agentic-qe 3.10.8 → 3.10.9

package/dist/init/codex-installer.js

@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@ import { createPlatformConfigGenerator, } from './platform-config-generator.js';
 export class CodexInstaller {
     projectRoot;
     overwrite;
+    options;
     generator;
     constructor(options) {
         this.projectRoot = options.projectRoot;
         this.overwrite = options.overwrite ?? false;
+        this.options = options;
         this.generator = createPlatformConfigGenerator();
     }
     async install() {
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ export class CodexInstaller {
         };
         try {
             // Generate TOML MCP config
-            const mcpConfig = this.generator.generateMcpConfig('codex');
+            const mcpConfig = this.generator.generateMcpConfig('codex', { memoryBackend: this.options.memoryBackend });
             const configPath = join(this.projectRoot, mcpConfig.path);
             result.configPath = configPath;
             if (!existsSync(configPath) || this.overwrite) {

package/dist/init/continuedev-installer.d.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@
 export interface ContinueDevInstallerOptions {
     projectRoot: string;
     overwrite?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * Memory backend for this install. 'memory' => database-free: the MCP config
+     * is written to run in-memory (AQE_MEMORY_BACKEND=memory, no AQE_MEMORY_PATH). (#533)
+     */
+    memoryBackend?: 'memory' | 'sqlite' | 'agentdb' | 'hybrid';
 }
 export interface ContinueDevInstallResult {
     success: boolean;
@@ -20,6 +25,7 @@ export interface ContinueDevInstallResult {
 export declare class ContinueDevInstaller {
     private projectRoot;
     private overwrite;
+    private options;
     private generator;
     constructor(options: ContinueDevInstallerOptions);
     install(): Promise<ContinueDevInstallResult>;

package/dist/init/continuedev-installer.js

@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@ import { createPlatformConfigGenerator, } from './platform-config-generator.js';
 export class ContinueDevInstaller {
     projectRoot;
     overwrite;
+    options;
     generator;
     constructor(options) {
         this.projectRoot = options.projectRoot;
         this.overwrite = options.overwrite ?? false;
+        this.options = options;
         this.generator = createPlatformConfigGenerator();
     }
     async install() {
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ export class ContinueDevInstaller {
         };
         try {
             // Generate YAML MCP config
-            const mcpConfig = this.generator.generateMcpConfig('continuedev');
+            const mcpConfig = this.generator.generateMcpConfig('continuedev', { memoryBackend: this.options.memoryBackend });
             const configPath = join(this.projectRoot, mcpConfig.path);
             result.configPath = configPath;
             if (!existsSync(configPath) || this.overwrite) {
@@ -83,6 +85,12 @@ export class ContinueDevInstaller {
             // If existing config already has mcpServers key, append just the server entry
             // to avoid duplicate mcpServers keys (which produces invalid YAML)
             if (existing.includes('mcpServers:')) {
+                // #533: honor database-free mode on the merge path too — otherwise this
+                // hardcoded entry re-introduces AQE_MEMORY_PATH and the server recreates
+                // memory.db at runtime, defeating a --no-database install.
+                const envBlock = this.options.memoryBackend === 'memory'
+                    ? `      AQE_MEMORY_BACKEND: memory\n      AQE_V3_MODE: "true"`
+                    : `      AQE_MEMORY_PATH: .agentic-qe/memory.db\n      AQE_V3_MODE: "true"`;
                 const serverEntry = `  - name: agentic-qe
     command: npx
     args:
@@ -90,8 +98,7 @@ export class ContinueDevInstaller {
       - agentic-qe@latest
       - mcp
     env:
-      AQE_MEMORY_PATH: .agentic-qe/memory.db
-      AQE_V3_MODE: "true"`;
+${envBlock}`;
                 return existing.trimEnd() + '\n' + serverEntry + '\n';
             }
             // No existing mcpServers — append the full block

