redis/redis-py · error · NotImplementedError

MEMORY DOCTOR is intentionally not implemented in the…

Error message

MEMORY DOCTOR is intentionally not implemented in the client. For more information, see https://redis.io/commands/memory-doctor

What it means

Raised by memory_doctor() (redis/commands/core.py:1868) which is a stub that unconditionally raises NotImplementedError. MEMORY DOCTOR emits a human-readable advisory report designed for redis-cli, so the python client does not implement it. Structured memory commands that ARE supported: memory_stats, memory_usage, memory_malloc_stats, memory_purge. No arguments are accepted.

Solutions

Use r.memory_stats() for a structured dict and r.memory_usage(key) for per-key sizing
Run 'redis-cli MEMORY DOCTOR' for the human-readable advisory
If required from python: r.execute_command("MEMORY", "DOCTOR")

Example fix

# before
r.memory_doctor()
# after
stats = r.memory_stats()

Defensive patterns

Strategy: fallback

Validate before calling

# memory_doctor() is intentionally unimplemented; use structured APIs
def memory_summary(r):
    return r.memory_stats()

Try / catch

try:
    r.memory_doctor()
except NotImplementedError:
    stats = r.memory_stats()

Prevention

Use memory_stats()/memory_usage() for programmatic data.
Reserve MEMORY DOCTOR for redis-cli.
Mark memory_doctor() as unavailable in internal docs.

When it happens

Trigger: Calling r.memory_doctor(). Any call raises immediately.

Common situations: Building a memory diagnostics dashboard and reaching for the 'doctor' summary; assuming the MEMORY subcommands are fully mirrored.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of redis/redis-py@6a6b581b48 (2026-08-10). Data as JSON: /api/errors/76fbd87ce1e2dbf8. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at redis/commands/core.py:1868

    @overload
    def object(self: SyncClientProtocol, infotype: str, key: KeyT, **kwargs) -> Any: ...

    @overload
    def object(
        self: AsyncClientProtocol, infotype: str, key: KeyT, **kwargs
    ) -> Awaitable[Any]: ...

    def object(self, infotype: str, key: KeyT, **kwargs) -> Any | Awaitable[Any]:
        """
        Return the encoding, idletime, or refcount about the key
        """
        return self.execute_command(
            "OBJECT", infotype, key, infotype=infotype, **kwargs
        )

    def memory_doctor(self, **kwargs) -> None:
        raise NotImplementedError(
            """
            MEMORY DOCTOR is intentionally not implemented in the client.

            For more information, see https://redis.io/commands/memory-doctor
            """
        )

    def memory_help(self, **kwargs) -> None:
        raise NotImplementedError(
            """
            MEMORY HELP is intentionally not implemented in the client.

            For more information, see https://redis.io/commands/memory-help
            """
        )

    @overload
    def memory_stats(self: SyncClientProtocol, **kwargs) -> dict[str, Any]: ...

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