diff --git a/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json b/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
index 6b23ccf..cbe6307 100644
--- a/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
+++ b/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
@@ -2,14 +2,14 @@
   "name": "mempalace",
   "owner": {
     "name": "milla-jovovich",
-    "url": "https://github.com/milla-jovovich"
+    "url": "https://github.com/MemPalace"
   },
   "plugins": [
     {
       "name": "mempalace",
       "source": "./.claude-plugin",
       "description": "AI memory system — mine projects and conversations into a searchable palace. 19 MCP tools, auto-save hooks, guided setup.",
-      "version": "3.0.14",
+      "version": "3.3.0",
       "author": {
         "name": "milla-jovovich"
       }
diff --git a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index 20b2cb2..ba5759a 100644
--- a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "mempalace",
-  "version": "3.0.14",
+  "version": "3.3.0",
   "description": "Give your AI a memory — mine projects and conversations into a searchable palace. 19 MCP tools, auto-save hooks, and guided setup.",
   "author": {
     "name": "milla-jovovich"
diff --git a/.codex-plugin/plugin.json b/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
index 23d3ee7..9017d9b 100644
--- a/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "mempalace",
-  "version": "3.0.14",
+  "version": "3.3.0",
   "description": "Give your AI a memory — mine projects and conversations into a searchable palace. 19 MCP tools, auto-save hooks, and guided setup.",
   "author": {
     "name": "milla-jovovich"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy-docs.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy-docs.yml
index 71df155..b516f36 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy-docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy-docs.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ name: Deploy Docs
 
 on:
   push:
-    branches: [main, develop]
+    branches: [develop]
     paths:
       - ".github/workflows/deploy-docs.yml"
       - "website/**"
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ jobs:
           path: website/.vitepress/dist
 
   deploy:
-    if: github.ref_name == 'main' || github.ref_name == 'develop'
+    if: github.ref_name == 'develop'
     environment:
       name: github-pages
       url: ${{ steps.deployment.outputs.page_url }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/version-guard.yml b/.github/workflows/version-guard.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9cb30fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/version-guard.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+name: Version Guard
+
+on:
+  push:
+    tags: ['v*']
+  pull_request:
+    paths:
+      - 'pyproject.toml'
+      - 'mempalace/version.py'
+      - '.claude-plugin/marketplace.json'
+      - '.claude-plugin/plugin.json'
+      - '.codex-plugin/plugin.json'
+      - '.github/workflows/version-guard.yml'
+
+jobs:
+  check-versions:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Extract versions from all sources
+        id: versions
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          py_version=$(grep -E '^__version__' mempalace/version.py | cut -d'"' -f2)
+          pyproject_version=$(grep -E '^version' pyproject.toml | head -1 | cut -d'"' -f2)
+          marketplace_version=$(jq -r '.plugins[0].version' .claude-plugin/marketplace.json)
+          plugin_version=$(jq -r '.version' .claude-plugin/plugin.json)
+          codex_version=$(jq -r '.version' .codex-plugin/plugin.json)
+
+          echo "py_version=$py_version" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "pyproject_version=$pyproject_version" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "marketplace_version=$marketplace_version" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "plugin_version=$plugin_version" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "codex_version=$codex_version" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
+          {
+            echo "## Detected versions"
+            echo ""
+            echo "| Source | Version |"
+            echo "| --- | --- |"
+            echo "| mempalace/version.py | \`$py_version\` |"
+            echo "| pyproject.toml | \`$pyproject_version\` |"
+            echo "| .claude-plugin/marketplace.json | \`$marketplace_version\` |"
+            echo "| .claude-plugin/plugin.json | \`$plugin_version\` |"
+            echo "| .codex-plugin/plugin.json | \`$codex_version\` |"
+          } >> "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"
+
+      - name: Verify all sources agree
+        env:
+          PY: ${{ steps.versions.outputs.py_version }}
+          PYPROJECT: ${{ steps.versions.outputs.pyproject_version }}
+          MARKETPLACE: ${{ steps.versions.outputs.marketplace_version }}
+          PLUGIN: ${{ steps.versions.outputs.plugin_version }}
+          CODEX: ${{ steps.versions.outputs.codex_version }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          fail=0
+          check() {
+            local name="$1" value="$2" expected="$3"
+            if [[ "$value" != "$expected" ]]; then
+              echo "::error file=$name::version mismatch — expected $expected, got $value"
+              fail=1
+            fi
+          }
+          # All five must agree with each other (use version.py as the reference, per CLAUDE.md)
+          check "pyproject.toml" "$PYPROJECT" "$PY"
+          check ".claude-plugin/marketplace.json" "$MARKETPLACE" "$PY"
+          check ".claude-plugin/plugin.json" "$PLUGIN" "$PY"
+          check ".codex-plugin/plugin.json" "$CODEX" "$PY"
+          exit $fail
+
+      - name: Verify tag matches manifest (tag pushes only)
+        if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
+        env:
+          PY: ${{ steps.versions.outputs.py_version }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          tag_version="${GITHUB_REF_NAME#v}"
+
+          # Semver pre-release tags (v3.4.0-rc1, v1.0.0-beta.2, ...) are treated
+          # as internal/staging and are not validated against the manifest. They
+          # do not flow to end users via `/plugin update`, which reads the
+          # manifest on the default branch.
+          if [[ "$tag_version" == *-* ]]; then
+            echo "Pre-release tag $GITHUB_REF_NAME — skipping strict manifest match."
+            {
+              echo ""
+              echo "> Pre-release tag detected: \`$GITHUB_REF_NAME\`."
+              echo "> Manifest ($PY) is not required to match. Pre-releases are not published via \`/plugin update\`."
+            } >> "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          if [[ "$tag_version" != "$PY" ]]; then
+            echo "::error::tag $GITHUB_REF_NAME does not match manifest version $PY"
+            echo "Bump mempalace/version.py, pyproject.toml, and all plugin manifests before tagging a stable release."
+            echo "For an internal/staging tag, use a semver pre-release suffix (e.g. v${PY}-rc1)."
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "Tag $GITHUB_REF_NAME matches manifest version $PY"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index be54ea0..b00d6ea 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ Other memory systems try to fix this by letting AI decide what's worth rememberi
 >
 > **What's still true and reproducible:**
 >
-> - **96.6% R@5 on LongMemEval in raw mode**, on 500 questions, zero API calls — independently reproduced on M2 Ultra in under 5 minutes by [@gizmax](https://github.com/milla-jovovich/mempalace/issues/39).
+> - **96.6% R@5 on LongMemEval in raw mode**, on 500 questions, zero API calls — independently reproduced on M2 Ultra in under 5 minutes by [@gizmax](https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace/issues/39).
 > - Local, free, no subscription, no cloud, no data leaving your machine.
 > - The architecture (wings, rooms, closets, drawers) is real and useful, even if it's not a magical retrieval boost.
 >
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ Other memory systems try to fix this by letting AI decide what's worth rememberi
 > 3. Wiring `fact_checker.py` into the KG ops so the contradiction detection claim becomes true
 > 4. Pinning ChromaDB to a tested range (Issue #100), fixing the shell injection in hooks (#110), and addressing the macOS ARM64 segfault (#74)
 >
-> **Thank you to everyone who poked holes in this.** Brutal honest criticism is exactly what makes open source work, and it's what we asked for. Special thanks to [@panuhorsmalahti](https://github.com/milla-jovovich/mempalace/issues/43), [@lhl](https://github.com/milla-jovovich/mempalace/issues/27), [@gizmax](https://github.com/milla-jovovich/mempalace/issues/39), and everyone who filed an issue or a PR in the first 48 hours. We're listening, we're fixing, and we'd rather be right than impressive.
+> **Thank you to everyone who poked holes in this.** Brutal honest criticism is exactly what makes open source work, and it's what we asked for. Special thanks to [@panuhorsmalahti](https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace/issues/43), [@lhl](https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace/issues/27), [@gizmax](https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace/issues/39), and everyone who filed an issue or a PR in the first 48 hours. We're listening, we're fixing, and we'd rather be right than impressive.
 >
 > — *Milla Jovovich & Ben Sigman*
 
