native code search and MCP context for AI coding brokers

Questions.
What does Pensieve search?
Your information and folders (Documents, Desktop, Downloads and any folder you add), your git repositories together with uncommitted adjustments and worktrees, and your Claude Code, Codex and Qwen Code periods. Obsidian vaults too, and optionally Apple Notes. Everything is listed and searched in your Mac.
How does Pensieve assist my agent?
Without it, a coding agent usually greps the repo and reads many complete information to seek out what issues, and each file it reads prices tokens. With Pensieve related over MCP, the agent asks one query and will get again essentially the most related passages with their file and line, so it begins on the precise code in fewer device calls. In our benchmark that made every lookup 18% cheaper and 21% quicker; see the measured outcomes above.
Does Pensieve make Claude Code cheaper?
In our benchmark, Claude Code with Pensieve discovered the precise file in 131 of 144 runs, towards 123 with grep alone, with 43% fewer device calls. Each lookup value 18% much less total, and 6–28% much less in every of 4 repos from 504 to 34,847 information. The benchmark scripts are open supply, so you may run them by yourself code.
How do I get my agent to make use of Pensieve as a substitute of grep?
Agents grep by behavior. The set up immediate runs pensieve combine beneficial, which provides a brief “search earlier than you grep” part to the directions information of Claude Code, Codex and Gemini CLI, plus a search talent and two hooks for Claude Code. You also can swap these on in Settings → Agents. With it, the agent used Pensieve in all 144 runs of our newest benchmark.
Which brokers work with Pensieve?
Any MCP shopper. pensieve combine beneficial connects Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Claude Desktop and VS Code for you. Other brokers can use pensieve mcp over stdio, or HTTP. Optional abilities additionally recommend which teammates know an space and assist plan new code round what already exists.
How does it discover information gaps?
Pensieve reads git blame and up to date commit historical past for every space of a repo. Areas the place most strains had been written by individuals with no latest commits there are flagged, together with what number of lively individuals know the realm and who amongst them is aware of it finest.
Does something go away my Mac?
Your information, code and periods do not. Indexing and search run in your Mac. Pensieve solely downloads its fashions and checks GitHub for updates, which you’ll flip off. The exception is for those who select Claude Code or Codex to put in writing non-obligatory AI insights; these are labelled Cloud. The built-in mannequin, a neighborhood server like LM Studio, or no AI in any respect maintain every little thing native.
Do I would like an AI mannequin?
No. Search, agent context, possession and information gaps all work with out one. AI insights are non-obligatory: select the built-in Qwen 3.5 9B, LM Studio, Claude Code, Codex, or go away it off.
Is Pensieve free?
Yes. It’s free and open supply beneath the MIT license. The code is on GitHub.
Why does macOS ask earlier than opening it?
The app is not notarized but. If macOS blocks it, open System Settings → Privacy & Security and click on Open Anyway. You solely do that as soon as.
Does it work on Intel Macs or Linux?
The app wants Apple Silicon. On Linux and Intel Macs, the identical immediate installs the backend and the browser visualizer. An Intel Mac additionally will get the search panel if the Xcode command-line instruments are put in.
How do I uninstall it?
First run pensieve combine all --remove to disconnect your brokers. Then give up Pensieve, drag it to the Trash, and delete ~/.pensieve, ~/.native/share/uv/instruments/pensieve and ~/.native/bin/pensieve. Its fashions are in ~/.cache/huggingface.
