context-engine-dev 1.2.1

Context Engine CLI - Compress the Chaos

Context Engine

Context Engine is a hybrid CLI that tracks development sessions, generates summaries, and bundles project context for AI handoffs. The tool ships as two packages:

• npm: context-engine-cli
• PyPI: context-engine-dev

After installation the Ink-based CLI launches the Python backend automatically, so a single install provides both halves.

Installation

npm (recommended)

npm install -g context-engine-cli@1.2.1-2

This installs the Node/Ink CLI, bundles the Python backend, and runs pip install -r backend/requirements.txt during postinstall (requires Python 3.8+ on PATH).

PyPI

pip install context-engine-dev==1.2.1

This provides the Python modules and console scripts. Pair it with the npm package if you prefer to manage the frontend separately.

Quick Start

# Initialise scaffolding (.context/ directory, default config)
context-engine init

# Start the session tracker in the background
context-engine start-session --auto

# Inspect tracker status
context-engine session status

# Capture a summary snapshot (AI if configured, static otherwise)
context-engine session save "Wrapped up dashboard wiring"

# Stop tracking when finished
context-engine stop-session

# Launch the interactive chat palette
context-engine chat

During a session the tracker writes to .context/:

File	Purpose
session.md	Log of file events and CLI commands.
session_summary.md	Markdown summary produced by context-engine session save.
session.pid	PID of the watchdog process.
session_state.json	Cache for rapid context-engine session status responses.

Project Structure

Context-Engine/
|-- backend/                # Python package
|   |-- main.py             # CLI bridge invoked by Node
|   `-- context_engine/
|       |-- cli.py          # Click command definitions
|       |-- core/session_tracker.py
|       |-- core/ai_summary.py
|       `-- commands/       # Command modules (baseline, bundle, session, etc.)
|-- ui/                     # Node + Ink frontend
|   |-- index.js            # CLI entry and palette bootstrapper
|   |-- components/ChatApp.tsx
|   `-- lib/backend-bridge.js
`-- docs/                   # Authoring guides for contributors

Development Workflow

Frontend (Node) tests & lint

npm install --prefix ui
npm test --prefix ui
npm run lint --prefix ui

Run the install command when dependencies change. Alternatively cd ui first and omit --prefix.

Backend (Python) tests

python -m pytest -q

Execute from the repository root; there is no separate scripts/run_test helper.

Publishing

1. Bump versions

   cd ui
   npm version <new-version> --no-git-tag-version
   cd ..
   python scripts/sync_versions.py <new-version>
   npm install --prefix ui          # refresh lockfile
   

2. Commit, tag, and push

   git add .
   git commit -m "chore: release <new-version>"
   git tag v<new-version>
   git push origin main
   git push origin v<new-version>
   

3. Publish packages

   cd ui
   npm publish --access public
   cd ..
   python -m build
   twine upload dist/*
   

Documentation

Guides explaining the codebase live in docs/. Start with docs/README.md for the index and authoring principles.

License

MIT