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ After the one-time setup (install → init → mine), you don't run MemPalace co
 Native marketplace install:
 
 ```bash
-claude plugin marketplace add milla-jovovich/mempalace
+claude plugin marketplace add MemPalace/mempalace
 claude plugin install --scope user mempalace
 ```
 
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ You say what you're looking for and boom, it already knows which wing to go to.
 **Rooms** — specific topics within a wing. Auth, billing, deploy — endless rooms.
 **Halls** — connections between related rooms *within* the same wing. If Room A (auth) and Room B (security) are related, a hall links them.
 **Tunnels** — connections *between* wings. When Person A and a Project both have a room about "auth," a tunnel cross-references them automatically.
-**Closets** — summaries that point to the original content. (In v3.0.0 these are plain-text summaries; AAAK-encoded closets are coming in a future update — see [Task #30](https://github.com/milla-jovovich/mempalace/issues/30).)
+**Closets** — summaries that point to the original content. (In v3.0.0 these are plain-text summaries; AAAK-encoded closets are coming in a future update — see [Task #30](https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace/issues/30).)
 **Drawers** — the original verbatim files. The exact words, never summarized.
 
 **Halls** are memory types — the same in every wing, acting as corridors:
@@ -307,11 +307,11 @@ AAAK is a lossy abbreviation system — entity codes, structural markers, and se
 - **AAAK currently regresses LongMemEval** vs raw verbatim retrieval (84.2% R@5 vs 96.6%). The 96.6% headline number is from **raw mode**, not AAAK mode.
 - **The MemPalace storage default is raw verbatim text in ChromaDB** — that's where the benchmark wins come from. AAAK is a separate compression layer for context loading, not the storage format.
 
-We're iterating on the dialect spec, adding a real tokenizer for stats, and exploring better break points for when to use it. Track progress in [Issue #43](https://github.com/milla-jovovich/mempalace/issues/43) and [#27](https://github.com/milla-jovovich/mempalace/issues/27).
+We're iterating on the dialect spec, adding a real tokenizer for stats, and exploring better break points for when to use it. Track progress in [Issue #43](https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace/issues/43) and [#27](https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace/issues/27).
 
 ### Contradiction Detection (experimental, not yet wired into KG)
 
-A separate utility (`fact_checker.py`) can check assertions against entity facts. It's not currently called automatically by the knowledge graph operations — this is being fixed (track in [Issue #27](https://github.com/milla-jovovich/mempalace/issues/27)). When enabled it catches things like:
+A separate utility (`fact_checker.py`) can check assertions against entity facts. It's not currently called automatically by the knowledge graph operations — this is being fixed (track in [Issue #27](https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace/issues/27)). When enabled it catches things like:
 
 ```
 Input:  "Soren finished the auth migration"
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ Letta charges $20–200/mo for agent-managed memory. MemPalace does it with a wi
 
 ```bash
 # Via plugin (recommended)
-claude plugin marketplace add milla-jovovich/mempalace
+claude plugin marketplace add MemPalace/mempalace
 claude plugin install --scope user mempalace
 
 # Or manually
@@ -743,10 +743,10 @@ MIT — see [LICENSE](LICENSE).
 
 <!-- Link Definitions -->
 [version-shield]: https://img.shields.io/badge/version-3.3.0-4dc9f6?style=flat-square&labelColor=0a0e14
-[release-link]: https://github.com/milla-jovovich/mempalace/releases
+[release-link]: https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace/releases
 [python-shield]: https://img.shields.io/badge/python-3.9+-7dd8f8?style=flat-square&labelColor=0a0e14&logo=python&logoColor=7dd8f8
 [python-link]: https://www.python.org/
 [license-shield]: https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-b0e8ff?style=flat-square&labelColor=0a0e14
-[license-link]: https://github.com/milla-jovovich/mempalace/blob/main/LICENSE
+[license-link]: https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace/blob/main/LICENSE
 [discord-shield]: https://img.shields.io/badge/discord-join-5865F2?style=flat-square&labelColor=0a0e14&logo=discord&logoColor=5865F2
 [discord-link]: https://discord.com/invite/ycTQQCu6kn
diff --git a/SECURITY.md b/SECURITY.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42c0238
--- /dev/null
+++ b/SECURITY.md
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+# Security Policy
+
+## Supported Versions
+
+MemPalace follows semantic versioning. Security fixes land on the current major version line.
+
+| Version            | Supported |
+| ------------------ | --------- |
+| 3.x (current)      | Yes       |
+| 2.x and earlier    | No        |
+
+## Reporting a Vulnerability
+
+**Please do not report security vulnerabilities through public GitHub issues.**
+
+We take the security of MemPalace seriously. If you believe you have found a security vulnerability, please report it privately using **GitHub Private Vulnerability Reporting**:
+
+1. Open the [Security tab](https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace/security) of this repository.
+2. Click **Advisories** → **Report a vulnerability**.
+3. Fill in the form with the details below.
+
+### What to include in your report
+
+- A descriptive summary of the vulnerability.
+- Detailed steps to reproduce the issue (including any proof-of-concept scripts or specific file paths).
+- The affected version(s) and platform(s).
+- The potential impact and severity.
+
+### What to expect
+
+- We aim to acknowledge receipt within 48 hours.
+- We will triage the issue and keep you updated on progress toward a patch.
+- Once the vulnerability is resolved and an update is released, we will publish a security advisory and credit you for the discovery (if you wish to be credited).
diff --git a/hooks/mempal_save_hook.sh b/hooks/mempal_save_hook.sh
index b15d961..9eda976 100755
--- a/hooks/mempal_save_hook.sh
+++ b/hooks/mempal_save_hook.sh
@@ -133,11 +133,20 @@ if [ "$SINCE_LAST" -ge "$SAVE_INTERVAL" ] && [ "$EXCHANGE_COUNT" -gt 0 ]; then
 
     echo "[$(date '+%H:%M:%S')] TRIGGERING SAVE at exchange $EXCHANGE_COUNT" >> "$STATE_DIR/hook.log"
 
