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Tracked since 2026
The Bottom Line
- Price
- Free, no paid tier. Compare plans
Key facts
- Open-source, local-first memory for AI coding agents that automatically records and recalls context without cloud dependencies
- Injects relevant lessons, decisions, and project overview before the agent reasons, using sub-millisecond hybrid recall (BM25 + dense vectors + entity graph)
- Integrates with multiple agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, etc.) via MCP and provides a local web dashboard to explore memory as a graph or timeline
Pros
- Fully local and open-source (Apache-2.0), no data leaves your machine, no API keys needed
- Works across multiple AI coding agents (advanced models, Cursor, Zed) without losing context
- Fast hybrid recall (minimal latency) with no LLM call on the read path, keeping latency minimal
Cons
- Requires initial setup and configuration for each agent (though simplified with pmb connect commands)
- Focused on AI coding agents; may not be designed for general AI assistant memory (e.g., chat bots outside coding)
What is PMB?
PMB is an open-source, local-first memory system designed for AI coding agents. It automatically records and recalls context from your coding sessions, injecting relevant memories (lessons, decisions, project overview) before the agent responds, without requiring additional API calls or cloud services. The tool uses a hybrid recall system combining BM25, dense vectors, and entity graphs to surface the most relevant information in milliseconds. PMB integrates seamlessly with popular AI coding agents like advanced models, Cursor, and Zed via the Model Context Protocol (MCP), and comes with a local web dashboard for exploring your memory as an interactive graph or timeline. All data stays on your machine in SQLite and LanceDB, and the system is fully offline-capable.
Key Features
- Automatic memory injection before the model thinks (pre-read) and journaling after actions (post-write)
- Hybrid recall with BM25, dense vector embeddings, entity graph, and optional reranker fused via Reciprocal-Rank-Fusion
- Sub-millisecond async writes: returns instantly to agent, embeds and vector storage happen in background thread
- Memory scoring: tracks whether each lesson is followed by the agent; flags ignored lessons as dead
- Interactive local dashboard with entity graph map, timeline (git-graph style), and overview
- No LLM call on the read path; optional summarization and graph extraction can run on local Ollama models
- MCP integration via stdio, no network, ports, or tokens required
- Supports multiple projects and agents sharing the same workspace
Pricing
Free
PMB is completely free to use with no hidden costs.
PMB by the numbers
| Metric | PMB | Peer median | Position (1 is best) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | 66% have one | n/a |
| Listed as an alternative to | 1 tool | 2 | #307 of 565 (joint) |
Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. All Data & Databases data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position.
Cite this: Toolradar, “PMB by the numbers”, Oct 2026.
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PMB FAQ
How does PMB recall context from previous coding sessions without adding latency?
PMB uses a hybrid recall system that combines BM25, dense vectors, and entity graphs to surface relevant memories in milliseconds. Because the read path does not require an LLM call, the tool injects context instantly before the agent responds.
Which teams benefit most from adopting PMB for their development workflow?
Teams building with AI coding agents such as advanced models, Cursor, or Zed benefit most from PMB. Developers who need persistent, local-first memory across sessions without relying on cloud services will find the tool especially useful for maintaining project context and decisions.
Can PMB be used with general AI assistants like chat bots outside of coding?
PMB is focused on AI coding agents and may not be designed for general AI assistant memory such as chat bots outside coding. Its architecture is optimized for recording and recalling context from coding sessions specifically.
How is PMB priced and does it require any paid subscription?
PMB is free to use with no paid plan required. The tool is released under an open-source Apache-2.0 license, so there are no subscription fees or hidden costs.
How does PMB compare to Zep Memory for developers building with AI agents?
Unlike Zep Memory, PMB is fully local-first and open-source, keeping all data on your machine in SQLite and LanceDB without needing API keys. PMB also avoids additional API calls on the read path to keep recall latency minimal, whereas Zep Memory may rely on cloud-based retrieval.
What are the main trade-offs when using PMB with multiple coding agents?
PMB requires initial setup and configuration for each agent, though this is simplified with pmb connect commands. The tool is primarily focused on AI coding agents and may not serve as a general memory solution for non-coding AI assistants.
Does PMB integrate directly with Cursor and Zed without needing cloud services?
Yes, PMB integrates seamlessly with AI coding agents like advanced models, Cursor, and Zed via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). All integrations run locally with no cloud dependency because the system is fully offline-capable.
Which kind of memory does PMB automatically record during a coding session?
PMB automatically records lessons, decisions, and project overviews from your coding sessions. These memories are stored in a local web dashboard that visualizes them as an interactive graph or timeline for easy exploration.
Source: pmbai.dev