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):
bash
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:
bash
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/<project-id>/
- •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)