Is there a way to enable IDE like editing without memories etc..

[nickolay-kondratyev]

Serena comes with at least 2 distinct functionalities: IDE like navigation/editing & memories.

If I don't want to use Serena's memories their related instructions still get loaded into the context. The question is can we enable just the IDE like editing/navigation without Serena memories (example if I am using my own simpler and more visible system for memory management).

[opcode81]

You could create a custom mode that disables all the affected tools and then always enable that mode when starting the MCP server.
Note: The default modes are not "none" but interactive + editing, i.e. to extend the default behaviour, use these two modes plus yours.

There is an existing mode no-onboarding which might achieve most of what you want (as memory creation is primarily initiated during onboarding), yet it won't actually disable the memory tools. Shall we add a pre-defined mode no-memories, perhaps?

more visible system for memory management

Note that Serena's memories are arguably quite visible. They can be viewed and edited directly in Serena's dashboard which opens when you start the MCP server.

[nickolay-kondratyev]

Hi thanks for adding this so quickly!

To note there may be a bug with the prompt right now.

I have deleted the .serena folder and then ran

uvx --from git+https://github.com/oraios/serena serena start-mcp-server --transport streamable-http --port "${SERENA_PORT:?}" --mode no-memories --mode no-onboarding

What I see in mode description is the following. With the first statement aligning to what we have done while the 2nd statement not being in alignment

Modes descriptions:

- Serena's memory tools are not available and the onboarding workflow is not being applied.

- You have already performed onboarding, meaning that memories have already been created.
  Read a list of available memories using the `list_memories` tool before proceeding with the task.
  You don't need to read the actual memories, just remember that they exist and that you can read them later if they are relevant for your task.

Additionally the start of the system prompt could be adjusted as well when memories are not used

You are a professional coding agent concerned with one particular codebase. You have
access to semantic coding tools on which you rely heavily for all your work, as well as collection of memory
files containing general information about the codebase. You operate in a resource-efficient and intelligent manner, always
keeping in mind to not read or generate content that is not needed for the task at hand.

[opcode81]

The combination of no-memories and no-onboarding does not make sense:

• no-onboarding: Do not use the onboarding process but use memories (initial memories have been created externally)
• no-memories: Use neither memories nor onboarding (because onboarding builds on memories)

I specifically suggested another combination of modes.

[opcode81]

I have removed the inappropriate unconditional statement about memories from the system prompt.

[nickolay-kondratyev]

Thank you!

Looks like this CI run failed though: https://github.com/oraios/serena/actions/runs/19929310672/job/57136927217

[opcode81]

I know, but this is not indicative of an actual problem (see #788)

[wkundrus]

What would be the benefit of using only serena memory vs. claudes own memory ?