docs(mcp): simplify README for end users

Remove technical implementation details, use user-friendly language,
rename "local mode" to "self-hosted" throughout.

Author: ccheney

apps/mcp/README.md

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 # @rawcontext/engram-mcp
 
-Model Context Protocol (MCP) server providing intelligent, graph-backed memory for AI agents.
+Long-term memory for AI agents.
 
 ## Overview
 
-Engram MCP enables AI agents to store and retrieve long-term memories across sessions using a bitemporal knowledge graph. It supports cloud-managed and self-hosted deployments with hybrid semantic/keyword search.
+Engram gives AI agents persistent memory across sessions. Store decisions, preferences, insights, and context that your AI assistant can recall in future conversations.
 
 ## Installation
 
@@ -50,9 +50,9 @@ On first run, authenticate via browser (OAuth device flow).
 
 ## Modes
 
-**Cloud mode** (default): Managed API with OAuth authentication. Core tools available (`remember`, `recall`).
+**Cloud** (default): Managed service with OAuth authentication.
 
-**Local mode**: Self-hosted with full features including resources, prompts, and graph queries. Set `ENGRAM_API_URL=http://localhost:6174` and run infrastructure from the [monorepo](https://github.com/rawcontext/engram).
+**Self-hosted**: Full features including resources, prompts, and graph queries. See [Self-Hosting](#self-hosting).
 
 ## Tools
 
@@ -71,14 +71,14 @@ On first run, authenticate via browser (OAuth device flow).
 | `extract_facts` | Parse unstructured text into atomic facts |
 | `enrich_memory` | Auto-generate summary, keywords, and category for memories |
 
-### Local Mode Tools
+### Self-Hosted Tools
 
 | Tool | Description |
 |------|-------------|
-| `query` | Execute read-only Cypher queries against the knowledge graph |
+| `query` | Run custom queries against your memory graph |
 | `context` | Assemble comprehensive context (memories + file history + decisions) for tasks |
 
-## Resources (Local Mode)
+## Resources (Self-Hosted)
 
 | URI | Description |
 |-----|-------------|
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ On first run, authenticate via browser (OAuth device flow).
 | `session://{id}/summary` | AI-generated session summary |
 | `file-history://{path}` | Change history for a file |
 
-## Prompts (Local Mode)
+## Prompts (Self-Hosted)
 
 | Prompt | Description |
 |--------|-------------|
@@ -99,41 +99,12 @@ On first run, authenticate via browser (OAuth device flow).
 
 | Variable | Default | Description |
 |----------|---------|-------------|
-| `ENGRAM_API_URL` | `https://api.engram.rawcontext.com` | API URL. Set to `http://localhost:6174` for local mode |
-| `ENGRAM_OBSERVATORY_URL` | Auto-detected | Observatory URL for OAuth device flow |
-| `MCP_TRANSPORT` | `stdio` | Transport mode (`stdio` or `http`) |
-| `MCP_HTTP_PORT` | `3010` | HTTP server port (when using HTTP transport) |
-| `LOG_LEVEL` | `info` | Logging level (`trace`, `debug`, `info`, `warn`, `error`, `fatal`) |
+| `ENGRAM_API_URL` | Cloud API | Set to `http://localhost:6174` for self-hosted mode |
+| `LOG_LEVEL` | `info` | Logging level (`debug`, `info`, `warn`, `error`) |
 
-## Local Development
+## Self-Hosting
 
-```bash
-# Clone the monorepo
-git clone https://github.com/rawcontext/engram.git
-cd engram
-
-# Install dependencies
-bun install
-
-# Start infrastructure (FalkorDB, Qdrant, NATS, PostgreSQL)
-bun run infra:up
-
-# Run MCP server in development mode
-cd apps/mcp && bun run dev
-
-# Build for production
-bun run build
-
-# Type check and lint
-bun run typecheck && bun run lint
-```
-
-## Architecture
-
-- **Bitemporal Graph**: FalkorDB with valid time (`vt_start`/`vt_end`) and transaction time (`tt_start`/`tt_end`)
-- **Hybrid Search**: Dense embeddings (semantic) + BM25 (keyword) via Qdrant
-- **Event Streaming**: NATS JetStream for real-time processing
-- **Client Capabilities**: Auto-detects sampling, elicitation, roots, resources, and prompts support
+See the [monorepo](https://github.com/rawcontext/engram) for self-hosting instructions.
 
 ## License
 

apps/mcp/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"name": "@rawcontext/engram-mcp",
-	"version": "0.1.3",
+	"version": "0.1.4",
 	"description": "Engram MCP server - intelligent memory for AI agents",
 	"type": "module",
 	"bin": {