-    # Optional: run mempalace ingest in background if MEMPAL_DIR is set
+    # Auto-mine the transcript. Two paths:
+    # 1. TRANSCRIPT_PATH (from Claude Code) — mine the directory it lives in
+    # 2. MEMPAL_DIR (user-configured) — mine that directory
+    # At least one should work. If neither is set, nothing mines.
+    PYTHON="$(command -v python3)"
+    MINE_DIR=""
+    if [ -n "$TRANSCRIPT_PATH" ] && [ -f "$TRANSCRIPT_PATH" ]; then
+        MINE_DIR="$(dirname "$TRANSCRIPT_PATH")"
+    fi
     if [ -n "$MEMPAL_DIR" ] && [ -d "$MEMPAL_DIR" ]; then
-        SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
-        REPO_DIR="$(dirname "$SCRIPT_DIR")"
-        python3 -m mempalace mine "$MEMPAL_DIR" >> "$STATE_DIR/hook.log" 2>&1 &
+        MINE_DIR="$MEMPAL_DIR"
+    fi
+    if [ -n "$MINE_DIR" ]; then
+        "$PYTHON" -m mempalace mine "$MINE_DIR" >> "$STATE_DIR/hook.log" 2>&1 &
     fi
 
     # Notify the AI that a checkpoint happened — but do NOT ask it to write
diff --git a/mempalace/backends/base.py b/mempalace/backends/base.py
index 4685f51..877da53 100644
--- a/mempalace/backends/base.py
+++ b/mempalace/backends/base.py
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ class BaseCollection(ABC):
     ) -> None:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    @abstractmethod
+    def update(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+        """Update existing records. Must raise if any ID is missing."""
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
     @abstractmethod
     def query(self, **kwargs: Any) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         raise NotImplementedError
diff --git a/mempalace/backends/chroma.py b/mempalace/backends/chroma.py
index 28fe55f..1a13675 100644
--- a/mempalace/backends/chroma.py
+++ b/mempalace/backends/chroma.py
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ class ChromaCollection(BaseCollection):
     def upsert(self, *, documents, ids, metadatas=None):
         self._collection.upsert(documents=documents, ids=ids, metadatas=metadatas)
 
+    def update(self, **kwargs):
+        self._collection.update(**kwargs)
+
     def query(self, **kwargs):
         return self._collection.query(**kwargs)
 
@@ -71,6 +74,44 @@ class ChromaCollection(BaseCollection):
 class ChromaBackend:
     """Factory for MemPalace's default ChromaDB backend."""
 
+    def __init__(self):
+        # Per-instance client cache: palace_path -> chromadb.PersistentClient
+        self._clients: dict = {}
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Internal helpers
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    def _client(self, palace_path: str):
+        """Return a cached PersistentClient for *palace_path*, creating one if needed."""
+        if palace_path not in self._clients:
+            _fix_blob_seq_ids(palace_path)
+            self._clients[palace_path] = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
+        return self._clients[palace_path]
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Public static helpers (for callers that manage their own caching)
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def make_client(palace_path: str):
+        """Create and return a fresh PersistentClient (fix BLOB seq_ids first).
+
+        Intended for long-lived callers (e.g. mcp_server) that keep their own
+        inode/mtime-based client cache.
+        """
+        _fix_blob_seq_ids(palace_path)
+        return chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def backend_version() -> str:
+        """Return the installed chromadb package version string."""
+        return chromadb.__version__
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Collection lifecycle
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
     def get_collection(self, palace_path: str, collection_name: str, create: bool = False):
         if not create and not os.path.isdir(palace_path):
             raise FileNotFoundError(palace_path)
@@ -82,8 +123,7 @@ class ChromaBackend:
             except (OSError, NotImplementedError):
                 pass
 
-        _fix_blob_seq_ids(palace_path)
-        client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
+        client = self._client(palace_path)
         if create:
             collection = client.get_or_create_collection(
                 collection_name, metadata={"hnsw:space": "cosine"}
@@ -91,3 +131,22 @@ class ChromaBackend:
         else:
             collection = client.get_collection(collection_name)
         return ChromaCollection(collection)
+
+    def get_or_create_collection(
+        self, palace_path: str, collection_name: str
+    ) -> "ChromaCollection":
+        """Shorthand for get_collection(..., create=True)."""
+        return self.get_collection(palace_path, collection_name, create=True)
+
+    def delete_collection(self, palace_path: str, collection_name: str) -> None:
+        """Delete *collection_name* from the palace at *palace_path*."""
+        self._client(palace_path).delete_collection(collection_name)
+
+    def create_collection(
+        self, palace_path: str, collection_name: str, hnsw_space: str = "cosine"
+    ) -> "ChromaCollection":
+        """Create (not get-or-create) *collection_name* with cosine HNSW space."""
+        collection = self._client(palace_path).create_collection(
+            collection_name, metadata={"hnsw:space": hnsw_space}
+        )
+        return ChromaCollection(collection)
diff --git a/mempalace/cli.py b/mempalace/cli.py
index fa92ed6..f7f68d7 100644
--- a/mempalace/cli.py
+++ b/mempalace/cli.py
@@ -172,8 +172,8 @@ def cmd_status(args):
 
 def cmd_repair(args):
     """Rebuild palace vector index from SQLite metadata."""
-    import chromadb
     import shutil
+    from .backends.chroma import ChromaBackend
     from .migrate import confirm_destructive_action, contains_palace_database
 
     palace_path = os.path.abspath(
@@ -193,10 +193,11 @@ def cmd_repair(args):
     print(f"{'=' * 55}\n")
     print(f"  Palace: {palace_path}")
 
+    backend = ChromaBackend()
+
     # Try to read existing drawers
     try:
-        client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
-        col = client.get_collection("mempalace_drawers")
+        col = backend.get_collection(palace_path, "mempalace_drawers")
         total = col.count()
         print(f"  Drawers found: {total}")
     except Exception as e:
@@ -243,8 +244,8 @@ def cmd_repair(args):
     shutil.copytree(palace_path, backup_path)
 
     print("  Rebuilding collection...")
-    client.delete_collection("mempalace_drawers")
-    new_col = client.create_collection("mempalace_drawers", metadata={"hnsw:space": "cosine"})
+    backend.delete_collection(palace_path, "mempalace_drawers")
+    new_col = backend.create_collection(palace_path, "mempalace_drawers")
 
     filed = 0
     for i in range(0, len(all_ids), batch_size):
@@ -297,7 +298,7 @@ def cmd_mcp(args):
 
 def cmd_compress(args):
     """Compress drawers in a wing using AAAK Dialect."""
-    import chromadb
+    from .backends.chroma import ChromaBackend
     from .dialect import Dialect
 
     palace_path = os.path.expanduser(args.palace) if args.palace else MempalaceConfig().palace_path
@@ -317,9 +318,9 @@ def cmd_compress(args):
         dialect = Dialect()
 