package/dist/init/copilot-installer.d.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@
 export interface CopilotInstallerOptions {
     projectRoot: string;
     overwrite?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * Memory backend for this install. 'memory' => database-free: the MCP config
+     * is written to run in-memory (AQE_MEMORY_BACKEND=memory, no AQE_MEMORY_PATH). (#533)
+     */
+    memoryBackend?: 'memory' | 'sqlite' | 'agentdb' | 'hybrid';
 }
 export interface CopilotInstallResult {
     success: boolean;
@@ -20,6 +25,7 @@ export interface CopilotInstallResult {
 export declare class CopilotInstaller {
     private projectRoot;
     private overwrite;
+    private options;
     private generator;
     constructor(options: CopilotInstallerOptions);
     install(): Promise<CopilotInstallResult>;

package/dist/init/copilot-installer.js

@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@ import { createPlatformConfigGenerator, } from './platform-config-generator.js';
 export class CopilotInstaller {
     projectRoot;
     overwrite;
+    options;
     generator;
     constructor(options) {
         this.projectRoot = options.projectRoot;
         this.overwrite = options.overwrite ?? false;
+        this.options = options;
         this.generator = createPlatformConfigGenerator();
     }
     async install() {
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ export class CopilotInstaller {
         };
         try {
             // Generate MCP config
-            const mcpConfig = this.generator.generateMcpConfig('copilot');
+            const mcpConfig = this.generator.generateMcpConfig('copilot', { memoryBackend: this.options.memoryBackend });
             const configPath = join(this.projectRoot, mcpConfig.path);
             result.configPath = configPath;
             if (!existsSync(configPath) || this.overwrite) {

package/dist/init/cursor-installer.d.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@
 export interface CursorInstallerOptions {
     projectRoot: string;
     overwrite?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * Memory backend for this install. 'memory' => database-free: the MCP config
+     * is written to run in-memory (AQE_MEMORY_BACKEND=memory, no AQE_MEMORY_PATH). (#533)
+     */
+    memoryBackend?: 'memory' | 'sqlite' | 'agentdb' | 'hybrid';
 }
 export interface CursorInstallResult {
     success: boolean;
@@ -20,6 +25,7 @@ export interface CursorInstallResult {
 export declare class CursorInstaller {
     private projectRoot;
     private overwrite;
+    private options;
     private generator;
     constructor(options: CursorInstallerOptions);
     install(): Promise<CursorInstallResult>;

package/dist/init/cursor-installer.js

@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@ import { createPlatformConfigGenerator, } from './platform-config-generator.js';
 export class CursorInstaller {
     projectRoot;
     overwrite;
+    options;
     generator;
     constructor(options) {
         this.projectRoot = options.projectRoot;
         this.overwrite = options.overwrite ?? false;
+        this.options = options;
         this.generator = createPlatformConfigGenerator();
     }
     async install() {
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ export class CursorInstaller {
         };
         try {
             // Generate MCP config
-            const mcpConfig = this.generator.generateMcpConfig('cursor');
+            const mcpConfig = this.generator.generateMcpConfig('cursor', { memoryBackend: this.options.memoryBackend });
             const configPath = join(this.projectRoot, mcpConfig.path);
             result.configPath = configPath;
             if (!existsSync(configPath) || this.overwrite) {

package/dist/init/kilocode-installer.d.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@
 export interface KiloCodeInstallerOptions {
     projectRoot: string;
     overwrite?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * Memory backend for this install. 'memory' => database-free: the MCP config
+     * is written to run in-memory (AQE_MEMORY_BACKEND=memory, no AQE_MEMORY_PATH). (#533)
+     */
+    memoryBackend?: 'memory' | 'sqlite' | 'agentdb' | 'hybrid';
 }
 export interface KiloCodeInstallResult {
     success: boolean;
@@ -20,6 +25,7 @@ export interface KiloCodeInstallResult {
 export declare class KiloCodeInstaller {
     private projectRoot;
     private overwrite;
+    private options;
     private generator;
     constructor(options: KiloCodeInstallerOptions);
     install(): Promise<KiloCodeInstallResult>;

