Cairn MCP Server: Install & Setup

Install Cairn in Claude Code

Claude Code

claude mcp add jasondostal-cairn -e CAIRN_DB_HOST=... -e CAIRN_DB_PASS=... -- docker run -i --rm -e CAIRN_DB_HOST -e CAIRN_DB_PASS ghcr.io/jasondostal/cairn-mcp:0.21.2

mcp.json (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "jasondostal-cairn": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e",
        "CAIRN_DB_HOST",
        "-e",
        "CAIRN_DB_PASS",
        "ghcr.io/jasondostal/cairn-mcp:0.21.2"
      ],
      "env": {
        "CAIRN_DB_HOST": "...",
        "CAIRN_DB_PASS": "..."
      }
    }
  }
}

Replace each ... with your own value.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Cairn MCP server do?

Persistent memory for AI agents and humans. Store, search, and discover patterns.

Is the Cairn MCP server free?

Yes, most likely. Open source and no paid account or API key is mentioned in the listing. Check the provider for current pricing.

Does Cairn run locally or remotely?

Local. Runs on your machine (stdio). You install it with npx, uvx, Docker or from source.

How do I add Cairn to Claude Code?

Run: claude mcp add jasondostal-cairn -e CAIRN_DB_HOST=... -e CAIRN_DB_PASS=... -- docker run -i --rm -e CAIRN_DB_HOST -e CAIRN_DB_PASS ghcr.io/jasondostal/cairn-mcp:0.21.2

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