cortexadb 1.0.0

Fast, embedded vector + graph memory for AI agents

CortexaDB

SQLite for AI Agents

📖 Read the full documentation

CortexaDB is a lightweight, high-performance embedded database built in Rust, specifically designed to serve as the long-term memory for AI agents. It provides a single-file, zero-dependency storage solution that combines the simplicity of SQLite with the semantic power of vector search, graph relationships, and temporal indexing.

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The Problem: Why CortexaDB?

Current AI agent frameworks often struggle with "memory" once the context window fills up. Developers usually have to choose between complex, over-engineered vector databases (that require a running server) or simple JSON files (that are slow and lose searchability at scale).

CortexaDB exists to provide a middle ground: a hard-durable, embedded memory engine that runs inside your agent's process. It ensures your agent never forgets, starting instantly with zero overhead, and maintaining millisecond query latencies even as it learns thousands of new facts.

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Quickstart

from cortexadb import CortexaDB
from cortexadb.providers.openai import OpenAIEmbedder

# 1. Open database with an embedder 
db = CortexaDB.open("agent.mem", embedder=OpenAIEmbedder())

# 2. Add facts 
mid1 = db.add("The user prefers dark mode.")
mid2 = db.add("User works at Stripe.")
db.connect(mid1, mid2, "relates_to")

# 3. Fluent Query Builder
hits = db.query("What are the user's preferences?") \
    .limit(5) \
    .use_graph() \
    .execute()

print(f"Top Hit: {hits[0].id}")

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Installation

CortexaDB is available on PyPI for Python and can be added via Cargo for Rust.

Python

pip install cortexadb
pip install cortexadb[docs,pdf]  # Optional: For PDF/Docx support

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Core Capabilities

• 100x Faster Ingestion: New batch insertion system allows processing 5,000+ chunks/second.
• Hybrid Retrieval: Search by semantic similarity (Vector), structural relationship (Graph), and time-based recency in a single query.
• Ultra-Fast Indexing: Uses HNSW (USearch) for sub-millisecond approximate nearest neighbor search.
• Fluent API: Chainable QueryBuilder for expressive searching and collection scoping.
• Hard Durability: WAL-backed storage ensures zero data loss.
• Privacy First: Completely local. Your agent's memory stays on your machine.

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Technical Architecture & Benchmarks

Performance Benchmarks (v1.0.0)

Measured on an M-series Mac — 10,000 embeddings × 384 dimensions.

Operation	Latency / Time
Bulk Ingestion (1,000 chunks)	0.12s
Single Memory Add	1ms
HNSW Search p50	1.03ms (debug) / ~0.3ms (release)
HNSW Recall	95%

See the full benchmark docs for HNSW vs Exact comparison and how to reproduce.

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License & Status

CortexaDB v1.0.0 is a stable release available under the MIT and Apache-2.0 licenses.
We welcome feedback and contributions!

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CortexaDB — Because agents shouldn't have to choose between speed and a soul (memory).