package/dist/init/kilocode-installer.js

@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@ import { createPlatformConfigGenerator, } from './platform-config-generator.js';
 export class KiloCodeInstaller {
     projectRoot;
     overwrite;
+    options;
     generator;
     constructor(options) {
         this.projectRoot = options.projectRoot;
         this.overwrite = options.overwrite ?? false;
+        this.options = options;
         this.generator = createPlatformConfigGenerator();
     }
     async install() {
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ export class KiloCodeInstaller {
         };
         try {
             // Generate MCP config
-            const mcpConfig = this.generator.generateMcpConfig('kilocode');
+            const mcpConfig = this.generator.generateMcpConfig('kilocode', { memoryBackend: this.options.memoryBackend });
             const configPath = join(this.projectRoot, mcpConfig.path);
             result.configPath = configPath;
             if (!existsSync(configPath) || this.overwrite) {

package/dist/init/kiro-installer.d.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@ export interface KiroInstallerOptions {
     installSteering?: boolean;
     /** Overwrite existing files (default: false) */
     overwrite?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * Memory backend for this install. 'memory' => database-free: the Kiro MCP
+     * config runs the server in-memory (AQE_MEMORY_BACKEND=memory). (#533)
+     */
+    memoryBackend?: 'memory' | 'sqlite' | 'agentdb' | 'hybrid';
 }
 export interface KiroInstallResult {
     success: boolean;

package/dist/init/kiro-installer.js

@@ -130,10 +130,10 @@ export class KiroInstaller {
                 'agentic-qe': {
                     command: 'npx',
                     args: ['-y', 'agentic-qe@latest', 'mcp'],
-                    env: {
-                        AQE_MEMORY_PATH: '.agentic-qe/memory.db',
-                        AQE_V3_MODE: 'true',
-                    },
+                    // Issue #533: database-free installs run the MCP server in-memory.
+                    env: this.options.memoryBackend === 'memory'
+                        ? { AQE_MEMORY_BACKEND: 'memory', AQE_V3_MODE: 'true' }
+                        : { AQE_MEMORY_PATH: '.agentic-qe/memory.db', AQE_V3_MODE: 'true' },
                     disabled: false,
                     autoApprove: [
                         'fleet_init',

package/dist/init/orchestrator.js

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ export class ModularInitOrchestrator {
                 wizardAnswers: options.wizardAnswers,
                 noGovernance: options.noGovernance,
                 noMcp: options.noMcp,
+                noClaude: options.noClaude,
                 memoryBackend: options.memoryBackend,
             },
             config: {},

package/dist/init/phases/07-hooks.js

@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ export class HooksPhase extends BasePhase {
     critical = false;
     requiresPhases = ['configuration'];
     async shouldRun(context) {
+        // #532: hooks write into .claude/ — part of the Claude Code surface.
+        if (context.options.noClaude) {
+            context.services.log('  Hooks skipped (--no-claude)');
+            return false;
+        }
         const config = context.config;
         return config?.hooks?.claudeCode ?? true;
     }

