How to Run DeusData codebase-memory-mcp on Windows: Complete Installation Guide

Yes, you can run DeusData codebase-memory-mcp on Windows. The project provides native Windows binaries for both AMD64 and ARM64 architectures, along with a PowerShell installer script that handles download, verification, and PATH configuration automatically.

DeusData codebase-memory-mcp is a cross-platform, single-binary tool for indexing and querying code repositories. According to the source code in DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp, Windows is a fully supported platform with dedicated installation scripts and pre-built binaries available for every release.

System Requirements and Platform Support

The repository explicitly lists Windows as a supported platform. In README.md at line 11, the platform support badge confirms Windows compatibility, while lines 99-101 document the pre-built binaries table that includes Windows builds.

• Supported architectures: amd64 (x86-64) and ARM64
• Installation method: PowerShell script (install.ps1) or manual ZIP extraction
• Default install location: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\codebase-memory-mcp
• UI availability: Optional 3-D graph interface accessible via http://localhost:9749

Installation Methods for Windows

Method 1: PowerShell Installer (Recommended)

The install.ps1 script (lines 14-30) automates the entire setup process. It downloads the architecture-specific ZIP file, verifies the SHA-256 checksum, extracts the launcher (codebase-memory-mcp.exe) and payload, and executes the internal install command to place the binary in your user PATH.

Run these commands in an elevated PowerShell session:

# 1. Download the installer script

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri https://raw.githubusercontent.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/main/install.ps1 -OutFile install.ps1

# 2. Inspect (optional) and unblock the script

notepad install.ps1
Unblock-File .\install.ps1

# 3. Run the installer (adds binary to your user PATH)

.\install.ps1          # basic install

# or with UI variant:

.\install.ps1 --ui    # installs the UI build

The script automatically handles checksum verification using the release's checksums.txt file, ensuring binary integrity before installation.

Method 2: Manual ZIP Extraction

If you prefer not to run the installer script, you can manually download and extract the Windows binary. This approach is documented in the README's quick-start section (lines 54-68).

# Download the Windows zip for your architecture (example: amd64)

Invoke-WebRequest `
  -Uri https://github.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/releases/latest/download/codebase-memory-mcp-windows-amd64.zip `
  -OutFile codebase-memory-mcp.zip

# Verify the checksum using Get-FileHash (compare against checksums.txt in the release)

# Extract to a directory of your choice

Expand-Archive codebase-memory-mcp.zip -DestinationPath $HOME\codebase-mcp

# Add the binary to your PATH

$env:PATH = "$HOME\codebase-mcp;$env:PATH"

Post-Installation Usage

Once installed, the codebase-memory-mcp.exe binary functions identically across all platforms, supporting repository indexing, graph queries, and the optional web UI.

Indexing a Repository

To index a local repository for semantic search:

# Index a repository (use absolute paths)

codebase-memory-mcp index_repository --repo-path C:\src\my-project

Running Graph Queries

After indexing, query the knowledge graph using built-in commands:

# List all indexed projects

codebase-memory-mcp list_projects

# Search for functions matching a pattern

codebase-memory-mcp search_graph --project my-project --name-pattern ".*handleRequest.*" --label Function

Launching the Optional UI

The UI variant provides a 3-D visualization of your code's knowledge graph at http://localhost:9749:

# Start the server with UI enabled

codebase-memory-mcp --ui=true --port=9749

Access the interface by navigating to http://localhost:9749 in your browser.

Windows-Specific Considerations

When running DeusData codebase-memory-mcp on Windows, keep these platform-specific details in mind:

• SmartScreen warnings: Windows Defender SmartScreen may flag the unsigned binary. As noted in install.ps1 (lines 4-5), you can click "More info → Run anyway" or verify the SHA-256 checksum manually. The installer script performs automatic checksum verification to mitigate this.

• UI variant availability: The UI-enabled build is distributed as codebase-memory-mcp-ui-windows-<arch>.zip. Use the --ui flag with the installer script or download this specific ZIP for manual installation.

• PATH persistence: The PowerShell installer modifies your user environment variables permanently. Manual installations require you to update PATH yourself, either per-session via $env:PATH or permanently through System Properties.

Summary

• DeusData codebase-memory-mcp fully supports Windows on both AMD64 and ARM64 architectures.
• The install.ps1 script automates download, checksum verification, and PATH configuration.
• Pre-built binaries are available in the GitHub Releases section for manual installation.
• The tool supports all core functionality on Windows, including repository indexing, semantic search, and the optional 3-D graph UI.
• Windows Defender SmartScreen may require manual approval due to the unsigned nature of the binary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does codebase-memory-mcp require WSL or Docker to run on Windows?

No. DeusData codebase-memory-mcp runs natively on Windows as a single binary executable (codebase-memory-mcp.exe). It does not require Windows Subsystem for Linux, Docker containers, or any virtualization layer. The binary communicates directly with the Windows filesystem and networking stack.

How do I verify the integrity of the Windows binary?

The install.ps1 script automatically verifies the SHA-256 checksum of downloaded files against the official checksums.txt published with each release. For manual installations, use PowerShell's Get-FileHash cmdlet to compare the ZIP file's hash against the published checksum before extraction.

Can I install both the standard and UI variants simultaneously?

Yes, but they should be installed to separate directories. The UI variant (codebase-memory-mcp-ui-windows-<arch>.zip) contains additional assets for the 3-D graph interface. You can install both versions using .\install.ps1 and .\install.ps1 --ui with different destination paths, or manage them manually by extracting to distinct folders and updating your PATH accordingly.

What should I do if SmartScreen blocks the installer?

If Windows Defender SmartScreen prevents the installer from running, click "More info" followed by "Run anyway" after verifying the script's authenticity. Alternatively, review the install.ps1 source code (available at the repository root) before execution, and confirm the download URL points to raw.githubusercontent.com/DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp/main/install.ps1.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}