OpenViking guides
What is an agent harness, and where does memory fit?
An agent harness is the runtime around a model that manages its task loop, tools, execution environment, and conversation lifecycle. A memory or context backend supplies retained information to that runtime. OpenViking can serve as this backend for an existing harness.
Model, harness, and context backend
The model interprets inputs and chooses outputs or tool calls. The harness executes tools, processes results, and manages the interaction. The context backend stores and retrieves reusable information. These roles can ship in one product, but separating them helps explain which component owns a failure or integration feature.
Three common integration patterns
A tool integration lets the agent explicitly search and read context. Lifecycle hooks can recall information before a turn and capture messages afterwards. A context-engine integration can participate more directly in assembling the model's input. These patterns provide different levels of control; having MCP access alone does not imply automatic capture or context replacement.
How OpenViking connects
The OpenViking integration catalog covers clients including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenClaw, Hermes, TRAE, and others. Some use plugins or hooks; others provide a built-in memory provider. Follow the guide for the exact host and version. For a custom harness, use the SDK, HTTP API, CLI, or MCP interface and define the lifecycle explicitly.
What to check before choosing an integration
Check which identity owns the memory, when messages are captured, what triggers commit, and where retrieved content enters the prompt. Test failure recovery and duplicate capture, not only a successful recall. For multi-agent work, decide which resources are shared and which histories or preferences stay scoped.
A minimal acceptance task
In a test session, record a project preference. Start a new session in the same intended scope and ask a question that needs it. Correct the preference and check the next answer. Repeat under a different identity to test isolation. This exercises persistence and boundaries rather than merely proving that an endpoint responds.