--- title: "codebase-memory-mcp vs mcp-local-rag" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/deusdata-codebase-memory-mcp-vs-shinpr-mcp-local-rag" tools: ["deusdata-codebase-memory-mcp", "shinpr-mcp-local-rag"] --- # codebase-memory-mcp vs mcp-local-rag *GraphCanon updated Aug 25, 2026* ## Verdict Pick codebase-memory-mcp if codebase-memory-mcp excels at indexing codebases into a persistent knowledge graph with support for 158 languages, sub-ms query times, and minimal token use, delivered as a single static binary; pick mcp-local-rag if mcp-local-rag is designed for developers who prioritize privacy and ease of setup when performing semantic and keyword searches on local codebases and technical documents through MCP. [codebase-memory-mcp](https://deusdata.github.io/codebase-memory-mcp/) reports 41k GitHub stars, 3.3k forks, and 510 open issues, last pushed Aug 24, 2026. [mcp-local-rag](https://github.com/shinpr/mcp-local-rag) has 370 stars, 68 forks, and 2 open issues, last pushed Aug 23, 2026. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [codebase-memory-mcp's repository](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp) and [mcp-local-rag's repository](https://github.com/shinpr/mcp-local-rag). | | [codebase-memory-mcp](/tools/deusdata-codebase-memory-mcp.md) | [mcp-local-rag](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | High-performance code intelligence MCP server indexing codebases into a persistent knowledge graph quickly | Local-first RAG server for developers with semantic and keyword search capabilities. | | Stars | 40,581 | 370 | | Forks | 3,289 | 68 | | Open issues | 510 | 2 | | Language | C | TypeScript | | Adopt for | codebase-memory-mcp excels at indexing codebases into a persistent knowledge graph with support for 158 languages, sub-ms query times, and minimal token use, delivered as a single static binary. | mcp-local-rag is designed for developers who prioritize privacy and ease of setup when performing semantic and keyword searches on local codebases and technical documents through MCP or CLI integration. | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | MIT | MIT | | Categories | Data & Retrieval, Developer Tools | Data & Retrieval, Developer Tools | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [codebase-memory-mcp](/tools/deusdata-codebase-memory-mcp.md) | [mcp-local-rag](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Days since push | 1d | 0d | | Open issues (now) | 510 | 2 | | Stars delta | +5.2k (30d) | +18 (30d) | | Open issues delta | +162 (30d) | -2 (30d) | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/deusdata-codebase-memory-mcp/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag/trust.md) | ## Decision facts: codebase-memory-mcp - **Adopt for:** codebase-memory-mcp excels at indexing codebases into a persistent knowledge graph with support for 158 languages, sub-ms query times, and minimal token use, delivered as a single static binary. ## Decision facts: mcp-local-rag - **Adopt for:** mcp-local-rag is designed for developers who prioritize privacy and ease of setup when performing semantic and keyword searches on local codebases and technical documents through MCP or CLI integration. ## Choose when ### Choose codebase-memory-mcp if… - codebase-memory-mcp is primarily C; mcp-local-rag is TypeScript. - Tags unique to codebase-memory-mcp: aider, ast, claude-code, code-analysis. - When needing rapid codebase indexing into a knowledge graph with low latency queries ### Choose mcp-local-rag if… - mcp-local-rag is primarily TypeScript; codebase-memory-mcp is C. - Tags unique to mcp-local-rag: agent-skills, hybrid-search, local-first, privacy-first. - mcp-local-rag ships an MCP server manifest. - When you need to perform both semantic and keyword-based search operations within a local, privacy-focused environment tailored specifically for handling codebases and technical documentation. ## When NOT to use codebase-memory-mcp - If you demand extensive interactive graphical UI features beyond its command-line interface capabilities - When your project prioritizes a dynamic runtime environment over static binaries ## When NOT to use mcp-local-rag - When you do not require a privacy-first approach and are willing to rely on cloud-based solutions that might offer more extensive feature sets beyond just keyword and semantic searches. - If your use case involves scaling search capabilities across multiple remote databases or servers, as mcp-local-rag is best suited for local data only. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between codebase-memory-mcp and mcp-local-rag? codebase-memory-mcp: High-performance code intelligence MCP server indexing codebases into a persistent knowledge graph quickly. mcp-local-rag: Local-first RAG server for developers with semantic and keyword search capabilities.. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose codebase-memory-mcp over mcp-local-rag? Choose codebase-memory-mcp over mcp-local-rag when codebase-memory-mcp is primarily C; mcp-local-rag is TypeScript; Tags unique to codebase-memory-mcp: aider, ast, claude-code, code-analysis; When needing rapid codebase indexing into a knowledge graph with low latency queries. ### When should I choose mcp-local-rag over codebase-memory-mcp? Choose mcp-local-rag over codebase-memory-mcp when mcp-local-rag is primarily TypeScript; codebase-memory-mcp is C; Tags unique to mcp-local-rag: agent-skills, hybrid-search, local-first, privacy-first; mcp-local-rag ships an MCP server manifest; When you need to perform both semantic and keyword-based search operations within a local, privacy-focused environment tailored specifically for handling codebases and technical documentation. ### When should I avoid codebase-memory-mcp? If you demand extensive interactive graphical UI features beyond its command-line interface capabilities When your project prioritizes a dynamic runtime environment over static binaries ### When should I avoid mcp-local-rag? When you do not require a privacy-first approach and are willing to rely on cloud-based solutions that might offer more extensive feature sets beyond just keyword and semantic searches. If your use case involves scaling search capabilities across multiple remote databases or servers, as mcp-local-rag is best suited for local data only. ### Is codebase-memory-mcp or mcp-local-rag more popular on GitHub? codebase-memory-mcp has more GitHub stars (40,581 vs 370). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are codebase-memory-mcp and mcp-local-rag open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (codebase-memory-mcp: MIT, mcp-local-rag: MIT). ### Where can I find alternatives to codebase-memory-mcp or mcp-local-rag? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [codebase-memory-mcp alternatives](/tools/deusdata-codebase-memory-mcp/alternatives) and [mcp-local-rag alternatives](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag/alternatives) ([codebase-memory-mcp markdown twin](/tools/deusdata-codebase-memory-mcp/alternatives.md), [mcp-local-rag markdown twin](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag/alternatives.md)), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes. ### Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison? Yes. The markdown twin at [this comparison](/compare/deusdata-codebase-memory-mcp-vs-shinpr-mcp-local-rag.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, codebase-memory-mcp or mcp-local-rag? codebase-memory-mcp: Very active. mcp-local-rag: Very active. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance. ### Where are the full trust reports for codebase-memory-mcp and mcp-local-rag? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [codebase-memory-mcp trust report](/tools/deusdata-codebase-memory-mcp/trust); [mcp-local-rag trust report](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag/trust). --- **Machine-readable endpoints** - JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=deusdata-codebase-memory-mcp`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=deusdata-codebase-memory-mcp) - LLM index: [/llms.txt](/llms.txt) - Full corpus: [/llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt) _GraphCanon - The knowledge graph for AI development. https://www.graphcanon.com/_