex mcp add basic-memory bash -c "uvx basic-memory mcp --project your-project-name"

Verify Installation

Check that Basic Memory is configured correctly:

codex mcp list

You should see basic-memory listed with the command bash -c uvx basic-memory mcp --project main.

Quick Start

Once configured, you can immediately start using Basic Memory in your development workflow:

You: "Create a note about our authentication strategy for the API"
Codex: I'll document the authentication strategy we discussed...
[Creates structured note with technical details and rationale]

You: "Switch to my personal coding project"
Codex: [Changes context to personal project knowledge base]

MCP Integration Benefits

Codex’s native MCP support provides:

• Automatic tool access - No manual setup required
• Project-aware context - Maintains separate knowledge bases per project
• Real-time sync - Changes are immediately available
• Persistent memory - Context survives between sessions
• Structured knowledge - Uses Basic Memory’s semantic format

Available Tools

Through MCP, Codex can access all Basic Memory functionality:

• write_note - Create and update documentation
• read_note - Access existing knowledge and context
• search_notes - Find relevant information across projects
• edit_note - Update documentation incrementally
• recent_activity - Check what you’ve been working on
• project management - Switch between different knowledge bases
• build_context - Load conversation context from memory:// URLs

Integration with Development

Project Context

Basic Memory maintains separate knowledge bases for different projects:

You: "Switch to my work project"
Codex: [Loads work project context and knowledge]

You: "Based on our API design notes, what's the next step?"
Codex: [References existing documentation to provide contextual guidance]

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Performance Tips

• Multiple projects: Use separate Basic Memory projects for different codebases
• Organized structure: Keep consistent folder organization across projects
• Regular cleanup: Archive old projects to maintain performance

Alternative Usage

If MCP isn’t working, you can still use Basic Memory:

Next Steps