📎 Context Management Guide

Master the art of managing project context to keep AI assistance focused, relevant, and efficient throughout your development workflow.

🎯 Context Management Goals

Effective context management:

• 🎯 Maintains focus on current work
• 📊 Reduces irrelevant suggestions
• 🚀 Speeds up AI responses
• 💡 Improves suggestion quality
• 🔄 Enables smooth transitions

Poor context management leads to:

• 🚫 Off-topic AI responses
• 🚫 Missed relevant files
• 🚫 Slower processing
• 🚫 Generic suggestions

🗺️ Context Lifecycle

Add Context → Use Context → Update Status → Clean Context
     ↓             ↓              ↓              ↓
   !af/!ac       Active         !cs           !cc/!cr

1. Context Addition

When starting work:

!af src/auth/login.js      # Add file
!ac validateUser()         # Add function
!ad src/auth/             # Add directory
!adoc "Auth Spec"         # Add documentation

2. Context Usage

AI references active context:

"Based on validateUser() in your context..."
"Looking at src/auth/login.js..."
"According to Auth Spec documentation..."

3. Status Updates

As relevance changes:

!cs login.js active        # Currently editing
!cs validateUser() partial # May reference
!cs old-auth.js deprecated # To be removed

4. Context Cleanup

When work completes:

!cr old-auth.js           # Remove single item
!cc                       # Clear all context
!cm                       # Reset to mode defaults

📊 Context Organization Strategies

1. Feature-Based Context

Organize by feature being developed:

## Feature: User Authentication
### Context Setup
!cc                          # Clear previous
!af src/auth/login.js        # Main implementation
!af src/auth/register.js     # Related feature
!ac AuthService              # Core service
!ac validateCredentials()    # Key function
!adoc "Auth Requirements"    # Specifications
!pf src/types/user.ts        # Type definitions

2. Layer-Based Context

Organize by application layer:

## Working on: API Layer
### Context Setup
!ad src/controllers/         # All controllers
!af src/middleware/auth.js   # Auth middleware
!ac validateRequest()        # Validation logic
!ar "API Standards"          # Design rules

3. Problem-Based Context

Focus on specific issue:

## Bug: Login Timeout Issue
### Context Setup
!ag "timeout error"          # Git history
!af src/auth/session.js      # Problem file
!ac refreshSession()         # Suspect function
!af logs/error.log          # Error logs

4. Mode-Based Context

Let mode determine context:

/research
!cm                         # Sets: Docs, Folders, Git

/execute  
!cm                         # Sets: Code, Files, Pinned

🎨 Context Patterns

Research Pattern

Broad exploration context:

/research
!ad src/                    # Entire source
!adoc "Architecture.md"     # System design
!ag main                    # Git history
!ar "Coding Standards"      # Guidelines

# AI can now explore broadly
"What authentication methods are used in this codebase?"

Implementation Pattern

Focused execution context:

/execute
!cc                         # Clear exploration
!af src/feature.js          # Target file
!ac implementFeature()      # Function to write
!pf src/types.ts           # Type reference
!cs feature.js essential    # Mark critical

# AI focuses on specific implementation
"Implement the feature according to plan"

Debug Pattern

Problem-solving context:

/research
!ag "Error: undefined"      # Search errors
!af src/problem-file.js     # Suspect file
!ac buggyFunction()         # Problem function
!af tests/failing.test.js   # Failing test

# AI can investigate issue
"Why is this test failing?"

Review Pattern

Validation context:

/review
!ag PR#123                  # Pull request
!af src/changed-file1.js    # Changed files
!af src/changed-file2.js    
!ac newImplementation()     # New code

# AI reviews changes
"Review these changes against requirements"

💡 Context Best Practices

1. Start Fresh

Clear context between features:

# Finishing Feature A
Feature A complete ✅

# Starting Feature B
!cc                        # Clear all
!cm                        # Mode defaults
!af src/feature-b.js       # New focus

2. Progressive Refinement

Build context as you work:

Research: !ad src/         # Broad
Plan: !ad src/auth/        # Narrower
Execute: !af src/auth/jwt.js # Specific

