CLAUDE.md alternatives

CLAUDE.md files (managed, user, project, local scopes) concatenated into context at session start, with @imports and path-scoped .claude/rules/; complemented by Claude-written auto memory (MEMORY.md index). Project-root file re-injected after /compact. Full CLAUDE.md record →

  1. 1 AGENTS.md File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ✓ Self-host ✓ Managed ? MCP ? ★ 25k MIT Compare with CLAUDE.md →

  2. 2 GitHub Copilot custom instructions File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host — Managed ✓ MCP ? Compare with CLAUDE.md →

  3. 3 Aider CONVENTIONS.md / .aider.conf.yml File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host ? Managed ? MCP ? Compare with CLAUDE.md →

  4. 4 Cline .clinerules File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host ? Managed ? MCP ✓ Compare with CLAUDE.md →

  5. 5 Cline Memory Bank File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host ? Managed ? MCP ✓ Compare with CLAUDE.md →

  6. 6 Replit replit.md File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host ? Managed ? MCP ✓ Compare with CLAUDE.md →

  7. 7 Zed .rules File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host ? Managed ? MCP ✓ Compare with CLAUDE.md →

  8. 8 Cursor Rules File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host ? Managed ? MCP ✓ Compare with CLAUDE.md →

Ranked by shared memory design (storage, retrieval, conflict handling, memory unit), same section and shared must-haves (open source, self-hosting, MCP), with adoption as a tie-breaker. ✓ confirmed · — no · ? not in the catalog yet. Want picks for your own requirements? Use the chooser. Checking a whole project? Check your stack.