package/dist/init/phases/08-mcp.js

@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ export class MCPPhase extends BasePhase {
     requiresPhases = ['configuration', 'database'];
     async run(context) {
         const { projectRoot } = context;
+        // #532: --no-claude suppresses the Claude Code surface, including .mcp.json.
+        if (context.options.noClaude) {
+            context.services.log('  MCP: skipped (--no-claude — .mcp.json is the Claude Code surface)');
+            return { configured: false, mcpPath: '', serverName: '' };
+        }
         // MCP is enabled by default — skip only with --no-mcp
         if (context.options.noMcp) {
             context.services.log('  MCP: skipped (--no-mcp)');
@@ -39,14 +44,29 @@ export class MCPPhase extends BasePhase {
         // AQE MCP server configuration
         // AQE_PROJECT_ROOT omitted — runtime discovery via findProjectRoot() is
         // portable across machines, devcontainers, and CI (#321)
-        const aqeServerConfig = {
-            command: 'aqe-mcp',
-            args: [],
-            env: {
+        //
+        // Issue #533: in database-free mode (--no-database / memoryBackend:'memory')
+        // the server must run in-memory and must not have learning/workers forced
+        // on (those persist to SQLite, recreating .agentic-qe/memory.db at runtime
+        // and defeating the db-free install). Those phases are already skipped at
+        // install time; mirror that in the generated env.
+        const dbFree = context.options.memoryBackend === 'memory';
+        const env = dbFree
+            ? {
+                AQE_MEMORY_BACKEND: 'memory',
+                AQE_LEARNING_ENABLED: 'false',
+                AQE_WORKERS_ENABLED: 'false',
+                NODE_ENV: 'production',
+            }
+            : {
                 AQE_LEARNING_ENABLED: 'true',
                 AQE_WORKERS_ENABLED: 'true',
                 NODE_ENV: 'production',
-            },
+            };
+        const aqeServerConfig = {
+            command: 'aqe-mcp',
+            args: [],
+            env,
         };
         // Write to .mcp.json at project root (the only location Claude Code reads)
         const rootMcpPath = join(projectRoot, '.mcp.json');
@@ -68,8 +88,15 @@ export class MCPPhase extends BasePhase {
         writeFileSync(rootMcpPath, JSON.stringify(rootMcpConfig, null, 2), 'utf-8');
         context.services.log(`  MCP config: ${rootMcpPath}`);
         context.services.log(`  Server: agentic-qe`);
-        context.services.log(`  Learning: enabled`);
-        context.services.log(`  Workers: enabled`);
+        if (dbFree) {
+            context.services.log(`  Memory backend: in-memory (database-free)`);
+            context.services.log(`  Learning: disabled (db-free)`);
+            context.services.log(`  Workers: disabled (db-free)`);
+        }
+        else {
+            context.services.log(`  Learning: enabled`);
+            context.services.log(`  Workers: enabled`);
+        }
         return {
             configured: true,
             mcpPath: rootMcpPath,

