# Contextful

Contextful indexes a project and gives coding agents cited bundles of relevant code and docs. Use it to locate implementation details or carry project decisions across sessions.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 5
- Author: Inferensys
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/Inferensys/contextful
- Updated: 2026-05-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/contextful

## What it does

Contextful searches code, symbols, documentation, project relationships, and saved lessons. Rather than opening files one by one, an agent can request a ranked bundle with evidence references. The local index uses SQLite and FTS5.

The memory ledger stores project facts and decisions alongside references to files, symbols, commits, or earlier context bundles. When supporting evidence changes, a memory can be marked stale. Running `cxf init` indexes a workspace and creates `.contextful/AGENT_INSTRUCTIONS.md`; the CLI can also test search results locally.

The service operates locally: it does not send source code to external embedding APIs or modify project files. Contextful is in early alpha, and its API and integrations are subject to change. That matters if you rely on a fixed setup.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add contextful -- npx -y @inferensys/contextful
```

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add contextful -- npx -y @inferensys/contextful
```

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "contextful": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@inferensys/contextful"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "contextful": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@inferensys/contextful"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add contextful npx -y @inferensys/contextful
```

## When to use it
- locate code related to a question
- retrieve cited excerpts from a project
- trace links between modules and configuration
- save a project decision with supporting evidence
- inspect likely tests affected by a symbol

## Example prompts
- Find where user authentication is handled and return a cited context bundle.
- Trace the links from `AuthService` to its configuration and related tests.
- Save the decision about user profiles with references to supporting files.

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md