{"title":"MCP in Cursor","slug":"cursor","category":"mcp","summary":"Connect Synapse to Cursor IDE for persistent project memory across coding sessions.","audience":["human"],"tags":["mcp","cursor","ide","coding"],"difficulty":"intermediate","updated":"2026-06-27","word_count":283,"read_minutes":1,"lang":"en","translated":true,"requested_lang":"en","content_markdown":"\n# MCP in Cursor\n\nCursor is an AI-powered IDE based on VS Code. With Synapse MCP, Cursor gains\npersistent memory across sessions — it remembers your project decisions,\ncodebase patterns, and past debugging sessions.\n\n## Prerequisites\n\n- Cursor IDE installed ()\n- Node.js 18+\n- Your Synapse Mind Key\n\n## Setup\n\n### Step 1: Open Cursor Settings\n\nIn Cursor:\n\n1. Open Settings (Cmd+, on macOS, Ctrl+, on Windows/Linux)\n2. Search for \"MCP\" or navigate to `Cursor Settings → MCP Servers`\n\n### Step 2: Add Synapse MCP Server\n\nClick \"Add MCP Server\" and configure:\n\n| Field | Value |\n|-------|-------|\n| Name | `synapse` |\n| Type | `stdio` |\n| Command | `npx -y synapse-mcp-api@latest` |\n| Env | `SYNAPSE_MIND_KEY=mk_YOUR_KEY, SYNAPSE_URL=https://synapse.schaefer.zone` |\n\n### Step 3: Edit config.json directly (alternative)\n\nCursor stores MCP config in `~/.cursor/config.json`:\n\n```json\n{\n \"mcpServers\": {\n \"synapse\": {\n \"command\": \"npx\",\n \"args\": [\"-y\", \"synapse-mcp-api@latest\"],\n \"env\": {\n \"SYNAPSE_MIND_KEY\": \"mk_YOUR_MIND_KEY_HERE\",\n \"SYNAPSE_URL\": \"https://synapse.schaefer.zone\"\n }\n }\n }\n}\n```\n\n### Step 4: Restart Cursor\n\nFully restart Cursor (Cmd+Q and reopen on macOS).\n\n## Verify It Works\n\nIn Cursor's chat panel (Cmd+L):\n\n```\nrecall all my memories\n```\n\nCursor should call `memory_recall` and respond with your stored memories.\n\n## Common Patterns\n\n### Project onboarding\n\nWhen opening a new project:\n\n```\nrecalling project context — what do I know about this codebase?\n```\n\nCursor calls `memory_recall` and continues work where you left off.\n\n### Architecture decisions\n\n```\nstore this decision: \"Using Fastify instead of Express for this project\nbecause of schema validation. Date: 2026-06-27.\"\n```\n\nCursor stores it as a `project` memory with `high` priority.\n\n### Debugging history\n\n```\nwhat bugs have I hit in this codebase?\n```\n\nCursor searches for `mistake` memories and reminds you of past fixes.\n\n### Cross-session code patterns\n\n```\nsearch memories: \"authentication pattern\"\n```\n\nCursor finds memories about auth implementations you've done before.\n\n## Troubleshooting\n\n### MCP server not connecting\n\n1. Verify Node.js: `node --version` (≥ 18)\n2. Test MCP server: `npx -y synapse-mcp-api@latest` (should start without errors)\n3. Check Cursor's MCP logs (View → Output → MCP)\n4. Restart Cursor fully\n\n### Tools not appearing\n\n- Check `~/.cursor/config.json` is valid JSON\n- Verify `SYNAPSE_MIND_KEY` env var is set\n- Check Cursor version supports MCP (≥ 0.42)\n\n### Mind Key invalid\n\n```bash\n# Test your Mind Key directly\ncurl -H \"Authorization: Bearer mk_YOUR_KEY\" \\\n https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory/recall\n```\n\n## Next Steps\n\n- [Claude Desktop Setup](/docs/mcp/claude-desktop)\n- [Continue.dev Setup](/docs/mcp/continue)\n- [Persistent LLM Agent Guide](/docs/guides/persistent-llm-agent)\n","content_html":"

MCP in Cursor

\n

Cursor is an AI-powered IDE based on VS Code. With Synapse MCP, Cursor gains\npersistent memory across sessions — it remembers your project decisions,\ncodebase patterns, and past debugging sessions.

\n

Prerequisites

\n\n

Setup

\n

Step 1: Open Cursor Settings

\n

In Cursor:

\n
    \n
  1. Open Settings (Cmd+, on macOS, Ctrl+, on Windows/Linux)
    2. \n
  2. Search for "MCP" or navigate to Cursor Settings → MCP Servers
    3. \n
\n

Step 2: Add Synapse MCP Server

\n

Click "Add MCP Server" and configure:

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
FieldValue
Namesynapse
Typestdio
Commandnpx -y synapse-mcp-api@latest
EnvSYNAPSE_MIND_KEY=mk_YOUR_KEY, SYNAPSE_URL=https://synapse.schaefer.zone
\n

Step 3: Edit config.json directly (alternative)

\n

Cursor stores MCP config in ~/.cursor/config.json:

\n
{\n  "mcpServers": {\n    "synapse": {\n      "command": "npx",\n      "args": ["-y", "synapse-mcp-api@latest"],\n      "env": {\n        "SYNAPSE_MIND_KEY": "mk_YOUR_MIND_KEY_HERE",\n        "SYNAPSE_URL": "https://synapse.schaefer.zone"\n      }\n    }\n  }\n}

Step 4: Restart Cursor

\n

Fully restart Cursor (Cmd+Q and reopen on macOS).

\n

Verify It Works

\n

In Cursor's chat panel (Cmd+L):

\n
recall all my memories

Cursor should call memory_recall and respond with your stored memories.

\n

Common Patterns

\n

Project onboarding

\n

When opening a new project:

\n
recalling project context — what do I know about this codebase?

Cursor calls memory_recall and continues work where you left off.

\n

Architecture decisions

\n
store this decision: "Using Fastify instead of Express for this project\nbecause of schema validation. Date: 2026-06-27."

Cursor stores it as a project memory with high priority.

\n

Debugging history

\n
what bugs have I hit in this codebase?

Cursor searches for mistake memories and reminds you of past fixes.

\n

Cross-session code patterns

\n
search memories: "authentication pattern"

Cursor finds memories about auth implementations you've done before.

\n

Troubleshooting

\n

MCP server not connecting

\n
    \n
  1. Verify Node.js: node --version (≥ 18)
    2. \n
  2. Test MCP server: npx -y synapse-mcp-api@latest (should start without errors)
    3. \n
  3. Check Cursor's MCP logs (View → Output → MCP)
    4. \n
  4. Restart Cursor fully
    5. \n
\n

Tools not appearing

\n\n

Mind Key invalid

\n
# Test your Mind Key directly\ncurl -H "Authorization: Bearer mk_YOUR_KEY" \\\n     https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory/recall

Next Steps

\n\n","urls":{"html":"/docs/mcp/cursor","text":"/docs/mcp/cursor?format=text","json":"/docs/mcp/cursor?format=json","llm":"/docs/mcp/cursor?format=llm"},"translations_available":["en","zh","hi","es","fr","ar","pt","ru","ja","de","it","ko","nl","pl","tr","sv","vi","th","id","uk"]}