     # Connect to palace
+    backend = ChromaBackend()
     try:
-        client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
-        col = client.get_collection("mempalace_drawers")
+        col = backend.get_collection(palace_path, "mempalace_drawers")
     except Exception:
         print(f"\n  No palace found at {palace_path}")
         print("  Run: mempalace init <dir> then mempalace mine <dir>")
@@ -394,9 +395,7 @@ def cmd_compress(args):
     # Store compressed versions (unless dry-run)
     if not args.dry_run:
         try:
-            comp_col = client.get_or_create_collection(
-                "mempalace_compressed", metadata={"hnsw:space": "cosine"}
-            )
+            comp_col = backend.get_or_create_collection(palace_path, "mempalace_compressed")
             for doc_id, compressed, meta, stats in compressed_entries:
                 comp_meta = dict(meta)
                 comp_meta["compression_ratio"] = round(stats["size_ratio"], 1)
diff --git a/mempalace/dedup.py b/mempalace/dedup.py
index c2f9f6b..6b1bac1 100644
--- a/mempalace/dedup.py
+++ b/mempalace/dedup.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import os
 import time
 from collections import defaultdict
 
-import chromadb
+from .backends.chroma import ChromaBackend
 
 
 COLLECTION_NAME = "mempalace_drawers"
@@ -130,8 +130,7 @@ def dedup_source_group(col, drawer_ids, threshold=DEFAULT_THRESHOLD, dry_run=Tru
 def show_stats(palace_path=None):
     """Show duplication statistics without making changes."""
     palace_path = palace_path or _get_palace_path()
-    client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
-    col = client.get_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    col = ChromaBackend().get_collection(palace_path, COLLECTION_NAME)
 
     groups = get_source_groups(col)
 
@@ -163,8 +162,7 @@ def dedup_palace(
     print("  MemPalace Deduplicator")
     print(f"{'=' * 55}")
 
-    client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
-    col = client.get_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    col = ChromaBackend().get_collection(palace_path, COLLECTION_NAME)
 
     print(f"  Palace: {palace_path}")
     print(f"  Drawers: {col.count():,}")
diff --git a/mempalace/mcp_server.py b/mempalace/mcp_server.py
index 31be8a4..4653f5f 100644
--- a/mempalace/mcp_server.py
+++ b/mempalace/mcp_server.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 from .config import MempalaceConfig, sanitize_name, sanitize_content
 from .version import __version__
-import chromadb
+from .backends.chroma import ChromaBackend, ChromaCollection
 from .query_sanitizer import sanitize_query
 from .searcher import search_memories
 from .palace_graph import (
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ def _get_client():
     mtime_changed = current_mtime != 0.0 and abs(current_mtime - _palace_db_mtime) > 0.01
 
     if _client_cache is None or inode_changed or mtime_changed:
-        _client_cache = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=_config.palace_path)
+        _client_cache = ChromaBackend.make_client(_config.palace_path)
         _collection_cache = None
         _metadata_cache = None
         _metadata_cache_time = 0
@@ -192,13 +192,15 @@ def _get_collection(create=False):
     try:
         client = _get_client()
         if create:
-            _collection_cache = client.get_or_create_collection(
-                _config.collection_name, metadata={"hnsw:space": "cosine"}
+            _collection_cache = ChromaCollection(
+                client.get_or_create_collection(
+                    _config.collection_name, metadata={"hnsw:space": "cosine"}
+                )
             )
             _metadata_cache = None
             _metadata_cache_time = 0
         elif _collection_cache is None:
-            _collection_cache = client.get_collection(_config.collection_name)
+            _collection_cache = ChromaCollection(client.get_collection(_config.collection_name))
             _metadata_cache = None
             _metadata_cache_time = 0
         return _collection_cache
diff --git a/mempalace/migrate.py b/mempalace/migrate.py
index 319c670..2eebb61 100644
--- a/mempalace/migrate.py
+++ b/mempalace/migrate.py
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ def confirm_destructive_action(
 
 def migrate(palace_path: str, dry_run: bool = False, confirm: bool = False):
     """Migrate a palace to the currently installed ChromaDB version."""
-    import chromadb
+    from .backends.chroma import ChromaBackend
 
     palace_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(palace_path))
     db_path = os.path.join(palace_path, "chroma.sqlite3")
@@ -152,19 +152,19 @@ def migrate(palace_path: str, dry_run: bool = False, confirm: bool = False):
 
     # Detect version
     source_version = detect_chromadb_version(db_path)
+    target_version = ChromaBackend.backend_version()
     print(f"  Source:    ChromaDB {source_version}")
-    print(f"  Target:    ChromaDB {chromadb.__version__}")
+    print(f"  Target:    ChromaDB {target_version}")
 
     # Try reading with current chromadb first
     try:
-        client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
-        col = client.get_collection("mempalace_drawers")
+        col = ChromaBackend().get_collection(palace_path, "mempalace_drawers")
         count = col.count()
-        print(f"\n  Palace is already readable by chromadb {chromadb.__version__}.")
+        print(f"\n  Palace is already readable by chromadb {target_version}.")
         print(f"  {count} drawers found. No migration needed.")
         return True
     except Exception:
-        print(f"\n  Palace is NOT readable by chromadb {chromadb.__version__}.")
+        print(f"\n  Palace is NOT readable by chromadb {target_version}.")
         print("  Extracting from SQLite directly...")
 
     # Extract all drawers via raw SQL
@@ -208,8 +208,8 @@ def migrate(palace_path: str, dry_run: bool = False, confirm: bool = False):
 
     temp_palace = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="mempalace_migrate_")
     print(f"  Creating fresh palace in {temp_palace}...")
-    client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=temp_palace)
-    col = client.get_or_create_collection("mempalace_drawers", metadata={"hnsw:space": "cosine"})
+    fresh_backend = ChromaBackend()
+    col = fresh_backend.get_or_create_collection(temp_palace, "mempalace_drawers")
 
     # Re-import in batches
     batch_size = 500
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ def migrate(palace_path: str, dry_run: bool = False, confirm: bool = False):
     # Verify before swapping
     final_count = col.count()
     del col
-    del client
+    del fresh_backend
 
     # Swap: remove old palace, move new one into place
     print("  Swapping old palace for migrated version...")
diff --git a/mempalace/repair.py b/mempalace/repair.py
index d51be60..9a9aa88 100644
--- a/mempalace/repair.py
+++ b/mempalace/repair.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import os
 import shutil
 import time
 
-import chromadb
+from .backends.chroma import ChromaBackend
 
 
 COLLECTION_NAME = "mempalace_drawers"
@@ -90,8 +90,7 @@ def scan_palace(palace_path=None, only_wing=None):
     print(f"\n  Palace: {palace_path}")
     print("  Loading...")
 
