Knowns CLI is a CLI-first knowledge management system designed to give AI persistent memory of project context. It serves as a complete toolkit for task management, documentation, and time tracking that's built specifically for developers and optimized for AI workflows. The core purpose is to eliminate the need for manual context sharing between developers and AI assistants.

Key features include task management with acceptance criteria and progress tracking, automatic AI context resolution where assistants auto-resolve documentation and task references, MCP auto-setup for seamless integration, modular AI guidelines with stage-specific rules, built-in time tracking with timer functionality, and a Git-friendly web UI with Kanban board and documentation browser. The system works with Markdown files stored in .knowns/ directories.

The product operates through MCP (Model Context Protocol) integration or via CLAUDE.md/AGENTS.md files. When a developer works on a task, the AI automatically reads the task state, checks relevant documentation, and understands completion criteria without manual intervention. The system closes the loop by allowing AI to extract and update project knowledge automatically when solving problems.

Benefits include eliminating repetitive context sharing, reducing errors from missing information, maintaining project consistency, and improving developer productivity. Use cases include managing complex projects with AI assistance, maintaining documentation consistency, tracking development time, and ensuring AI follows project-specific guidelines.

The target audience is developers working with AI assistants, particularly those using tools like Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, GitHub Copilot, Gemini, OpenAI Codex, and other AI development environments. It integrates with various AI tools through MCP protocol and supports Node.js 18+ or Bun 1.0+ environments.