fix: basic memory home env var not respected when project path is changed.

src/basic_memory/api/routers/project_router.py

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """Router for project management."""
 
+import os
 from fastapi import APIRouter, HTTPException, Path, Body
 from typing import Optional
 
@@ -32,40 +33,47 @@ async def get_project_info(
 @project_router.patch("/{name}", response_model=ProjectStatusResponse)
 async def update_project(
     project_service: ProjectServiceDep,
-    project_name: str = Path(..., description="Name of the project to update"),
-    path: Optional[str] = Body(None, description="New path for the project"),
+    name: str = Path(..., description="Name of the project to update"),
+    path: Optional[str] = Body(None, description="New absolute path for the project"),
     is_active: Optional[bool] = Body(None, description="Status of the project (active/inactive)"),
 ) -> ProjectStatusResponse:
     """Update a project's information in configuration and database.
 
     Args:
-        project_name: The name of the project to update
-        path: Optional new path for the project
+        name: The name of the project to update
+        path: Optional new absolute path for the project
         is_active: Optional status update for the project
 
     Returns:
         Response confirming the project was updated
     """
-    try:  # pragma: no cover
+    try:
+        # Validate that path is absolute if provided
+        if path and not os.path.isabs(path):
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Path must be absolute")
+
         # Get original project info for the response
         old_project_info = ProjectItem(
-            name=project_name,
-            path=project_service.projects.get(project_name, ""),
+            name=name,
+            path=project_service.projects.get(name, ""),
         )
 
-        await project_service.update_project(project_name, updated_path=path, is_active=is_active)
+        if path:
+            await project_service.move_project(name, path)
+        elif is_active is not None:
+            await project_service.update_project(name, is_active=is_active)
 
         # Get updated project info
-        updated_path = path if path else project_service.projects.get(project_name, "")
+        updated_path = path if path else project_service.projects.get(name, "")
 
         return ProjectStatusResponse(
-            message=f"Project '{project_name}' updated successfully",
+            message=f"Project '{name}' updated successfully",
             status="success",
-            default=(project_name == project_service.default_project),
+            default=(name == project_service.default_project),
             old_project=old_project_info,
-            new_project=ProjectItem(name=project_name, path=updated_path),
+            new_project=ProjectItem(name=name, path=updated_path),
         )
-    except ValueError as e:  # pragma: no cover
+    except ValueError as e:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail=str(e))
 
 

src/basic_memory/cli/commands/project.py

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 from basic_memory.schemas.project_info import ProjectStatusResponse
 from basic_memory.mcp.tools.utils import call_delete
 from basic_memory.mcp.tools.utils import call_put
+from basic_memory.mcp.tools.utils import call_patch
 from basic_memory.utils import generate_permalink
 
 console = Console()
@@ -148,6 +149,42 @@ def synchronize_projects() -> None:
         raise typer.Exit(1)
 
 
+@project_app.command("move")
+def move_project(
+    name: str = typer.Argument(..., help="Name of the project to move"),
+    new_path: str = typer.Argument(..., help="New absolute path for the project"),
+) -> None:
+    """Move a project to a new location."""
+    # Resolve to absolute path
+    resolved_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(new_path))
+
+    try:
+        data = {"path": resolved_path}
+        project_name = generate_permalink(name)
+
+        current_project = session.get_current_project()
+        response = asyncio.run(call_patch(client, f"/{current_project}/project/{project_name}", json=data))
+        result = ProjectStatusResponse.model_validate(response.json())
+
+        console.print(f"[green]{result.message}[/green]")
+
+        # Show important file movement reminder
+        console.print()  # Empty line for spacing
+        console.print(Panel(
+            "[bold red]IMPORTANT:[/bold red] Project configuration updated successfully.\n\n"
+            "[yellow]You must manually move your project files from the old location to:[/yellow]\n"
+            f"[cyan]{resolved_path}[/cyan]\n\n"
+            "[dim]Basic Memory has only updated the configuration - your files remain in their original location.[/dim]",
+            title="⚠️  Manual File Movement Required",
+            border_style="yellow",
+            expand=False
+        ))
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        console.print(f"[red]Error moving project: {str(e)}[/red]")
+        raise typer.Exit(1)
+
+
 @project_app.command("info")
 def display_project_info(
     json_output: bool = typer.Option(False, "--json", help="Output in JSON format"),

