/Docs
3 min read

Introduction

Knowns is a CLI-first knowledge management tool that gives AI persistent memory of your project context. Document once, link everywhere.

v0.12 introduces Semantic Search with local AI models, plus SDD enhancements with fulfills field and AC auto-sync.

Why Knowns?

Modern development involves juggling tasks, documentation, and context across multiple tools. Knowns brings everything together in a simple, git-friendly format that works seamlessly with AI assistants.

Key Benefits

  • Semantic Search: AI-powered search using vector embeddings. Find by meaning, not just keywords
  • Spec-Driven Development: Write specs first with /kn-spec, link to tasks, auto-sync ACs
  • CLI-First: Everything accessible from your terminal
  • AI-Ready: Automatic context loading via @doc/..., @task-..., and @template/... references
  • Skills System: /kn-* namespace for task, spec, plan, implement, verify workflows
  • Dashboard: Full dashboard with SDD coverage, time tracking, activity feed
  • Template System: Generate code with Handlebars templates linked to documentation
  • Import System: Share docs and templates across projects from Git, npm, or local sources
  • Git-Friendly: All data stored as Markdown in .knowns/ folder

Prerequisites

Knowns requires Node.js 18+ or Bun 1.0+. See the Installation Guide for platform-specific instructions.

Quick Start

# Install globally
npm install -g knowns
 
# Initialize in your project
cd your-project
knowns init
 
# Create your first task
knowns task create "Setup project" -d "Initial setup" --ac "Dependencies installed"
 
# Open browser UI
knowns browser
 
# (Optional) Auto-setup Claude Code MCP
knowns mcp setup

Core Concepts

Tasks

Tasks are the primary work items in Knowns. Each task has:

  • Title: Clear summary of what needs to be done
  • Description: Context and requirements
  • Acceptance Criteria: Testable outcomes
  • Status: todo, in-progress, in-review, blocked, done

Documentation

Documentation lives in .knowns/docs/ as Markdown files with frontmatter. Reference docs anywhere using @doc/path or @docs/path syntax (both work identically).

Time Tracking

Built-in timers let you track time spent on tasks. Generate reports by date range, label, or project.

Templates

Code generation with Handlebars (.hbs) templates. Each template can link to documentation for context-aware generation.

# List templates
knowns template list
 
# Generate code
knowns template run component --name Button

Next Steps