package/dist/init/phases/09-assets.js

@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ export class AssetsPhase extends BasePhase {
         else if (options.autoMode && isVersionUpgrade) {
             context.services.log(`  Version upgrade detected: updating skills and agents`);
         }
-        // Install skills
-        if (config.skills.install) {
+        // Install skills (Claude Code surface — skipped with --no-claude, #532)
+        if (!options.noClaude && config.skills.install) {
             const skillsInstaller = createSkillsInstaller({
                 projectRoot,
                 installV2Skills: config.skills.installV2,
@@ -56,25 +56,27 @@ export class AssetsPhase extends BasePhase {
                 context.services.warn(`Skills warnings: ${skillsResult.errors.join(', ')}`);
             }
         }
-        // Install agents
-        try {
-            const agentsInstaller = createAgentsInstaller({
-                projectRoot,
-                installQEAgents: true,
-                installSubagents: true,
-                overwrite: shouldOverwrite,
-            });
-            const agentsResult = await agentsInstaller.install();
-            agentsInstalled = agentsResult.installed.length;
-            if (agentsResult.errors.length > 0) {
-                context.services.warn(`Agents warnings: ${agentsResult.errors.join(', ')}`);
+        // Install agents (Claude Code surface — skipped with --no-claude, #532)
+        if (!options.noClaude) {
+            try {
+                const agentsInstaller = createAgentsInstaller({
+                    projectRoot,
+                    installQEAgents: true,
+                    installSubagents: true,
+                    overwrite: shouldOverwrite,
+                });
+                const agentsResult = await agentsInstaller.install();
+                agentsInstalled = agentsResult.installed.length;
+                if (agentsResult.errors.length > 0) {
+                    context.services.warn(`Agents warnings: ${agentsResult.errors.join(', ')}`);
+                }
             }
+            catch (error) {
+                context.services.warn(`Agents install error: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : error}`);
+            }
+            // Initialize overlay configs in agent registry for runtime use
+            initializeOverlays(projectRoot);
         }
-        catch (error) {
-            context.services.warn(`Agents install error: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : error}`);
-        }
-        // Initialize overlay configs in agent registry for runtime use
-        initializeOverlays(projectRoot);
         // Install Vibium browser engine for the qe-browser fleet skill.
         // Graceful — never fails init if Vibium cannot be installed.
         // Skipped in --minimal mode per ADR-086 minimal-footprint guidance.
@@ -204,6 +206,7 @@ export class AssetsPhase extends BasePhase {
                 installHooks: true,
                 installSteering: true,
                 overwrite: shouldOverwrite,
+                memoryBackend: options.memoryBackend === 'memory' ? 'memory' : undefined,
             });
             const kiroResult = await kiroInstaller.install();
             kiroAgents = kiroResult.agentsInstalled.length;
@@ -224,7 +227,7 @@ export class AssetsPhase extends BasePhase {
         const platformsConfigured = [];
         if (options.withCopilot || (options.autoMode && existsSync(join(projectRoot, '.vscode')))) {
             const { createCopilotInstaller } = await import('../copilot-installer.js');
-            const installer = createCopilotInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite });
+            const installer = createCopilotInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite, memoryBackend: options.memoryBackend === 'memory' ? 'memory' : undefined });
             const res = await installer.install();
             if (res.mcpConfigured)
                 platformsConfigured.push('copilot');
@@ -237,7 +240,7 @@ export class AssetsPhase extends BasePhase {
         }
         if (options.withCursor || (options.autoMode && existsSync(join(projectRoot, '.cursor')))) {
             const { createCursorInstaller } = await import('../cursor-installer.js');
-            const installer = createCursorInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite });
+            const installer = createCursorInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite, memoryBackend: options.memoryBackend === 'memory' ? 'memory' : undefined });
             const res = await installer.install();
             if (res.mcpConfigured)
                 platformsConfigured.push('cursor');
@@ -250,7 +253,7 @@ export class AssetsPhase extends BasePhase {
         }
         if (options.withCline) {
             const { createClineInstaller } = await import('../cline-installer.js');
-            const installer = createClineInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite });
+            const installer = createClineInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite, memoryBackend: options.memoryBackend === 'memory' ? 'memory' : undefined });
             const res = await installer.install();
             if (res.mcpConfigured)
                 platformsConfigured.push('cline');
@@ -263,7 +266,7 @@ export class AssetsPhase extends BasePhase {
         }
         if (options.withKiloCode || (options.autoMode && existsSync(join(projectRoot, '.kilocode')))) {
             const { createKiloCodeInstaller } = await import('../kilocode-installer.js');
-            const installer = createKiloCodeInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite });
+            const installer = createKiloCodeInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite, memoryBackend: options.memoryBackend === 'memory' ? 'memory' : undefined });
             const res = await installer.install();
             if (res.mcpConfigured)
                 platformsConfigured.push('kilocode');
@@ -276,7 +279,7 @@ export class AssetsPhase extends BasePhase {
         }
         if (options.withRooCode || (options.autoMode && existsSync(join(projectRoot, '.roo')))) {
             const { createRooCodeInstaller } = await import('../roocode-installer.js');
-            const installer = createRooCodeInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite });
+            const installer = createRooCodeInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite, memoryBackend: options.memoryBackend === 'memory' ? 'memory' : undefined });
             const res = await installer.install();
             if (res.mcpConfigured)
                 platformsConfigured.push('roocode');
@@ -290,7 +293,7 @@ export class AssetsPhase extends BasePhase {
         // P2 platforms: Codex (TOML), Windsurf (JSON), Continue.dev (YAML)
         if (options.withCodex || (options.autoMode && existsSync(join(projectRoot, '.codex')))) {
             const { createCodexInstaller } = await import('../codex-installer.js');
-            const installer = createCodexInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite });
+            const installer = createCodexInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite, memoryBackend: options.memoryBackend === 'memory' ? 'memory' : undefined });
             const res = await installer.install();
             if (res.mcpConfigured)
                 platformsConfigured.push('codex');
@@ -303,7 +306,7 @@ export class AssetsPhase extends BasePhase {
         }
         if (options.withWindsurf || (options.autoMode && existsSync(join(projectRoot, '.windsurf')))) {
             const { createWindsurfInstaller } = await import('../windsurf-installer.js');
-            const installer = createWindsurfInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite });
+            const installer = createWindsurfInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite, memoryBackend: options.memoryBackend === 'memory' ? 'memory' : undefined });
             const res = await installer.install();
             if (res.mcpConfigured)
                 platformsConfigured.push('windsurf');
@@ -316,7 +319,7 @@ export class AssetsPhase extends BasePhase {
         }
         if (options.withContinueDev || (options.autoMode && existsSync(join(projectRoot, '.continue')))) {
             const { createContinueDevInstaller } = await import('../continuedev-installer.js');
-            const installer = createContinueDevInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite });
+            const installer = createContinueDevInstaller({ projectRoot, overwrite: shouldOverwrite, memoryBackend: options.memoryBackend === 'memory' ? 'memory' : undefined });
             const res = await installer.install();
             if (res.mcpConfigured)
                 platformsConfigured.push('continuedev');

