COAIA Memory

MCP server for structural tension charts based on Robert Fritz's creative methodology

Extends @modelcontextprotocol/server-memory with structural tension charts - a different orientation from problem-solving, focused on bringing desired outcomes into being through structural dynamics.

Quick Start

npx coaia-memory --memory-path ./charts.jsonl

Configuration

Minimal Setup (STC Tools Only - Default)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "coaia-memory": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "coaia-memory", "--memory-path", "/path/to/charts.jsonl"]
    }
  }
}

Exposes 12 tools: list_active_charts, create_structural_tension_chart, add_action_step, remove_action_step, telescope_action_step, mark_action_complete, get_chart_progress, update_action_progress, update_current_reality, update_desired_outcome, update_action_step_title, init_llm_guidance

Full Setup (STC + Knowledge Graph Tools)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "coaia-memory": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "coaia-memory", "--memory-path", "/path/to/charts.jsonl"],
      "env": {
        "COAIA_TOOLS": "STC_TOOLS,KG_TOOLS,init_llm_guidance"
      }
    }
  }
}

Adds 9 KG tools: create_entities, create_relations, add_observations, delete_entities, delete_observations, delete_relations, search_nodes, open_nodes, read_graph

Environment Variables

Variable	Description	Default
COAIA_TOOLS	Tool groups/names to enable (comma/space separated)	STC_TOOLS,init_llm_guidance
COAIA_DISABLED_TOOLS	Tools to exclude from enabled set	-

Tool Groups:

• STC_TOOLS - Structural tension chart tools (11)
• KG_TOOLS - Knowledge graph tools (9)
• CORE_TOOLS - Essential tools only (4): list_active_charts, create_structural_tension_chart, add_action_step, mark_action_complete

Core Concepts

Structural Tension

┌─────────────────┐                    ┌─────────────────┐
│ Current Reality │ ══ TENSION ══════> │ Desired Outcome │
│ (where you are) │                    │ (what to create)│
└─────────────────┘                    └─────────────────┘
         │                                      ▲
         │       Strategic Secondary Choices    │
         └──────────────────────────────────────┘
        (action steps understood in context of tension)

• Desired Outcome: What you want to CREATE (not fix/solve). Specific, quantified where possible, avoiding comparative terms (more, better, less).
• Current Reality: Honest factual assessment - objective facts only, no readiness assumptions ("ready to begin" destroys tension).
• Structural Tension: The dynamic force between current reality and desired outcome that naturally seeks resolution. NOT a gap to fill, but a generative force.

Action Steps: NOT a To-Do List

Critical distinction: Action steps are strategic secondary choices that support the primary goal, NOT tasks to check off.

They are:

• Understood in the context of structural tension
• Related to each other as part of an overview
• Strategic actions designed to enable creating the goal
• Answers to: "If we took these steps, would we achieve this result?"

Three types of actions (use appropriately):

1. Overview actions - Strategic steps early in process (what we put on charts)
2. Experimental actions - Learning, exploring, "sketches before the painting"
3. Refinement actions - Polishing near completion (too early = stifled energy)

Test question: "If we took these steps, would we achieve this result?" If No → add more steps. If Yes → done.

Goal Refinement Principles (Robert Fritz)

Principle	Wrong	Right
Quantify	"Increased business"	"5 new business clients"
No comparatives	"Better health"	"Very good health"
Create, not solve	"Overcome weight problem"	"I weigh 150 pounds"
Result, not process	"Run 4 miles daily"	"Well-toned, healthy body"
Specific, not vague	"Improve my skills"	"Mastery of Photoshop"

Creator Moment of Truth (Review Process)

When assessing progress, use this four-step process:

1. Acknowledge: What was expected vs. what was delivered? (facts only)
2. Analyze: How did it happen? (step-by-step, not blame)
3. Plan: How will I do it differently next time?
4. Feedback: How will I track the changes?

This transforms discrepancies into learning opportunities, not failures.

Usage Examples

Create a chart:

{
  "desiredOutcome": "Launch personal website",
  "currentReality": "Have domain, no design or content yet",
  "dueDate": "2025-03-01T00:00:00Z",
  "actionSteps": ["Design homepage", "Write about page", "Deploy to hosting"]
}

Add action step to existing chart:

{
  "parentChartId": "chart_1234567890",
  "actionStepTitle": "Set up CI/CD pipeline",
  "currentReality": "Manual deployment only, no automation experience"
}

Mark action complete:

{ "actionStepName": "chart_1234567890_desired_outcome" }

Development

git clone https://github.com/jgwill/coaia-memory
cd coaia-memory
npm install
npm run build

Credits

• Author: J.Guillaume D.-Isabelle (@jgwill)
• Methodology: Robert Fritz - Structural Tension
• Foundation: @modelcontextprotocol/server-memory
• License: MIT