Contributors iterating on the memory daemon currently have to run `pip install -e` into the venv after every change to see the effect through the installer. This adds friction to the inner dev loop. Proposed Solution: Add a `--dev` flag to `claudia setup` to skip venv creation and streamline the development process.
## Problem Contributors iterating on the memory daemon currently have to run `pip install -e` into the venv after every change to see the effect through the installer. This adds friction to the inner dev loop. ## Proposed Solution Add a `--dev` flag to `claudia setup`: ```bash claudia setup --dev /path/to/project ``` In dev mode the installer: 1. Skips venv creation entirely 2. Finds system Python 3.10+ 3. Verifies `import claudia_memory` succeeds with `PYTHONPATH=<repo>/memory-daemon` 4. Writes `.mcp.json` with `env.PYTHONPATH` so Claude Code spawns the daemon from the local source tree each session 5. Runs the preflight check with the same Python + env (no venv path required) A new `getMemoryDaemonSrc()` helper resolves `memory-daemon/` relative to `bin/index.js` so the path is always correct regardless of where `claudia` is installed. ## Impact - Zero behaviour change when `--dev` is not passed - Eliminates the pip reinstall step for daemon contributors - `.mcp.json` written