ctx
Instantly gather and manage code context for any AI assistant.
Quick answer
ctx — Instantly gather and manage code context for any AI assistant. It's free. Best for preparing accurate code context before prompting an AI coding assistant.
ctx is a free, open-source command-line developer tool designed to collect, organize, and export code context for use with AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and Claude. It is built for software developers and engineers who regularly work with AI pair programmers and need a reliable way to feed relevant source code, file structures, and project details into their AI workflows. Instead of manually copying and pasting code snippets or juggling multiple files, ctx automates the process of aggregating the right context from your codebase so your AI assistant can give more accurate, relevant, and helpful responses. The tool is especially useful for developers working on large or complex projects where providing the right context is critical for getting quality AI-generated suggestions, debugging help, or code explanations. Because it is fully open-source and hosted on GitHub, ctx is transparent, community-driven, and freely available to anyone without licensing fees or subscriptions. It integrates naturally into developer workflows and can be used from the terminal, making it a lightweight but powerful addition to any AI-assisted development setup.
Key features
- Automated code context gathering from your project directories
- Command-line interface for fast, scriptable workflow integration
- Export and format context for use with popular AI assistants
- Open-source and self-hostable with full community transparency
Pros & cons
- +Completely free with no usage limits or paywalls
- +Lightweight CLI tool that fits naturally into developer workflows
- +Open-source with full code transparency and community contributions
- −Requires comfort with the command line, which may not suit all developers
- −No graphical interface or IDE plugin available out of the box
Pricing
Fully free and open-source
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Who is it for
- →Preparing accurate code context before prompting an AI coding assistant
- →Debugging complex issues by feeding structured project context to AI
- →Onboarding new team members by summarizing codebase structure with AI help
Frequently asked questions
Is ctx free?
Yes, ctx is completely free and open-source. It is available on GitHub under an open-source license with no paid tiers, subscriptions, or usage caps.
What is ctx best used for?
ctx is best used for gathering and formatting relevant code context from your project to provide to AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot, helping them give more accurate and useful responses.
What are the best alternatives to ctx?
Alternatives to ctx include Aider, Repomix, and CodeContext, as well as manual approaches like copying relevant files directly into an AI chat interface. Some IDE extensions also offer context-gathering features.
Is ctx safe to use?
Yes, ctx is open-source and its full source code is publicly available on GitHub, allowing anyone to audit it for security or privacy concerns before use. It runs locally on your machine.
How much does ctx cost?
ctx costs nothing. It is a free, open-source tool with no pricing plans, licenses to purchase, or subscription fees required.
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