KNL - Knowledge Retention Library

v1.2.0 | Updated: 2025-12-31

A modern, AI-powered task management and development assistant that helps you retain context, maintain quality, and ensure consistency across your development work.

What is KNL?

KNL (Knowledge Retention Library) is a command-line tool that:

  • Manages development tasks with persistent context and memory
  • Enhances code quality using AI-powered analysis (Claude)
  • Maintains development standards across tasks
  • Generates tests based on learned patterns
  • Assists with git workflows (commits, PRs)
  • Transfers knowledge between projects

Think of it as a development assistant that learns from your work and helps you stay productive.

Key Features

🎯 Task Management

Track tasks linked to JIRA tickets or GitHub issues with rich context, auto-detection from branch names, and organized tests and documentation per task.

🤖 AI Integration

Powered by Claude Code via MCP (Model Context Protocol) for code quality analysis, test generation, consistent documentation, and smart commit messages.

📚 Knowledge Base

Local .knowledge/ directory stores task history, learns and applies development standards, exports knowledge to new projects, with archive or reset options.

🍞 Knowledge Crumbs

Curated development knowledge deployed with KNL - bite-sized, actionable guides for DevOps, Testing, Security, and Development tasks. LLM-friendly format with YAML metadata.

🔧 Context Isolation

Strict separation between KNL and your project - KNL runs in its own virtual environment, never pollutes your dependencies, and works with any Python version.

Quick Start

Installation

Install KNL locally in your repository:

cd your-repo
curl -LsSf https://akaliazin.github.io/knl/install.sh | sh

This creates .knl/ in your repository with an isolated installation.

Install KNL globally for all projects:

curl -LsSf https://akaliazin.github.io/knl/install.sh | sh -s -- --user-local

This installs to ~/.local/knl/ and adds to your PATH automatically.

Maximum portability with minimal dependencies:

curl -LsSf https://akaliazin.github.io/knl/install.sh | sh -s -- --compiled

Requires only Python 3.8+ (vs 3.14+ for source). Perfect for CI/CD and distribution.

Initialize in Your Repository

cd your-project
knl init

You'll be prompted to choose:

  • Task ID format (JIRA or GitHub)
  • Project identifier

Create Your First Task

# JIRA-style
knl create PROJ-123

# GitHub-style
knl create "#456"

# With title
knl create PROJ-123 --title "Add user authentication"

Why KNL?

🧠 Knowledge Retention

Unlike task trackers, KNL remembers and learns from each task to improve future work.

🎨 AI-Native

Built from the ground up with AI assistance in mind, designed to work seamlessly with Claude Code.

💻 Local-First

Your data stays on your machine. Optional cloud sync available.

👨‍💻 Developer-Focused

Built by developers, for developers. Adapts to your workflow, doesn't impose one.

🔌 Extensible

Easy to add custom scripts, templates, and workflows to match your team's needs.

Next Steps

Support

License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.