-    client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
-    col = client.get_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    col = ChromaBackend().get_collection(palace_path, COLLECTION_NAME)
 
     where = {"wing": only_wing} if only_wing else None
     total = col.count()
@@ -174,8 +173,7 @@ def prune_corrupt(palace_path=None, confirm=False):
         print("  Re-run with --confirm to actually delete.")
         return
 
-    client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
-    col = client.get_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    col = ChromaBackend().get_collection(palace_path, COLLECTION_NAME)
     before = col.count()
     print(f"  Collection size before: {before:,}")
 
@@ -222,9 +220,9 @@ def rebuild_index(palace_path=None):
     print(f"{'=' * 55}\n")
     print(f"  Palace: {palace_path}")
 
-    client = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
+    backend = ChromaBackend()
     try:
-        col = client.get_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+        col = backend.get_collection(palace_path, COLLECTION_NAME)
         total = col.count()
     except Exception as e:
         print(f"  Error reading palace: {e}")
@@ -264,8 +262,8 @@ def rebuild_index(palace_path=None):
 
     # Rebuild with correct HNSW settings
     print("  Rebuilding collection with hnsw:space=cosine...")
-    client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
-    new_col = client.create_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, metadata={"hnsw:space": "cosine"})
+    backend.delete_collection(palace_path, COLLECTION_NAME)
+    new_col = backend.create_collection(palace_path, COLLECTION_NAME)
 
     filed = 0
     for i in range(0, len(all_ids), batch_size):
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 2fac2f9..f3067f3 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ dependencies = [
 ]
 
 [project.urls]
-Homepage = "https://github.com/milla-jovovich/mempalace"
-Repository = "https://github.com/milla-jovovich/mempalace"
-"Bug Tracker" = "https://github.com/milla-jovovich/mempalace/issues"
+Homepage = "https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace"
+Repository = "https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace"
+"Bug Tracker" = "https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace/issues"
 
 [project.scripts]
 mempalace = "mempalace.cli:main"
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 0e95a8c..c4b4203 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -412,12 +412,21 @@ def test_main_compress_dispatches():
 # ── cmd_repair ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 
+def _mock_backend_for(col=None, new_col=None):
+    """Build a mock ChromaBackend whose get_collection/create_collection return *col* / *new_col*."""
+    mock_backend = MagicMock()
+    if col is not None:
+        mock_backend.get_collection.return_value = col
+    if new_col is not None:
+        mock_backend.create_collection.return_value = new_col
+    return mock_backend
+
+
 @patch("mempalace.cli.MempalaceConfig")
 def test_cmd_repair_no_palace(mock_config_cls, tmp_path, capsys):
     mock_config_cls.return_value.palace_path = str(tmp_path / "nonexistent")
     args = argparse.Namespace(palace=None)
-    mock_chromadb = MagicMock()
-    with patch.dict("sys.modules", {"chromadb": mock_chromadb}):
+    with patch("mempalace.backends.chroma.ChromaBackend"):
         cmd_repair(args)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
     assert "No palace found" in out
@@ -429,8 +438,7 @@ def test_cmd_repair_requires_palace_database(mock_config_cls, tmp_path, capsys):
     palace_dir.mkdir()
     mock_config_cls.return_value.palace_path = str(palace_dir)
     args = argparse.Namespace(palace=None)
-    mock_chromadb = MagicMock()
-    with patch.dict("sys.modules", {"chromadb": mock_chromadb}):
+    with patch("mempalace.backends.chroma.ChromaBackend"):
         cmd_repair(args)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
     assert "No palace database found" in out
@@ -443,11 +451,9 @@ def test_cmd_repair_error_reading(mock_config_cls, tmp_path, capsys):
     (palace_dir / "chroma.sqlite3").write_text("db")
     mock_config_cls.return_value.palace_path = str(palace_dir)
     args = argparse.Namespace(palace=None)
-    mock_chromadb = MagicMock()
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.side_effect = Exception("corrupt db")
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
-    with patch.dict("sys.modules", {"chromadb": mock_chromadb}):
+    mock_backend = MagicMock()
+    mock_backend.get_collection.side_effect = Exception("corrupt db")
+    with patch("mempalace.backends.chroma.ChromaBackend", return_value=mock_backend):
         cmd_repair(args)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
     assert "Error reading palace" in out
@@ -460,13 +466,10 @@ def test_cmd_repair_zero_drawers(mock_config_cls, tmp_path, capsys):
     (palace_dir / "chroma.sqlite3").write_text("db")
     mock_config_cls.return_value.palace_path = str(palace_dir)
     args = argparse.Namespace(palace=None)
-    mock_chromadb = MagicMock()
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.count.return_value = 0
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
-    with patch.dict("sys.modules", {"chromadb": mock_chromadb}):
+    mock_backend = _mock_backend_for(col=mock_col)
+    with patch("mempalace.backends.chroma.ChromaBackend", return_value=mock_backend):
         cmd_repair(args)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
     assert "Nothing to repair" in out
@@ -479,7 +482,6 @@ def test_cmd_repair_success(mock_config_cls, tmp_path, capsys):
     (palace_dir / "chroma.sqlite3").write_text("db")
     mock_config_cls.return_value.palace_path = str(palace_dir)
     args = argparse.Namespace(palace=None, yes=True)
-    mock_chromadb = MagicMock()
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.count.return_value = 2
     mock_col.get.return_value = {
@@ -487,12 +489,9 @@ def test_cmd_repair_success(mock_config_cls, tmp_path, capsys):
         "documents": ["doc1", "doc2"],
         "metadatas": [{"wing": "a"}, {"wing": "b"}],
     }
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
     mock_new_col = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.create_collection.return_value = mock_new_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
-    with patch.dict("sys.modules", {"chromadb": mock_chromadb}):
+    mock_backend = _mock_backend_for(col=mock_col, new_col=mock_new_col)
+    with patch("mempalace.backends.chroma.ChromaBackend", return_value=mock_backend):
         cmd_repair(args)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
     assert "Repair complete" in out
@@ -506,20 +505,17 @@ def test_cmd_repair_aborts_without_confirmation(mock_config_cls, tmp_path, capsy
     (palace_dir / "chroma.sqlite3").write_text("db")
     mock_config_cls.return_value.palace_path = str(palace_dir)
     args = argparse.Namespace(palace=None)
-    mock_chromadb = MagicMock()
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.count.return_value = 1
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    mock_backend = _mock_backend_for(col=mock_col)
     with (
-        patch.dict("sys.modules", {"chromadb": mock_chromadb}),
+        patch("mempalace.backends.chroma.ChromaBackend", return_value=mock_backend),
         patch("builtins.input", return_value="n"),
     ):
         cmd_repair(args)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
     assert "Aborted." in out
-    mock_client.create_collection.assert_not_called()
+    mock_backend.create_collection.assert_not_called()
 
