| name | working-with-context |
| description | Use when analyzing existing projects or codebases - onboard project to store context in Serena MCP, then use context-aware analysis that mentions existing code, modules, and patterns for better recommendations |
Working with Context
Overview
Context management enables project-aware analysis that references existing code structure, tech stack, and patterns.
Workflow
1. Onboard project (one-time):
shannon onboard /path/to/project --project-id myapp
Scans and stores:
- File inventory and structure
- Tech stack detection
- Module identification
- Pattern recognition
2. Use context in analysis:
shannon analyze new_feature.md --project myapp
Difference:
- Without context: Generic "add authentication" advice
- With context: "Integrate with existing UserModel in models/user.py, use JWT pattern from auth.py"
Commands
shannon onboard PATH:
- Scans codebase
- Stores in ~/.shannon/projects/
- Saves to Serena MCP
shannon context status:
- Shows onboarded projects
- Last update time
shannon context update:
- Incremental update after code changes
- Faster than full re-onboarding
shannon context clean:
- Remove stale entries
- Use --all for all projects
Storage
Context stored in:
- Local: ~/.shannon/projects/
/ - Serena MCP: Entities and relations
- Persistent across sessions
When to Update
Update context after:
- Major code changes (new modules)
- Architecture changes
- Dependency updates
- Tech stack changes
Performance
- Onboarding: <30s for most projects
- Context loading: <1s (automatic in analyze)
- Update: <10s (incremental)