Skip to content

FAQ

FAQ

Short answers to the adoption questions people ask before and after installing Origin.

Qi-Xuan LuUpdated 4 min read

At a glance

01

Origin is local-first memory for AI work: a daemon, CLI, MCP connector, and Claude Code plugin that share one local context layer.

02

Use this page when you need the short answer, then follow the linked docs for setup, data, packages, troubleshooting, or project scope.

01

Is Origin just memory?

Origin includes memory, but the product goal is broader than generic memory. It is a local memory layer for AI work so agents can carry decisions, context, handoffs, and source-backed pages across sessions and tools.

That distinction matters because Origin is designed around the work loop: brief, capture, recall, handoff, distill, inspect, and keep going.

Read project scope

02

Which install path should I use?

Use the Claude Code plugin if Claude Code is your main work surface. It gives you /init, /brief, /capture, /handoff, /distill, and the plugin-level workflow.

Use npx -y @7xuanlu/origin setup when you want Origin from Codex, Cursor, Claude Desktop, Gemini CLI, VS Code, or another MCP client.

Compare package names

03

Do I need the desktop app?

No. The daemon, CLI, and MCP connector are the product path. The desktop app is optional and lives in a separate repository.

If you only want agents to use Origin, install the plugin or runtime setup and verify the MCP route. You do not need a GUI.

Read desktop status

04

Where does data live?

Origin keeps the daemon database in the operating system's application data directory and keeps readable artifacts under ~/.origin.

The core loop is local-first. Optional model or API-key choices can add more language features, but they are explicit configuration decisions.

Read data and privacy

05

Is Markdown the database?

No. Origin uses a local database and index for retrieval, graph context, pages, and daemon state. Markdown artifacts are the human-readable projection, not the whole storage system.

This gives agents fast retrieval while still giving humans files they can inspect, version, back up, and move.

Read source-backed pages

06

Does uninstall delete memory?

No. origin uninstall removes the per-user service registration. It does not delete ~/.origin or the daemon data directory.

That separation is intentional because local memory may be the only record of project decisions, handoffs, private preferences, and generated pages.

Read updates and uninstall

07

How do I know it works?

Run /init in Claude Code or origin doctor from the terminal. Then capture one small durable fact and recall it from the client you plan to use.

If daemon health passes and a capture/recall round trip works, Origin is connected to the local memory layer.

Read troubleshooting

Next

Security and Reporting

Report vulnerabilities privately, keep diagnostic reports redacted, and understand Origin's local security boundary.

Read next