The REST API server makes Cognee accessible from any programming language or platform that can make HTTP requests, with complete API documentation available in the interactive reference.

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Quick Start

1

Clone Repository

Get the Cognee source code with Docker Compose configuration.
2

Configure Environment

Set up your .env file with API keys and database settings.
3

Start with Docker Compose

Launch the API server using Docker Compose profiles.
4

Access API Documentation

Use the interactive API documentation to test endpoints.

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Docker Compose Setup

Cognee uses Docker Compose with modular profiles for flexible deployment:
Minimal Setup
# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/topoteretes/cognee.git
cd cognee

# Create environment file
cp .env.template .env
# Edit .env with your LLM_API_KEY

# Start basic API server
docker compose up
What you get:
  • Cognee API server on port 8000
  • SQLite database (no external dependencies)
  • Ready for basic development and testing

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Service Architecture

Cognee’s Docker setup includes modular services:

Core Services

Main Components
  • Cognee API: Main backend server (port 8000)
  • Cognee MCP: Model Context Protocol server
  • Frontend: Next.js web interface (work in progress)

Database Options

Storage Backends
  • PostgreSQL: Relational database with pgvector
  • Neo4j: Graph database with APOC plugins
  • ChromaDB: Vector database for embeddings
  • FalkorDB: Alternative graph database

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Environment Configuration

Create a .env file with your configuration: 
# .env (minimal setup)
LLM_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key_here
LLM_PROVIDER=openai
LLM_MODEL=gpt-4o-mini

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API Documentation

Once your server is running, access the comprehensive API documentation:

Interactive API Documentation

Swagger UILive testing interface at http://localhost:8000/docs with all endpoints and examples.

Complete API Reference

Full DocumentationComprehensive API reference with detailed schemas, authentication, and integration examples.
API Base URL: http://localhost:8000 - All endpoints are documented in the interactive Swagger UI and complete API reference.

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Docker Compose Profiles

Use profiles to run only the services you need:

Available Profiles

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Next Steps

API Reference

Complete DocumentationExplore all available endpoints with interactive examples, schemas, and authentication details.

User Permissions

Authentication SetupConfigure multi-tenant authentication and permissions for secure API access.

Deployment Guide

Production DeploymentLearn about Kubernetes, cloud deployment, and scaling options beyond Docker Compose.

MCP Integration

AI Assistant IntegrationSet up the MCP server for integration with Cursor, Claude Desktop, and other AI assistants.
Quick Start: Run docker compose --profile postgres up -d and visit http://localhost:8000/docs to explore the interactive API documentation!