 
 # ── cmd_compress ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -529,10 +525,10 @@ def test_cmd_repair_aborts_without_confirmation(mock_config_cls, tmp_path, capsy
 def test_cmd_compress_no_palace(mock_config_cls, capsys):
     mock_config_cls.return_value.palace_path = "/fake/palace"
     args = argparse.Namespace(palace=None, wing=None, dry_run=False, config=None)
-    mock_chromadb = MagicMock()
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.side_effect = Exception("no palace")
+    mock_backend = MagicMock()
+    mock_backend.get_collection.side_effect = Exception("no palace")
     with (
-        patch.dict("sys.modules", {"chromadb": mock_chromadb}),
+        patch("mempalace.backends.chroma.ChromaBackend", return_value=mock_backend),
         pytest.raises(SystemExit),
     ):
         cmd_compress(args)
@@ -542,13 +538,10 @@ def test_cmd_compress_no_palace(mock_config_cls, capsys):
 def test_cmd_compress_no_drawers(mock_config_cls, capsys):
     mock_config_cls.return_value.palace_path = "/fake/palace"
     args = argparse.Namespace(palace=None, wing="mywing", dry_run=False, config=None)
-    mock_chromadb = MagicMock()
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.get.return_value = {"documents": [], "metadatas": [], "ids": []}
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
-    with patch.dict("sys.modules", {"chromadb": mock_chromadb}):
+    mock_backend = _mock_backend_for(col=mock_col)
+    with patch("mempalace.backends.chroma.ChromaBackend", return_value=mock_backend):
         cmd_compress(args)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
     assert "No drawers found" in out
@@ -567,7 +560,6 @@ def _make_mock_dialect_module(dialect_instance):
 def test_cmd_compress_dry_run(mock_config_cls, capsys):
     mock_config_cls.return_value.palace_path = "/fake/palace"
     args = argparse.Namespace(palace=None, wing=None, dry_run=True, config=None)
-    mock_chromadb = MagicMock()
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.get.side_effect = [
         {
@@ -577,9 +569,7 @@ def test_cmd_compress_dry_run(mock_config_cls, capsys):
         },
         {"documents": [], "metadatas": [], "ids": []},
     ]
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    mock_backend = _mock_backend_for(col=mock_col)
 
     mock_dialect = MagicMock()
     mock_dialect.compress.return_value = "compressed"
@@ -593,12 +583,9 @@ def test_cmd_compress_dry_run(mock_config_cls, capsys):
     }
     mock_dialect_mod = _make_mock_dialect_module(mock_dialect)
 
-    with patch.dict(
-        "sys.modules",
-        {
-            "chromadb": mock_chromadb,
-            "mempalace.dialect": mock_dialect_mod,
-        },
+    with (
+        patch("mempalace.backends.chroma.ChromaBackend", return_value=mock_backend),
+        patch.dict("sys.modules", {"mempalace.dialect": mock_dialect_mod}),
     ):
         cmd_compress(args)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
@@ -613,22 +600,16 @@ def test_cmd_compress_with_config(mock_config_cls, tmp_path, capsys):
     config_file = tmp_path / "entities.json"
     config_file.write_text('{"people": [], "projects": []}')
     args = argparse.Namespace(palace=None, wing=None, dry_run=True, config=str(config_file))
-    mock_chromadb = MagicMock()
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.get.return_value = {"documents": [], "metadatas": [], "ids": []}
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    mock_backend = _mock_backend_for(col=mock_col)
 
     mock_dialect = MagicMock()
     mock_dialect_mod = _make_mock_dialect_module(mock_dialect)
 
-    with patch.dict(
-        "sys.modules",
-        {
-            "chromadb": mock_chromadb,
-            "mempalace.dialect": mock_dialect_mod,
-        },
+    with (
+        patch("mempalace.backends.chroma.ChromaBackend", return_value=mock_backend),
+        patch.dict("sys.modules", {"mempalace.dialect": mock_dialect_mod}),
     ):
         cmd_compress(args)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
@@ -640,7 +621,6 @@ def test_cmd_compress_stores_results(mock_config_cls, capsys):
     """Non-dry-run compress stores to mempalace_compressed collection."""
     mock_config_cls.return_value.palace_path = "/fake/palace"
     args = argparse.Namespace(palace=None, wing=None, dry_run=False, config=None)
-    mock_chromadb = MagicMock()
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.get.side_effect = [
         {
@@ -650,11 +630,10 @@ def test_cmd_compress_stores_results(mock_config_cls, capsys):
         },
         {"documents": [], "metadatas": [], "ids": []},
     ]
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
     mock_comp_col = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_or_create_collection.return_value = mock_comp_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    mock_backend = MagicMock()
+    mock_backend.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
+    mock_backend.get_or_create_collection.return_value = mock_comp_col
 
     mock_dialect = MagicMock()
     mock_dialect.compress.return_value = "compressed"
@@ -668,12 +647,9 @@ def test_cmd_compress_stores_results(mock_config_cls, capsys):
     }
     mock_dialect_mod = _make_mock_dialect_module(mock_dialect)
 
-    with patch.dict(
-        "sys.modules",
-        {
-            "chromadb": mock_chromadb,
-            "mempalace.dialect": mock_dialect_mod,
-        },
+    with (
+        patch("mempalace.backends.chroma.ChromaBackend", return_value=mock_backend),
+        patch.dict("sys.modules", {"mempalace.dialect": mock_dialect_mod}),
     ):
         cmd_compress(args)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
diff --git a/tests/test_dedup.py b/tests/test_dedup.py
index 2ddffb3..dfdd3de 100644
--- a/tests/test_dedup.py
+++ b/tests/test_dedup.py
@@ -198,8 +198,15 @@ def test_dedup_source_group_query_failure_keeps():
 # ── show_stats ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 
-@patch("mempalace.dedup.chromadb")
-def test_show_stats(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
+def _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, collection):
+    mock_backend = MagicMock()
+    mock_backend.get_collection.return_value = collection
+    mock_backend_cls.return_value = mock_backend
+    return mock_backend
+
+
+@patch("mempalace.dedup.ChromaBackend")
+def test_show_stats(mock_backend_cls, tmp_path):
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.count.return_value = 5
     mock_col.get.side_effect = [
@@ -215,9 +222,7 @@ def test_show_stats(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
         },
         {"ids": []},
     ]
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, mock_col)
 
     dedup.show_stats(palace_path=str(tmp_path))  # should not raise
 
@@ -227,13 +232,11 @@ def test_show_stats(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
 
 @patch("mempalace.dedup.dedup_source_group")
 @patch("mempalace.dedup.get_source_groups")
-@patch("mempalace.dedup.chromadb")
-def test_dedup_palace_dry_run(mock_chromadb, mock_groups, mock_dedup_group, tmp_path):
+@patch("mempalace.dedup.ChromaBackend")
+def test_dedup_palace_dry_run(mock_backend_cls, mock_groups, mock_dedup_group, tmp_path):
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.count.return_value = 10
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, mock_col)
 
     mock_groups.return_value = {"a.txt": ["d1", "d2", "d3", "d4", "d5"]}
     mock_dedup_group.return_value = (["d1", "d2", "d3"], ["d4", "d5"])
@@ -244,13 +247,11 @@ def test_dedup_palace_dry_run(mock_chromadb, mock_groups, mock_dedup_group, tmp_
 