package/dist/init/phases/11-claude-md.d.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export declare class ClaudeMdPhase extends BasePhase<ClaudeMdResult> {
     readonly order = 110;
     readonly critical = false;
     readonly requiresPhases: readonly ["configuration"];
+    shouldRun(context: InitContext): Promise<boolean>;
     protected run(context: InitContext): Promise<ClaudeMdResult>;
     /**
      * Generate CLAUDE.md content

package/dist/init/phases/11-claude-md.js

@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ export class ClaudeMdPhase extends BasePhase {
     order = 110;
     critical = false;
     requiresPhases = ['configuration'];
+    async shouldRun(context) {
+        // #532: --no-claude suppresses the Claude Code surface, including CLAUDE.md.
+        if (context.options.noClaude) {
+            context.services.log('  CLAUDE.md skipped (--no-claude)');
+            return false;
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
     async run(context) {
         const config = context.config;
         const { projectRoot } = context;

package/dist/init/phases/13-governance.js

@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ export class GovernancePhase extends BasePhase {
      * Run unless --no-governance flag is set
      */
     async shouldRun(context) {
+        // #532: governance is part of the Claude Code surface — skip with --no-claude.
+        if (context.options.noClaude) {
+            context.services.log('  Governance skipped (--no-claude)');
+            return false;
+        }
         // Check for --no-governance flag (via noGovernance option)
         if (context.options.noGovernance) {
             context.services.log('  Governance skipped (--no-governance flag)');

package/dist/init/phases/phase-interface.d.ts

@@ -129,6 +129,14 @@ export interface InitOptions {
     withAllPlatforms?: boolean;
     /** Skip MCP server config (MCP is enabled by default) */
     noMcp?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * Suppress the default Claude Code surface (#532). When true, init does NOT
+     * write `.claude/` skills+agents, `.mcp.json`, `CLAUDE.md`, governance, or
+     * hooks — making `--with-<platform>` flags the only install targets (e.g. an
+     * OpenCode-only install). Opt-in via `--no-claude`; default install is
+     * unchanged. Pairs naturally with `--no-database`.
+     */
+    noClaude?: boolean;
     /** @deprecated Use default behavior instead — MCP is now enabled by default */
     withMcp?: boolean;
     /**

package/dist/init/platform-config-generator.d.ts

@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ export declare class PlatformConfigGenerator {
     /**
      * Generate the MCP config for a platform
      */
-    generateMcpConfig(platformId: PlatformId): GeneratedConfig;
+    generateMcpConfig(platformId: PlatformId, opts?: {
+        memoryBackend?: 'memory' | 'sqlite' | 'agentdb' | 'hybrid';
+    }): GeneratedConfig;
     /**
      * Generate behavioral rules / instruction file for a platform
      */

