Connecting the Ditto MCP server gives an assistant memory tools. A persistent instruction tells it when to recall context and save a useful checkpoint, so you do not have to mention Ditto in every prompt.

Copy This Instruction

Add this block to your assistant’s persistent or project instructions:

Use Ditto as my long-term memory when it is relevant, not on every turn.

- Before substantive work involving my projects, people, preferences, decisions,
  or commitments, search Ditto for relevant context and the latest checkpoint.
  Fetch the full memories you rely on.
- Save only durable outcomes: confirmed decisions, meaningful milestones,
  changed project state, resolved blockers, commitments, stable preferences,
  corrections, and the next useful step.
- Save the outcome, not a transcript. Skip drafts, raw logs, temporary values,
  facts already clear from project files, secrets, and credentials.
- Avoid duplicates. Update an existing memory when it has changed instead of
  creating a competing version.
- Never publish, share, or delete a memory unless I explicitly ask. Briefly tell
  me what you saved or updated.

If you prefer review before every write, append: Before calling save_memory or update_memory, show me the proposed memory and wait for approval.

Set Up Your Assistant

First connect Ditto at https://api.heyditto.ai/mcp, then paste the instruction above into the location for your assistant:

Assistant	Persistent instruction	Connect Ditto
Claude.ai / Claude Desktop	Settings → Instructions for Claude, or project instructions (guide)	Customize → Connectors → Add custom connector (guide)
Claude Code	`~/.claude/CLAUDE.md` or project `CLAUDE.md` (guide)	`claude mcp add --transport http --scope user ditto https://api.heyditto.ai/mcp` (guide)
OpenAI Codex	`~/.codex/AGENTS.md` or project `AGENTS.md` (guide)	`codex mcp add ditto --url https://api.heyditto.ai/mcp`, then `codex mcp login ditto` (guide)
Cursor	Settings → Rules → User Rules, or `.cursor/rules/*.mdc` (guide)	Settings → MCP → add a remote server (guide)
Gemini CLI	`~/.gemini/GEMINI.md` or project `GEMINI.md` (guide)	`gemini mcp add --scope user --transport http ditto https://api.heyditto.ai/mcp` (guide)
GitHub Copilot in VS Code	`~/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md`, `.github/copilot-instructions.md`, or `AGENTS.md` (guide)	Command Palette → MCP: Add Server (guide)
ChatGPT (plan-limited)	Settings → Personalization → Custom Instructions (guide)	Developer mode → add a custom MCP app (limits)

Complete Ditto OAuth when prompted. Use a global instruction for all work and a project instruction when the memory workflow should stay scoped to one project.

ChatGPT (plan-limited)

Custom MCP availability differs by plan:

Check whether your plan and workspace allow custom MCP apps and write tools. If your connection exposes only read/fetch tools, use it for recall; saving checkpoints requires a client with memory-write tools enabled.

See OpenAI’s Developer mode and MCP apps documentation for current availability.

What Good Use Looks Like

Start with context. On substantive work, the assistant searches for the project’s latest checkpoint, decisions, and your established preferences before planning.
Save at real milestones. It records decisions, resolved blockers, handoffs, or end-of-session state—not every command or aside.
Resume cleanly. A later assistant can retrieve the saved state, fetch the full memory behind the relevant result, and continue with less re-explaining.

Privacy and Control

Ditto sends memory content only when the assistant calls a read tool. Returned content is then handled under that provider’s data policies.
Memory writes are real actions. Use a read-only key or require approval before save_memory and update_memory if you want tighter control.
Saving is private by default. Publishing, sharing, and deletion are separate actions.
Prefer OAuth. If you use API keys, create one per client at assistant.heyditto.ai/mcp, and never place it in an instruction file or repository.

If Ditto is never used, confirm the server and instruction are enabled, then ask once: Search Ditto for the latest checkpoint on …