What is a context window?
A context window is the amount of text a model can work with in one go. Think of it as a workspace. When it fills up, older text drops off or you must start a new session. Everything the model knows in a given conversation—your prompt, its replies, any documents you provide—must fit inside that window.
Context is not the same as memory. A model's context window is session-scoped: once the conversation ends, the window resets. Persistent memory—decisions, preferences, facts—must live outside the model, in a system the model can query. That is where a knowledge base fits.
How do you feed context to an AI?
Three common ways to feed context: paste text directly into the chat, upload files the model can read, or connect the model to a retrieval system that pulls relevant passages from a larger corpus. Pasting works for one-off questions—copy a paragraph, drop it in. Files suit structured documents like PDFs or specs. Retrieval from a knowledge base scales best when your reading spans hundreds of sources and you need the right passage, not all of them.
For any AI—regardless of platform—pasting and file upload are universal options. For MCP-compatible clients like Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and others, you can connect directly to a knowledge base server for structured, repeatable access. Pasting works for one-off questions; a connected knowledge base pays off when the same context matters every session, because you stop re-pasting and the agent retrieves only the passages relevant to the current question.
How do you connect a knowledge base via MCP?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets an AI client talk to an external server over a defined set of tools, so the model can pull exactly the context it needs instead of you pasting it by hand. The MCP path below works with verified clients: Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible client. Every new account starts with 14 days of Pro, no credit card. After that, keep Free or upgrade.
- Create an agent key in Settings. Choose only the permissions you want the agent to have.
- Paste the config snippet into your MCP client—Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client.
- Ask. The agent can now use six tools: kb_search (search everything saved), kb_get_item (read full text), kb_ask (ask a question, get an answer with citations), kb_memories (read decisions, playbooks, facts, notes), kb_recent (see recent saves), kb_save (save a new link).
Why save recurring context?
Save recurring context so every agent session starts from your thinking. Memories in KnowMan keep decisions with their reasons, playbooks, and facts. Instead of re-explaining your project constraints every time, the agent reads them via kb_memories. You build the context once; every future session inherits it. This is what makes a knowledge base different from a bag of pasted text: the same saved context serves you in the app, and every connected agent reads the identical version, so nobody works from a stale copy.
Free plan: 5 questions a day with citations, keyword search, unlimited saving, import from Pocket, Instapaper, Omnivore, Readwise, Wallabag, or browser bookmarks, Memories, MCP connection. Pro: unlimited questions, semantic search, AI summaries, rules, newsletter subscriptions, export to Obsidian, Logseq, EPUB, and API access.
Questions people ask
What happens when the context window is full?
Older text drops off or you start a new session. The model loses access to earlier parts of the conversation. Feeding context selectively—only what is relevant—helps you use the window efficiently.
Can I connect any AI to my KnowMan library?
For MCP-compatible clients—Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and others—yes, via the MCP server. For other AI tools, paste text or upload files manually. The MCP path gives agents structured access to search, read, ask, and save.
Do I need to re-paste context every session?
Not if you save recurring context. Store decisions, playbooks, and facts as Memories. Agents read them via kb_memories at the start of each session, so your thinking carries forward automatically.
Is there a free way to try this?
Yes. Every new account gets 14 days of Pro, no credit card. After that, Free plan includes 5 questions a day with citations, keyword search, unlimited saving, Memories, and MCP connection.