3. Status Management

Keep status current:

!cs auth.js active         # Working on this
!cs helper.js partial      # Might need
!cs old.js deprecated      # Will remove

4. Context Rotation

Manage multiple features:

# Save Feature A context
!an "Feature A context: auth.js, login.js"

# Switch to Feature B
!cc
!af feature-b.js

# Return to Feature A
!cc
!af auth.js
!af login.js

5. Essential Marking

Keep critical files always visible:

!pf src/types/global.ts    # Always needed
!cs global.ts essential    # Mark importance

🔧 Advanced Context Techniques

1. Context Templates

Create reusable context sets:

## Context Template: API Development

!cc !ad src/controllers/ !ad src/routes/ !af src/middleware/auth.js !ar "API Design Guide" !pf src/types/api.ts

Save as "API Context" notepad

2. Context Inheritance

Build on existing context:

# Base context
!af src/core/base.js

# Feature extends base
!ac BaseClass              # From base.js
!af src/feature/extend.js  # New feature

3. Context Filtering

Focus within broad context:

!ad src/                   # All source
filter: "auth"             # Only auth-related

Results in focused view of auth files

4. Context Snapshots

Save context state:

# Before major change
Context snapshot: auth-implementation
- Files: auth.js, jwt.js
- Code: validateUser(), generateToken()
- Docs: "JWT Spec"
- Status: All active

# Can restore later

5. Dynamic Context

Context that updates automatically:

!ag current-branch         # Always current branch
!af *.test.js             # All test files
!ac *Error()              # All error handlers

📊 Context Metrics

Context Health

Monitor context effectiveness:

## Context Health Check
- Total items: 12
- Active items: 8 (67%)
- Stale items: 2
- Essential items: 3
- Last cleanup: 2 hours ago

Context Size

Keep context manageable:

Optimal context size:
- Files: 5-10
- Code elements: 10-15
- Folders: 2-3
- Total items: < 25

Context Relevance

Track how often items are referenced:

## Context Usage Stats
- auth.js: 15 references ⭐
- helper.js: 3 references
- old.js: 0 references ❌
- types.ts: 8 references

🚨 Common Context Issues

1. Context Overload

Problem: Too many items in context

Active context: 47 items ❌

Solution: Aggressive cleanup

!cc                       # Clear all
!cm                       # Mode defaults only
# Add only essential items

2. Stale Context

Problem: Outdated references

Context includes deleted files

Solution: Regular validation

# Weekly context review
- Remove deleted files
- Update changed names
- Refresh status markers

3. Missing Context

Problem: AI not seeing relevant files

"I don't see the authentication implementation"

Solution: Add missing items

!af src/auth/impl.js
!ac authImplementation()

4. Wrong Mode Context

Problem: Research context in Execute mode

Mode: EXECUTE
Context: Documentation heavy ❌

Solution: Use mode context

!cm                      # Auto-adjust for mode

🛠️ Context Commands Reference

Adding Context

Command	Purpose	Example
!af	Add file	!af src/main.js
!ad	Add directory	!ad src/utils/
!ac	Add code	!ac validateUser()
!adoc	Add docs	!adoc "API Guide"
!ar	Add rules	!ar "Style Guide"
!ag	Add git	!ag feature-branch
!an	Add notepad	!an "TODO List"
!pf	Pin file	!pf config.json

Managing Context

Command	Purpose	Example
!cs	Set status	!cs file.js active
!cr	Remove item	!cr old-file.js
!cc	Clear all	!cc
!cm	Mode context	!cm

📋 Context Management Checklist

Starting Work

• Clear previous context (!cc)
• Set mode-appropriate context (!cm)
• Add primary work files
• Add supporting documentation
• Pin essential references

During Work

• Add new files as created
• Update status markers
• Remove irrelevant items
• Keep context focused

Completing Work

• Mark completed items
• Archive important context
• Clean up temporary items
• Document context decisions

Context Review

• Weekly context audit
• Remove stale items
• Update status markers
• Optimize context size
• Document patterns

📚 Related Topics

• Context References
• Mode Transitions
• Memory Management
• RIPER Modes

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