src/basic_memory/config.py

@@ -182,10 +182,8 @@ def load_config(self) -> BasicMemoryConfig:
                 data = json.loads(self.config_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
                 return BasicMemoryConfig(**data)
             except Exception as e:  # pragma: no cover
-                logger.error(f"Failed to load config: {e}")
-                config = BasicMemoryConfig()
-                self.save_config(config)
-                return config
+                logger.exception(f"Failed to load config: {e}")
+                raise e
         else:
             config = BasicMemoryConfig()
             self.save_config(config)

src/basic_memory/repository/project_repository.py

@@ -83,3 +83,21 @@ async def set_as_default(self, project_id: int) -> Optional[Project]:
                 await session.flush()
                 return target_project
             return None  # pragma: no cover
+
+    async def update_path(self, project_id: int, new_path: str) -> Optional[Project]:
+        """Update project path.
+
+        Args:
+            project_id: ID of the project to update
+            new_path: New filesystem path for the project
+
+        Returns:
+            The updated project if found, None otherwise
+        """
+        async with db.scoped_session(self.session_maker) as session:
+            project = await self.select_by_id(session, project_id)
+            if project:
+                project.path = new_path
+                await session.flush()
+                return project
+            return None

src/basic_memory/services/project_service.py

@@ -309,6 +309,47 @@ async def synchronize_projects(self) -> None:  # pragma: no cover
             # MCP components might not be available in all contexts
             logger.debug("MCP session not available, skipping session refresh")
 
+    async def move_project(self, name: str, new_path: str) -> None:
+        """Move a project to a new location.
+
+        Args:
+            name: The name of the project to move
+            new_path: The new absolute path for the project
+
+        Raises:
+            ValueError: If the project doesn't exist or repository isn't initialized
+        """
+        if not self.repository:
+            raise ValueError("Repository is required for move_project")
+
+        # Resolve to absolute path
+        resolved_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(new_path))
+
+        # Validate project exists in config
+        if name not in self.config_manager.projects:
+            raise ValueError(f"Project '{name}' not found in configuration")
+
+        # Create the new directory if it doesn't exist
+        Path(resolved_path).mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+        # Update in configuration
+        config = self.config_manager.load_config()
+        old_path = config.projects[name]
+        config.projects[name] = resolved_path
+        self.config_manager.save_config(config)
+
+        # Update in database
+        project = await self.repository.get_by_name(name)
+        if project:
+            await self.repository.update_path(project.id, resolved_path)
+            logger.info(f"Moved project '{name}' from {old_path} to {resolved_path}")
+        else:
+            logger.error(f"Project '{name}' exists in config but not in database")
+            # Restore the old path in config since DB update failed
+            config.projects[name] = old_path
+            self.config_manager.save_config(config)
+            raise ValueError(f"Project '{name}' not found in database")
+
     async def update_project(  # pragma: no cover
         self, name: str, updated_path: Optional[str] = None, is_active: Optional[bool] = None
     ) -> None:

src/basic_memory/utils.py

@@ -146,19 +146,19 @@ def setup_logging(
     # logger.remove()
 
     # Add file handler if we are not running tests and a log file is specified
-    # if log_file and env != "test":
-    #     # Setup file logger
-    #     log_path = home_dir / log_file
-    #     logger.add(
-    #         str(log_path),
-    #         level=log_level,
-    #         rotation="10 MB",
-    #         retention="10 days",
-    #         backtrace=True,
-    #         diagnose=True,
-    #         enqueue=True,
-    #         colorize=False,
-    #     )
+    if log_file and env != "test":
+        # Setup file logger
+        log_path = home_dir / log_file
+        logger.add(
+            str(log_path),
+            level=log_level,
+            rotation="10 MB",
+            retention="10 days",
+            backtrace=True,
+            diagnose=True,
+            enqueue=True,
+            colorize=False,
+        )
 
     # Add console logger if requested or in test mode
     # if env == "test" or console: