# How to Modify Source Code DeusData codebase-memory-mcp: A Complete Developer’s Guide

> Learn how to modify the DeusData codebase-memory-mcp source code. Clone the repository, edit C or TypeScript files, and rebuild the binary with the provided Makefile.

- Repository: [Martin Vogel/codebase-memory-mcp](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp)
- Tags: developer-guide
- Published: 2026-07-25

---

**Yes, you can freely modify the source code of `codebase-memory-mcp` under its MIT license by cloning the repository, editing the C source files or TypeScript UI components, and rebuilding the binary with the provided Makefile.**

The `codebase-memory-mcp` repository from DeusData is an open-source knowledge graph engine that analyzes codebases and stores relationships in a compressed SQLite database. Released under the permissive MIT license, the project allows developers to legally modify source code DeusData codebase-memory-mcp to implement custom language parsers, adjust ZSTD compression settings, or extend the web visualization interface.

## Understanding the Repository Structure

Before making changes, familiarize yourself with the modular architecture. The codebase is organized into distinct components:

| Component | Purpose | Key Source Files |
|-----------|---------|------------------|
| **Core Engine** | Parses source files, builds knowledge graphs, and manages ZSTD-compressed storage | [`internal/cbm/zstd_store.c`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/internal/cbm/zstd_store.c), [`internal/cbm/zstd_store.h`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/internal/cbm/zstd_store.h) |
| **Graph UI** | Optional Vite-powered SPA for visualizing the knowledge graph | [`graph-ui/vite.config.ts`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/graph-ui/vite.config.ts), [`graph-ui/tsconfig.json`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/graph-ui/tsconfig.json) |
| **Build Scripts** | Automation for compiling, installing, and testing | [`scripts/setup.sh`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/scripts/setup.sh), [`scripts/install.sh`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/scripts/install.sh), [`scripts/test.sh`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/scripts/test.sh) |
| **Vendored Libraries** | Statically linked dependencies (yyjson, zstd, mimalloc) | [`vendored/yyjson/yyjson.c`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/vendored/yyjson/yyjson.c), [`vendored/yyjson/yyjson.h`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/vendored/yyjson/yyjson.h) |

The core engine is implemented in **pure C with no runtime dependencies**, producing a self-contained binary when compiled.

## How to Modify Source Code in codebase-memory-mcp

Follow this workflow to safely edit and rebuild the project.

### 1. Clone the Repository

Start by cloning the official repository to your local environment:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp.git
cd codebase-memory-mcp

```

### 2. Edit Source Files

You can modify any file under `internal/`, `graph-ui/`, or `scripts/` depending on your use case. For example, to add debug logging to the Zstandard storage layer, edit [`internal/cbm/zstd_store.c`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/internal/cbm/zstd_store.c):

```bash
sed -i 's/return 0;/printf("ZSTD store initialized\\n"); return 0;/' internal/cbm/zstd_store.c

```

To customize the build process instead, edit `Makefile.cbm`. For UI modifications, update [`graph-ui/vite.config.ts`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/graph-ui/vite.config.ts) or the TypeScript source files in the `graph-ui/` directory.

### 3. Rebuild the Core Binary

Compile your changes using the dedicated Makefile. On Linux or macOS, run:

```bash
make -f Makefile.cbm

```

This produces the executable at `build/c/codebase-memory-mcp`. On Windows, use `scripts/install.ps1` or compile under a MinGW environment using the same Makefile.

### 4. Verify Your Changes

Run the modified binary to confirm it functions correctly:

```bash
./build/c/codebase-memory-mcp --help
./build/c/codebase-memory-mcp cli index_repository --repo-path .

```

You should observe your modifications (such as the debug output from the storage layer) in the terminal.

### 5. Run the Test Suite

The repository contains **over 5,000 automated tests** that validate functionality. Execute the full test suite to ensure your changes do not break existing behavior:

```bash
scripts/test.sh

```

Alternatively, review the GitHub Actions workflows in [`.github/workflows/_test.yml`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/.github/workflows/_test.yml) to understand the CI validation process.

## Common Modification Targets

When you modify source code DeusData codebase-memory-mcp, these are the most frequently customized components:

- **[`internal/cbm/zstd_store.c`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/internal/cbm/zstd_store.c)**: Adjust ZSTD compression levels or add custom serialization logic for the knowledge graph storage.
- **[`graph-ui/vite.config.ts`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/graph-ui/vite.config.ts)**: Modify Vite build settings, proxy configurations, or plugin settings for the visualization interface.
- **[`scripts/setup.sh`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/scripts/setup.sh)**: Customize installation logic for specific Linux distributions or macOS environments.
- **[`vendored/yyjson/yyjson.c`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/vendored/yyjson/yyjson.c)**: Extend JSON parsing capabilities if integrating custom data formats.

## Summary

- The **MIT license** permits unrestricted modification and redistribution of `codebase-memory-mcp`.
- Core modifications target **`internal/cbm/`** (C source) and **`graph-ui/`** (TypeScript/Vite).
- Use **`make -f Makefile.cbm`** to rebuild the zero-dependency binary after editing C code.
- Always run **[`scripts/test.sh`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/scripts/test.sh)** to validate changes against the 5,000+ automated tests.
- The repository structure separates concerns between the storage engine, web UI, and build automation.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is codebase-memory-mcp open source?

Yes, `codebase-memory-mcp` is fully open-source and available on GitHub under the MIT license. This means the source code is publicly accessible, and anyone can view, fork, and modify it for personal or commercial use.

### What programming languages are used in codebase-memory-mcp?

The project uses **C** for the core engine (including the ZSTD storage implementation in [`internal/cbm/zstd_store.c`](https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/blob/main/internal/cbm/zstd_store.c)), **TypeScript** for the optional Graph UI (built with Vite), and **Shell** scripts for automation. It also vendors C libraries like yyjson and zstd for zero-dependency distribution.

### How do I compile after modifying the C source code?

After editing files in `internal/cbm/`, run `make -f Makefile.cbm` from the repository root. This compiles the pure C code along with vendored dependencies into a standalone binary at `build/c/codebase-memory-mcp` without requiring external runtime libraries.

### Can I redistribute my modified version of codebase-memory-mcp?

Yes, the MIT license explicitly allows redistribution of modified versions. You must include the original copyright notice and license text, but you can otherwise use your fork in proprietary projects, publish it to package managers like npm or PyPI (using the packaging scripts in `pkg/npm/` and `pkg/pypi/`), or distribute pre-built binaries.