 @patch("mempalace.dedup.dedup_source_group")
 @patch("mempalace.dedup.get_source_groups")
-@patch("mempalace.dedup.chromadb")
-def test_dedup_palace_with_wing(mock_chromadb, mock_groups, mock_dedup_group, tmp_path):
+@patch("mempalace.dedup.ChromaBackend")
+def test_dedup_palace_with_wing(mock_backend_cls, mock_groups, mock_dedup_group, tmp_path):
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.count.return_value = 10
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, mock_col)
 
     mock_groups.return_value = {}
     dedup.dedup_palace(palace_path=str(tmp_path), wing="test_wing", dry_run=True)
@@ -259,13 +260,11 @@ def test_dedup_palace_with_wing(mock_chromadb, mock_groups, mock_dedup_group, tm
 
 @patch("mempalace.dedup.dedup_source_group")
 @patch("mempalace.dedup.get_source_groups")
-@patch("mempalace.dedup.chromadb")
-def test_dedup_palace_no_groups(mock_chromadb, mock_groups, mock_dedup_group, tmp_path):
+@patch("mempalace.dedup.ChromaBackend")
+def test_dedup_palace_no_groups(mock_backend_cls, mock_groups, mock_dedup_group, tmp_path):
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.count.return_value = 3
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, mock_col)
 
     mock_groups.return_value = {}
     dedup.dedup_palace(palace_path=str(tmp_path), dry_run=True)
diff --git a/tests/test_repair.py b/tests/test_repair.py
index 604b0fb..9ae1812 100644
--- a/tests/test_repair.py
+++ b/tests/test_repair.py
@@ -66,22 +66,28 @@ def test_paginate_ids_offset_exception_fallback():
 # ── scan_palace ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 
-@patch("mempalace.repair.chromadb")
-def test_scan_palace_no_ids(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
+def _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, collection):
+    """Wire mock_backend_cls so ChromaBackend().get_collection(...) returns *collection*."""
+    mock_backend = MagicMock()
+    mock_backend.get_collection.return_value = collection
+    mock_backend_cls.return_value = mock_backend
+    return mock_backend
+
+
+@patch("mempalace.repair.ChromaBackend")
+def test_scan_palace_no_ids(mock_backend_cls, tmp_path):
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.count.return_value = 0
     mock_col.get.return_value = {"ids": []}
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, mock_col)
 
     good, bad = repair.scan_palace(palace_path=str(tmp_path))
     assert good == set()
     assert bad == set()
 
 
-@patch("mempalace.repair.chromadb")
-def test_scan_palace_all_good(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
+@patch("mempalace.repair.ChromaBackend")
+def test_scan_palace_all_good(mock_backend_cls, tmp_path):
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.count.return_value = 2
     # _paginate_ids call
@@ -89,9 +95,7 @@ def test_scan_palace_all_good(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
         {"ids": ["id1", "id2"]},  # paginate
         {"ids": ["id1", "id2"]},  # probe batch — both returned
     ]
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, mock_col)
 
     good, bad = repair.scan_palace(palace_path=str(tmp_path))
     assert "id1" in good
@@ -99,8 +103,8 @@ def test_scan_palace_all_good(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
     assert len(bad) == 0
 
 
-@patch("mempalace.repair.chromadb")
-def test_scan_palace_with_bad_ids(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
+@patch("mempalace.repair.ChromaBackend")
+def test_scan_palace_with_bad_ids(mock_backend_cls, tmp_path):
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.count.return_value = 2
 
@@ -117,26 +121,22 @@ def test_scan_palace_with_bad_ids(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
         raise Exception("batch fail")
 
     mock_col.get.side_effect = get_side_effect
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, mock_col)
 
     good, bad = repair.scan_palace(palace_path=str(tmp_path))
     assert "good1" in good
     assert "bad1" in bad
 
 
-@patch("mempalace.repair.chromadb")
-def test_scan_palace_with_wing_filter(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
+@patch("mempalace.repair.ChromaBackend")
+def test_scan_palace_with_wing_filter(mock_backend_cls, tmp_path):
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.count.return_value = 1
     mock_col.get.side_effect = [
         {"ids": ["id1"]},  # paginate
         {"ids": ["id1"]},  # probe
     ]
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, mock_col)
 
     repair.scan_palace(palace_path=str(tmp_path), only_wing="test_wing")
     # Verify where filter was passed
@@ -147,38 +147,36 @@ def test_scan_palace_with_wing_filter(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
 # ── prune_corrupt ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 
-@patch("mempalace.repair.chromadb")
-def test_prune_corrupt_no_file(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
+@patch("mempalace.repair.ChromaBackend")
+def test_prune_corrupt_no_file(mock_backend_cls, tmp_path):
     # Should print message and return without error
     repair.prune_corrupt(palace_path=str(tmp_path))
 
 
-@patch("mempalace.repair.chromadb")
-def test_prune_corrupt_dry_run(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
+@patch("mempalace.repair.ChromaBackend")
+def test_prune_corrupt_dry_run(mock_backend_cls, tmp_path):
     bad_file = tmp_path / "corrupt_ids.txt"
     bad_file.write_text("bad1\nbad2\n")
     repair.prune_corrupt(palace_path=str(tmp_path), confirm=False)
-    # No chromadb calls in dry run
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.assert_not_called()
+    # No backend calls in dry run
+    mock_backend_cls.assert_not_called()
 
 
-@patch("mempalace.repair.chromadb")
-def test_prune_corrupt_confirmed(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
+@patch("mempalace.repair.ChromaBackend")
+def test_prune_corrupt_confirmed(mock_backend_cls, tmp_path):
     bad_file = tmp_path / "corrupt_ids.txt"
     bad_file.write_text("bad1\nbad2\n")
 
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.count.side_effect = [10, 8]
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, mock_col)
 
     repair.prune_corrupt(palace_path=str(tmp_path), confirm=True)
     mock_col.delete.assert_called_once()
 
 
-@patch("mempalace.repair.chromadb")
-def test_prune_corrupt_delete_failure_fallback(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
+@patch("mempalace.repair.ChromaBackend")
+def test_prune_corrupt_delete_failure_fallback(mock_backend_cls, tmp_path):
     bad_file = tmp_path / "corrupt_ids.txt"
     bad_file.write_text("bad1\nbad2\n")
 
@@ -186,9 +184,7 @@ def test_prune_corrupt_delete_failure_fallback(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
     mock_col.count.side_effect = [10, 8]
     # Batch delete fails, per-id succeeds
     mock_col.delete.side_effect = [Exception("batch fail"), None, None]
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, mock_col)
 
     repair.prune_corrupt(palace_path=str(tmp_path), confirm=True)
     assert mock_col.delete.call_count == 3  # 1 batch + 2 individual
@@ -197,29 +193,27 @@ def test_prune_corrupt_delete_failure_fallback(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
 # ── rebuild_index ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 
-@patch("mempalace.repair.chromadb")
-def test_rebuild_index_no_palace(mock_chromadb, tmp_path):
+@patch("mempalace.repair.ChromaBackend")
+def test_rebuild_index_no_palace(mock_backend_cls, tmp_path):
     nonexistent = str(tmp_path / "nope")
     repair.rebuild_index(palace_path=nonexistent)
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.assert_not_called()
+    mock_backend_cls.assert_not_called()
 
