Memstate + GitHub Copilot
Give GitHub Copilot structured memory that persists across sessions.
GitHub Copilot loses context between sessions. Memstate gives Copilot a persistent memory layer via MCP — your tech stack, architecture decisions, and project context are always available.
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Add MCP Configuration
Add this to your GitHub Copilot MCP config file. Replace YOUR_API_KEY_HERE with your key.
{
"servers": {
"memstate": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@memstate/mcp"],
"env": {
"MEMSTATE_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}Save to:
.vscode/mcp.jsonVS Code Copilot uses a different config format
GitHub Copilot in VS Code uses "servers" (not "mcpServers") in its mcp.json config file.
You can also add MCP servers via VS Code → Extensions → search @mcp, or run MCP: Add Server from the Command Palette.
Add Agent Rule
This rule tells GitHub Copilot to load your project context before tasks and save summaries after — automatically, every session.
# Memstate MCP - Memory Storage
This project uses Memstate MCP for persistent, versioned memory across sessions.
## REQUIRED: Start and end every task with memory
**BEFORE starting any task**, load existing context so you don't redo past work or revert intentional decisions:
```
memstate_get(project_id="<your_project>")
```
**AFTER completing any task**, save what you did so the next session has context:
```
memstate_remember(project_id="<your_project>", content="## Task Summary\n- What was done\n- Key decisions made\n- Files modified", source="agent")
```
These two calls are mandatory. Skipping them means the next session starts blind.
## Tool reference
| Tool | When to use |
|------|-------------|
| memstate_get | **Start of every task.** Browse project tree or fetch content at a keypath. |
| memstate_remember | **End of every task.** Save markdown summaries, notes, decisions. |
| memstate_search | Find memories by meaning when you don't know the exact keypath. |
| memstate_set | Store a single key=value fact (e.g. config.port). Not for summaries. |
| memstate_history | View version history of a keypath. |
| memstate_delete | Soft-delete a keypath (history preserved). |
## Project naming
Use a short snake_case name matching your repo or topic (e.g. my_app, api_service). All related memories should share the same project_id.Paste into .github/copilot-instructions.md or AGENTS.md at your project root.
Test It — Onboard Your Project
Restart GitHub Copilot, open a project, and paste this prompt. It will create your first memories and confirm everything is working.
Replace <your_project> with a short name for your repo (e.g. my_app).
I'm onboarding Memstate AI memory for this project. Please:
1. Analyze this codebase and write a concise high-level architecture overview in markdown — covering the main components, tech stack, key directories, and how data flows through the system.
2. Save it to Memstate using: memstate_remember(project_id="<your_project>", content="<the markdown>", source="agent")
3. Then call memstate_get(project_id="<your_project>") and show me the memory tree so I can confirm it worked.What to expect
Your agent will analyze the codebase, write an architecture overview, save it to Memstate, then display the memory tree. You'll see structured memories like project.my_app.architecture — this context is now available in every future session automatically.
Related Resources
Mem0 vs Memstate
See how Memstate compares to Mem0 on the LoCoMo benchmark. Memstate scores 5.3x higher on fact recall accuracy (92.2% vs 17.5%) and 4.7x better on conflict detection (95.0% vs 20.2%).
What is AI Agent Memory?
Learn how structured, versioned memory differs from traditional RAG and vector search.