Git (Reference) vs Memory (Knowledge Graph)

A side-by-side comparison of two Files & Storage servers — tools, transport, auth, maintenance, and copy-paste config for each.

	Git (Reference) Official MCP server for reading, searching, and manipulating a local Git repository's files and history. Verified stdio (local) No auth Python	Memory (Knowledge Graph) Official MCP server providing persistent, file-backed knowledge-graph memory across sessions. Verified stdio (local) No auth TypeScript
Category	Files & Storage	AI, Data & Knowledge
Language	Python	TypeScript
Transport	stdio (local)	stdio (local)
Auth	None	None
GitHub stars	74k	74k
Last commit	5 months ago	5 months ago
Verified
Actively maintained
Install	`uvx mcp-server-git --repository /absolute/path/to/repo`	`npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-memory`
Repo	Open	Open

Verdict

Pick Git (Reference) if you need the broadest set of tools.

Pick Memory (Knowledge Graph) if you prefer its approach (official mcp server providing persistent, file-backed knowledge-graph memory across sessions).

Add Git (Reference)

Install / run

uvx mcp-server-git --repository /absolute/path/to/repo

Paste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "git-reference": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-server-git",
        "--repository",
        "/absolute/path/to/repo"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Requires `uv` (the Python package runner). Install it from https://docs.astral.sh/uv/ if `uvx` is not found.

Add Memory (Knowledge Graph)

Install / run

npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-memory

Paste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "memory-knowledge-graph": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-memory"
      ],
      "env": {
        "MEMORY_FILE_PATH": "/absolute/path/to/memory.jsonl"
      }
    }
  }
}

FAQ

Git (Reference) or Memory (Knowledge Graph) — which is better?

Pick Git (Reference) if you need the broadest set of tools. Pick Memory (Knowledge Graph) if you prefer its approach (official mcp server providing persistent, file-backed knowledge-graph memory across sessions).

Can I use both Git (Reference) and Memory (Knowledge Graph)?

Yes — MCP clients let you enable multiple servers at once. Add both configs to your client's mcpServers and use whichever tool fits the task.

Do Git (Reference) and Memory (Knowledge Graph) work with Claude, Cursor and Windsurf?

Both do. Copy the per-client config below into Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf.

View Git (Reference) →View Memory (Knowledge Graph) →More comparisons →