AgentIndex icon
AgentIndex
hmem logo
hmem
★ 24
vs
context-mode logo
context-mode
★ 31.8k

hmem vs context-mode

hmem: hmem is a memory system for AI agents that persists project context across sessions, devices, and AI providers. It uses a 5-level lazy loading architecture to minimize token usage while retaining full details. It supports auto-logging, background checkpoints, and cross-platform sync.; context-mode: Every tool call in an MCP (Model-Controller-Program) environment dumps raw data into the context window, quickly consuming space and causing the agent to lose track of ongoing tasks. Context Mode is an MCP server that tackles this by sandboxing tool outputs to significantly reduce context usage, tracking session events in SQLite for continuity, and promoting 'think in code' to minimize data processing within the LLM.

01

TL;DR

hmem logo
hmemMemory & Context · ★ 24

AI coding assistants that need to maintain project context across sessions

Read hmem full review →
context-mode logo
context-modeMemory & Context · ★ 31.8k
When to choose:
  • Your sessions fill up with tool output such as Playwright snapshots, GitHub issue lists or logs.
  • You want work state (edits, git operations, tasks, decisions) to survive context compaction without being dumped back into the window.
  • You use a hook-capable agent, where tool routing happens automatically.
When to skip:
  • You need an OSI open-source licence: it uses the Elastic License 2.0, which restricts uses such as offering it as a managed service.
  • Your sessions are short and rarely hit the context limit.
  • You do not want hooks changing how your agent's tools behave.
Read context-mode full review →
02

Side-by-Side Comparison

Field
hmem logohmem
context-mode logocontext-mode
Category
Memory & Context
Memory & Context
Stars
★ 24
★ 31.8k
License
MIT
Elastic License 2.0
Install Command
npm install -g hmem-mcp && npx hmem init
npm install -g context-mode
Updated
3mo ago
1d ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Website
↗ Visit
↗ Visit
GitHub
↗ GitHub
↗ GitHub
Tags
ai-agents, ai-tools, claude
antigravity, claude, claude-code
03

Features

hmem logohmem
015-level lazy loading to minimize token usage
02Automatic session logging and background checkpoints via Haiku
03Cross-provider and cross-tool support
04Project-based memory organization
05Encrypted sync across devices
context-mode logocontext-mode
01Context Saving: Sandbox tools keep raw data out of the context window, achieving up to 98% reduction.
02Session Continuity: Tracks every file edit, git operation, task, and user decision in SQLite for seamless session resume.
03Think in Code: Promotes LLMs to program analysis, not compute it, saving 100x context by logging only results.
04Batch Execution & Search: Run multiple commands/queries in one call with tools like `ctx_batch_execute`.
05Advanced Knowledge Base: Uses SQLite FTS5 with BM25 ranking, smart snippets, and TTL cache for efficient information retrieval.
04

Use Cases

hmem logohmem
↳AI coding assistants that need to maintain project context across sessions
↳Multi-device workflow where different agents continue the same project
↳Knowledge management for personal AI assistants
context-mode logocontext-mode
↳Deep repository research and analysis (e.g., architecture, contributors, issues)
↳Analyze Git history to identify top contributors, commit frequency, and most changed files
↳Efficiently process large JSON APIs, web pages, or logs without flooding the context window
05

Best For

hmem logohmem
—
context-mode logocontext-mode
Most PopularTrending
FAQ

FAQ

What is the difference between hmem and context-mode?
Both hmem and context-mode are in the Memory & Context category. hmem has 24 stars, while context-mode has 31.8k stars.
Which is better, hmem or context-mode?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose hmem if AI coding assistants that need to maintain project context across sessions, and context-mode if Deep repository research and analysis (e.g., architecture, contributors, issues).
Is hmem free or open source?
Yes, hmem is open source on GitHub (MIT).
Is context-mode free or open source?
Yes, context-mode is open source on GitHub (Elastic License 2.0).
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Related

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