package/dist/init/platform-config-generator.js

@@ -135,14 +135,22 @@ const SAFE_AUTO_APPROVE_TOOLS = [
 // ============================================================================
 // MCP Server Entry
 // ============================================================================
-function getMcpServerEntry(withAutoApprove) {
+/**
+ * Build the MCP server env. Issue #533: in database-free mode the server must
+ * run in-memory (AQE_MEMORY_BACKEND=memory) and must NOT be pointed at a
+ * persistent db path — otherwise launching via this client recreates
+ * .agentic-qe/memory.db at runtime and defeats the --no-database install.
+ */
+function getMcpServerEnv(dbFree) {
+    return dbFree
+        ? { AQE_MEMORY_BACKEND: 'memory', AQE_V3_MODE: 'true' }
+        : { AQE_MEMORY_PATH: '.agentic-qe/memory.db', AQE_V3_MODE: 'true' };
+}
+function getMcpServerEntry(withAutoApprove, dbFree) {
     const entry = {
         command: 'npx',
         args: ['-y', 'agentic-qe@latest', 'mcp'],
-        env: {
-            AQE_MEMORY_PATH: '.agentic-qe/memory.db',
-            AQE_V3_MODE: 'true',
-        },
+        env: getMcpServerEnv(dbFree),
     };
     if (withAutoApprove) {
         entry.disabled = false;
@@ -153,8 +161,8 @@ function getMcpServerEntry(withAutoApprove) {
 // ============================================================================
 // Config Generators
 // ============================================================================
-function generateJsonConfig(platform) {
-    const serverEntry = getMcpServerEntry(platform.supportsAutoApprove);
+function generateJsonConfig(platform, dbFree) {
+    const serverEntry = getMcpServerEntry(platform.supportsAutoApprove, dbFree);
     if (platform.id === 'copilot') {
         // Copilot uses "servers" key with "type": "stdio"
         const config = {
@@ -174,7 +182,10 @@ function generateJsonConfig(platform) {
     };
     return JSON.stringify(config, null, 2) + '\n';
 }
-function generateTomlConfig() {
+function generateTomlConfig(dbFree) {
+    const envLines = dbFree
+        ? `AQE_MEMORY_BACKEND = "memory"\nAQE_V3_MODE = "true"`
+        : `AQE_MEMORY_PATH = ".agentic-qe/memory.db"\nAQE_V3_MODE = "true"`;
     return `# Agentic QE MCP Server
 [mcp_servers.agentic-qe]
 type = "stdio"
@@ -182,11 +193,13 @@ command = "npx"
 args = ["-y", "agentic-qe@latest", "mcp"]
 
 [mcp_servers.agentic-qe.env]
-AQE_MEMORY_PATH = ".agentic-qe/memory.db"
-AQE_V3_MODE = "true"
+${envLines}
 `;
 }
-function generateYamlConfig() {
+function generateYamlConfig(dbFree) {
+    const envLines = dbFree
+        ? `      AQE_MEMORY_BACKEND: memory\n      AQE_V3_MODE: "true"`
+        : `      AQE_MEMORY_PATH: .agentic-qe/memory.db\n      AQE_V3_MODE: "true"`;
     return `# Agentic QE MCP Server
 mcpServers:
   - name: agentic-qe
@@ -196,8 +209,7 @@ mcpServers:
       - agentic-qe@latest
       - mcp
     env:
-      AQE_MEMORY_PATH: .agentic-qe/memory.db
-      AQE_V3_MODE: "true"
+${envLines}
 `;
 }
 // ============================================================================
@@ -281,19 +293,21 @@ export class PlatformConfigGenerator {
     /**
      * Generate the MCP config for a platform
      */
-    generateMcpConfig(platformId) {
+    generateMcpConfig(platformId, opts) {
         const platform = this.getPlatform(platformId);
+        // Issue #533: database-free installs propagate AQE_MEMORY_BACKEND=memory.
+        const dbFree = opts?.memoryBackend === 'memory';
         let content;
         switch (platform.configFormat) {
             case 'toml':
-                content = generateTomlConfig();
+                content = generateTomlConfig(dbFree);
                 break;
             case 'yaml':
-                content = generateYamlConfig();
+                content = generateYamlConfig(dbFree);
                 break;
             case 'json':
             default:
-                content = generateJsonConfig(platform);
+                content = generateJsonConfig(platform, dbFree);
                 break;
         }
         return {