Telemetry

Last updated: December 27, 2025

Our Approach

Basic Memory collects anonymous usage statistics to help improve the software. We follow the Homebrew model - telemetry is on by default with easy opt-out.

We believe in transparency. This page explains exactly what we collect, why, and how to opt out if you prefer.

Note for Cloud Users: This page describes telemetry for the open-source software. If you use Basic Memory Cloud, usage data is associated with your account (not anonymous) and covered by our Privacy Policy. Cloud usage tracking helps us provide better support and service.

What We Collect

Usage Data

• App version - Which version of Basic Memory you’re using
• Python version - Your Python runtime version
• Operating system - macOS, Linux, or Windows
• Architecture - CPU architecture (x86_64, arm64, etc.)
• Feature usage - Which MCP tools and CLI commands are used
• Error types - Exception class names (e.g., “FileNotFoundError”)

Anonymous Identifier

• A random UUID generated on first run
• Stored locally at ~/.basic-memory/.install_id
• Not linked to any personal information
• You can reset it anytime by deleting the file

What We NEVER Collect

• Note content - Your knowledge base content stays private
• File names or paths - We sanitize error messages to remove paths
• Personal information - No names, emails, or identifying data
• IP addresses - Our analytics provider (OpenPanel) doesn’t store IPs
• File system structure - We don’t see your directory layout
• Query content - What you search for stays private

Why We Collect This

Understanding how Basic Memory is used helps us:

• Prioritize features - Focus on what people actually use
• Fix bugs faster - See which errors occur most frequently
• Improve performance - Understand usage patterns
• Make better decisions - Data-informed product development

How to Opt Out

Via CLI (Recommended)

# Disable telemetry
basic-memory telemetry disable

# Check status
basic-memory telemetry status

# Re-enable if you change your mind
basic-memory telemetry enable

Via Environment Variable

export BASIC_MEMORY_TELEMETRY_ENABLED=false

Add this to your shell profile (.bashrc, .zshrc, etc.) to make it permanent.

Via Config File

Edit ~/.basic-memory/config.json:

{
  "telemetry_enabled": false
}

First-Run Notice

On first use, Basic Memory displays a one-time notice informing you about telemetry. This is not a prompt - it’s just information. Telemetry is already enabled unless you choose to disable it.

Data Handling

Storage

• Data is sent to OpenPanel, a privacy-focused analytics platform
• No data is stored locally except your install ID
• Events are fire-and-forget - they don’t slow down your workflow

Retention

• Aggregated data is retained for product analytics
• Individual events are not personally identifiable
• No correlation between events and users beyond the anonymous ID

Security

• Data is transmitted over HTTPS
• API credentials are write-only (cannot read any data)
• No sensitive information is ever transmitted

Comparison with Other Tools

Tool	Telemetry Default	Opt-Out Method
Basic Memory	On	CLI command
Homebrew	On	Environment variable
VS Code	On	Settings toggle
npm	On	Config flag

We follow industry best practices by making telemetry:

• Transparent - Clear documentation of what’s collected
• Anonymous - No personal data or identifying information
• Opt-out - Easy to disable with a single command
• Non-blocking - Never affects your workflow

Open Source Commitment

Our telemetry implementation is open source. You can review exactly what data is collected:

• Source code: telemetry.py on GitHub
• Tests: test_telemetry.py

Questions?

If you have questions or concerns about telemetry:

Email: [email protected]

GitHub: Open an issue

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We respect your privacy. Telemetry helps us build a better product, but we understand if you prefer not to participate.