 
 @patch("mempalace.repair.shutil")
-@patch("mempalace.repair.chromadb")
-def test_rebuild_index_empty_palace(mock_chromadb, mock_shutil, tmp_path):
+@patch("mempalace.repair.ChromaBackend")
+def test_rebuild_index_empty_palace(mock_backend_cls, mock_shutil, tmp_path):
     mock_col = MagicMock()
     mock_col.count.return_value = 0
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    mock_backend = _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, mock_col)
 
     repair.rebuild_index(palace_path=str(tmp_path))
-    mock_client.delete_collection.assert_not_called()
+    mock_backend.delete_collection.assert_not_called()
 
 
 @patch("mempalace.repair.shutil")
-@patch("mempalace.repair.chromadb")
-def test_rebuild_index_success(mock_chromadb, mock_shutil, tmp_path):
+@patch("mempalace.repair.ChromaBackend")
+def test_rebuild_index_success(mock_backend_cls, mock_shutil, tmp_path):
     # Create a fake sqlite file
     sqlite_path = tmp_path / "chroma.sqlite3"
     sqlite_path.write_text("fake")
@@ -233,10 +227,8 @@ def test_rebuild_index_success(mock_chromadb, mock_shutil, tmp_path):
     }
 
     mock_new_col = MagicMock()
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.return_value = mock_col
-    mock_client.create_collection.return_value = mock_new_col
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+    mock_backend = _install_mock_backend(mock_backend_cls, mock_col)
+    mock_backend.create_collection.return_value = mock_new_col
 
     repair.rebuild_index(palace_path=str(tmp_path))
 
@@ -244,11 +236,9 @@ def test_rebuild_index_success(mock_chromadb, mock_shutil, tmp_path):
     mock_shutil.copy2.assert_called_once()
     assert "chroma.sqlite3" in str(mock_shutil.copy2.call_args)
 
-    # Verify: deleted and recreated with cosine
-    mock_client.delete_collection.assert_called_once_with("mempalace_drawers")
-    mock_client.create_collection.assert_called_once_with(
-        "mempalace_drawers", metadata={"hnsw:space": "cosine"}
-    )
+    # Verify: deleted and recreated (cosine is the backend default)
+    mock_backend.delete_collection.assert_called_once_with(str(tmp_path), "mempalace_drawers")
+    mock_backend.create_collection.assert_called_once_with(str(tmp_path), "mempalace_drawers")
 
     # Verify: used upsert not add
     mock_new_col.upsert.assert_called_once()
@@ -256,11 +246,11 @@ def test_rebuild_index_success(mock_chromadb, mock_shutil, tmp_path):
 
 
 @patch("mempalace.repair.shutil")
-@patch("mempalace.repair.chromadb")
-def test_rebuild_index_error_reading(mock_chromadb, mock_shutil, tmp_path):
-    mock_client = MagicMock()
-    mock_client.get_collection.side_effect = Exception("corrupt")
-    mock_chromadb.PersistentClient.return_value = mock_client
+@patch("mempalace.repair.ChromaBackend")
+def test_rebuild_index_error_reading(mock_backend_cls, mock_shutil, tmp_path):
+    mock_backend = MagicMock()
+    mock_backend.get_collection.side_effect = Exception("corrupt")
+    mock_backend_cls.return_value = mock_backend
 
     repair.rebuild_index(palace_path=str(tmp_path))
-    mock_client.delete_collection.assert_not_called()
+    mock_backend.delete_collection.assert_not_called()
diff --git a/tests/test_save_hook_mines.py b/tests/test_save_hook_mines.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a702a42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_save_hook_mines.py
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+"""TDD: save hook must actually mine conversations without MEMPAL_DIR.
+
+The save hook should auto-discover the conversation transcript and mine it
+without the user needing to set MEMPAL_DIR. Currently MEMPAL_DIR defaults
+to empty, which means the mining block is skipped and nothing is saved
+despite the hook telling the agent "saved in background."
+
+Written BEFORE the fix.
+"""
+
+import os
+
+
+class TestSaveHookAutoMines:
+    """The save hook must mine the active transcript automatically."""
+
+    def test_hook_mines_transcript_path(self):
+        """The hook receives TRANSCRIPT_PATH from Claude Code.
+        It should use that to mine the conversation, not depend on MEMPAL_DIR."""
+        hook_path = os.path.join(
+            os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)),
+            "hooks",
+            "mempal_save_hook.sh",
+        )
+        src = open(hook_path).read()
+
+        # The hook ALREADY receives TRANSCRIPT_PATH in the JSON input.
+        # It should use this to mine the current session's transcript
+        # regardless of whether MEMPAL_DIR is set.
+        # The hook must have a path that uses TRANSCRIPT_PATH to determine
+        # what to mine, separate from the MEMPAL_DIR path.
+        uses_transcript = "TRANSCRIPT_PATH" in src
+        has_mine = "mempalace mine" in src
+        # TRANSCRIPT_PATH must appear in the mining logic, not just the parse block
+        transcript_drives_mine = "MINE_DIR" in src and "dirname" in src and "TRANSCRIPT_PATH" in src
+
+        assert uses_transcript and has_mine and transcript_drives_mine, (
+            "Save hook only mines when MEMPAL_DIR is set (defaults to empty). "
+            "The hook receives TRANSCRIPT_PATH from Claude Code — it should "
+            "mine that file automatically so conversations are saved without "
+            "the user setting an env var. Currently the hook says 'saved in "
+            "background' but nothing actually saves."
+        )
+
+    def test_mempal_dir_default_not_empty(self):
+        """If MEMPAL_DIR is still used, it should have a sensible default,
+        not an empty string that silently disables mining."""
+        hook_path = os.path.join(
+            os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)),
+            "hooks",
+            "mempal_save_hook.sh",
+        )
+        src = open(hook_path).read()
+
+        # Check if MEMPAL_DIR defaults to empty
+        has_empty_default = 'MEMPAL_DIR=""' in src
+
+        # If it defaults to empty, mining is silently disabled
+        if has_empty_default:
+            # There must be an alternative mining path that doesn't need MEMPAL_DIR
+            has_alternative = (
+                src.count("mempalace mine") > 1
+                or "TRANSCRIPT_PATH" in src.split("mempalace mine")[0]
+            )
+            assert has_alternative, (
+                'MEMPAL_DIR defaults to "" which silently disables mining. '
+                "Either set a default path or add transcript-based mining."
+            )
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 413f104..f9b6dca 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -1239,7 +1239,7 @@ dev = [
 [package.metadata]
 requires-dist = [
     { name = "autocorrect", marker = "extra == 'spellcheck'", specifier = ">=2.0" },
-    { name = "chromadb", specifier = ">=0.5.0,<0.7" },
+    { name = "chromadb", specifier = ">=0.5.0" },
     { name = "psutil", marker = "extra == 'dev'", specifier = ">=5.9" },
     { name = "pytest", marker = "extra == 'dev'", specifier = ">=7.0" },
     { name = "pytest-cov", marker = "extra == 'dev'", specifier = ">=4.0" },
diff --git a/website/public/CNAME b/website/public/CNAME
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e353cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/website/public/CNAME
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+mempalaceofficial.com