# A specification knowledge base for software projects

Build a specification knowledge base by gathering interviews, meeting minutes and decisions in one place, then linking each item to its source. Save project articles and links in KnowMan, search them by meaning, [ask questions](https://www.knowman.io/guides/ai-knowledge-base) with citations, and connect an AI [coding agent](https://www.knowman.io/guides/knowledge-base-for-ai-agents) through the KnowMan [MCP server](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base).

## Start with the project outcome

Define what the project should achieve and which assumptions remain unresolved. [Cohervio](https://cohervio.com/) investigates a business request by examining the people, systems and open questions behind it. Its process moves from understanding the request through discovery, interviews, investigation, specification, and alignment and approval.

## Turn interviews into traceable material

Keep each interview note with its source. Cohervio links every requirement to the interview, document or system behind it, and returns an evidence-linked specification plus the decisions still needed. When specifying reveals a missing assumption, the investigation can loop back to the right stakeholder.

## Capture meeting minutes and decisions

Save the meeting link and add a note that records the decision, owner and open question. KnowMan saves articles and links, reads and tags them, and keeps memories such as claims, decisions and playbooks. This gives your project notes a shared home instead of separate documents and chat threads.

## Organize the specification record

Group material by project, workstream or decision type. For the specification itself, Cohervio includes a stakeholder map showing who owns each answer, approvals showing who signed off on what, and a risk report listing items that still need validation. Keep unresolved items visible rather than treating them as settled.

## Search by meaning

Search for ideas, not only exact titles. KnowMan searches [saved items](https://www.knowman.io/guides/how-to-save-articles) by keyword or meaning across titles, URLs and metadata. This helps you find the relevant interview note or decision when you remember the point rather than the document name. See the guide to [searching a personal knowledge base](https://www.knowman.io/guides/personal-knowledge-base).

## Ask questions with citations

Ask a focused question when you need the current state of the project. KnowMan answers questions with citations to the saved [source material](https://www.knowman.io/guides/connect-any-ai-to-your-notes). You can also read the full content of one saved item. Learn more in the guide to [giving an AI context](https://www.knowman.io/guides/give-your-ai-context).

## Connect an AI coding agent

KnowMan provides an MCP server for AI agents. It runs as a local [stdio server](https://www.knowman.io/guides/what-is-an-mcp-server) with `npx -y @knowman/mcp` and Node 22 or newer, and as a hosted remote server at `https://api.knowman.io/mcp` over Streamable HTTP. Its tools include `kb_search`, `kb_ask`, `kb_get_item`, `kb_save`, `kb_recent` and `kb_memories`. See the guide to [MCP server knowledge bases](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base).

## Where KnowMan fits

KnowMan serves as the searchable library for interviews, meeting minutes, decisions and supporting links. It can also supply an AI coding agent with that material through the MCP server. The setup steps for connected clients are covered in [Claude Code knowledge bases](https://www.knowman.io/guides/claude-code-knowledge-base) and [Claude knowledge bases](https://www.knowman.io/guides/claude-knowledge-base).

Cohervio explains the specification side in [feed your coding agent the whole picture](https://cohervio.com/articles/feed-your-coding-agent-the-whole-picture).

## Questions

### What belongs in a specification knowledge base?

Start with the business outcome, then gather interviews, supporting documents, system constraints and open questions. Cohervio records what stakeholders said, what existing systems can support and what remains open, so a team can see what is known and what still needs a decision.

### How do I keep interviews, minutes and decisions together?

Save the links and articles in KnowMan, then add notes that identify the source, decision and owner. KnowMan saves articles and links and keeps memories such as claims, decisions and playbooks, so related material stays in one library.

### Can an AI coding agent read the specification library?

Yes, through the KnowMan MCP server, which can run locally over stdio or as a hosted remote server. Its tools support search, cited answers, reading one item and retrieving recent items. See [MCP server knowledge bases](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base) for the setup.

### Does KnowMan connect directly to Cohervio?

There is no direct integration described here. The two serve different stages of the work, with KnowMan holding the saved research and Cohervio producing the specification. Keep the specification and its source links in the same KnowMan library.

## Related guides

- [What Is a Knowledge Base for AI Agents?](https://www.knowman.io/guides/knowledge-base-for-ai-agents)

- [Connect your knowledge base through KnowMan's MCP server](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base)

- [Persistent Memory for AI Agents](https://www.knowman.io/guides/persistent-memory-for-ai-agents)

- [What is a personal knowledge base, and how do you build one?](https://www.knowman.io/guides/personal-knowledge-base)

- [How to Give Your AI Context from What You Read](https://www.knowman.io/guides/give-your-ai-context)

## More in this topic

- [Turn saved reading into next actions](https://www.knowman.io/guides/turn-reading-into-next-actions)
- [How to build a user research library](https://www.knowman.io/guides/user-research-library-from-voice-surveys)
- [What an AI receptionist needs to know](https://www.knowman.io/guides/what-an-ai-receptionist-needs-to-know)

## Give your project one searchable source of truth

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Source: https://www.knowman.io/guides/specification-knowledge-base-for-software-projects