Context Lens

What is Context Lens?

Context Lens is a self-contained MCP server with built-in serverless vector storage (LanceDB) that transforms any content—codebases, documentation, contracts, or text files—into a searchable knowledge base for AI assistants. It enables semantic understanding over keyword matching, allowing the AI to answer questions about contextually relevant information even when the exact terms are absent.

How to use Context Lens?

Add Context Lens to your MCP client configuration (Kiro IDE, Cursor, Claude Desktop, Continue.dev) using uvx context-lens. For programmatic use, invoke the server with StdioServerParameters(command="uvx", args=["context-lens"]) and interact via the Python SDK. After setup, add content by asking the AI (e.g., "Add all Python files from ./src") and query naturally (e.g., "How does the authentication system work?").

Key features of Context Lens

• Semantic search that understands meaning, not just keywords
• Zero setup: no installation, configuration, or API keys required
• Serverless vector storage with LanceDB (file-based, no cloud)
• 100% local and private: all data stays on your machine
• Index local files or public GitHub repositories
• Smart parsing: language-aware chunking for code and documents

Use cases of Context Lens

• Query a codebase: ask how authentication works, find database models, or compare frameworks without manual browsing
• Learn from open source: index a GitHub repository and ask in-depth technical questions about its internals
• Analyze documents: scan contracts for termination clauses, payment terms, or specific obligations
• Fetch files from URLs: instantly add a remote file (e.g., a README) and ask questions about its content

FAQ from Context Lens

What makes Context Lens different from keyword search tools?

Context Lens uses semantic embeddings (384-dimensional vectors) to capture meaning. It finds "authentication"-related code even if the word never appears, unlike traditional grep or keyword search.

What are the runtime requirements and dependencies?

Python 3.11+ and the uvx runner. The embedding model (~90MB) downloads on first use. All processing is local with no external API calls.

Where does my data live?

Entirely on your machine—stored as a LanceDB file on disk. No data is sent to the cloud; the server is fully offline.

What are the known limitations?

Maximum file size per document is 10 MB (configurable via MAX_FILE_SIZE_MB). Only text-based file types are supported (25+ extensions). The system works via stdio transport; no HTTP or custom authentication.

Is Context Lens free?

Yes, it is completely free and open source (MIT license). No subscriptions, cloud services, or API keys are required.