https://github.com/kaicontext/kai
Kai is a semantic analysis engine that sits on top of Git. It captures meaningful changes, generates semantic diffs, and produces safe selective CI plans.
https://github.com/kaicontext/kai
call-graph cli code-intelligence developer-tools golang mcp model-context-protocol semantic-analysis semantic-diff
Last synced: 2 days ago
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Kai is a semantic analysis engine that sits on top of Git. It captures meaningful changes, generates semantic diffs, and produces safe selective CI plans.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/kaicontext/kai
- Owner: kaicontext
- License: apache-2.0
- Created: 2025-12-12T05:07:25.000Z (4 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-04-02T18:15:13.000Z (9 days ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-04-03T08:31:44.502Z (8 days ago)
- Topics: call-graph, cli, code-intelligence, developer-tools, golang, mcp, model-context-protocol, semantic-analysis, semantic-diff
- Language: Go
- Homepage: https://kailayer.com
- Size: 26.5 MB
- Stars: 10
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 3
- Open Issues: 28
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Changelog: CHANGELOG.md
- Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.md
- License: LICENSE
- Security: SECURITY.md
- Notice: NOTICE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# Kai
**Semantic infrastructure for code change.**
Kai understands what code *means* — functions, dependencies, behavior impact —
not just which lines changed. This semantic graph powers precise CI,
context-aware IDEs, and verifiable AI coding agents.
[kaicontext.com](https://kaicontext.com) · [Docs](https://docs.kaicontext.com) · [Slack](https://join.slack.com/t/kailayer/shared_invite/zt-3q8ulczwl-vkZ05GQH~kwudonmH53hGg)
---
## Install
```bash
# curl
curl -sSL https://get.kaicontext.com | sh
# Homebrew
brew install kaicontext/kai/kai
```
## Quick Start
```bash
kai init # Detects git, offers history import + auto-sync
kai capture -m "Initial" # Snapshot your code with a message
kai push # Push to kaicontext.com
kai diff # Semantic change impact
```
In a git repo, `kai init` will:
1. Offer to **import git history** as semantic snapshots
2. Install a **post-commit hook** for automatic capture on each commit
3. Generate a **GitHub Actions / GitLab CI** workflow to keep Kai in sync
For full command reference, see [docs/cli-reference.md](docs/cli-reference.md).
---
## MCP Server
Kai ships an [MCP](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) server that gives AI coding assistants
access to call graphs, dependency maps, impact analysis, and test coverage.
```bash
# Claude Code
claude mcp add kai -- kai mcp serve
# Or without installing kai (npx downloads it automatically)
claude mcp add kai -- npx -y kai-mcp
```
No setup required — the server lazily initializes the semantic graph on first use.
12 tools: `kai_status`, `kai_symbols`, `kai_files`, `kai_diff`, `kai_impact`, `kai_callers`, `kai_callees`, `kai_context`, `kai_dependencies`, `kai_dependents`, `kai_tests`, `kai_refresh`.
See [docs/mcp.md](docs/mcp.md) for Cursor setup, tool reference, and troubleshooting.
---
## Code Reviews
Kai reviews are anchored to semantic changesets, not line diffs.
```bash
kai review open --title "Add auth middleware" # Create a review
kai push # Push to kaicontext.com
kai fetch --review abc123 # Sync comments from web
kai review comments abc123 # View inline comments locally
```
On the web, reviews show semantic diffs (what functions changed, not just which lines), inline commenting, and one-click merge that updates `snap.main`.
---
## CI Integration
Kai CI runs workflows defined in `.kailab/workflows/` with semantic checkout, parallel jobs, and 30-minute default timeouts.
```bash
kai ci runs # List CI runs
kai ci logs 42 # View logs for run #42
kai ci cancel 42 # Cancel a run
kai capture -m "Fix bug" # Message shows as CI run headline
```
Email notifications on pipeline completion are sent to the snapshot author via Postmark.
---
## What Kai Builds
For every capture, Kai constructs a queryable semantic model:
| Layer | What It Captures |
|-------|----------------|
| **Functions & methods** | Signatures, bodies, call graphs |
| **Dependencies** | Module relationships, imports, data flow |
| **Behavior changes** | What actually changed in meaning, not just text |
| **Test coverage** | Which tests cover which source files (static + transitive) |
This graph is immutable, content-addressed, and designed for machine reasoning.
---
## Use Cases
### Selective CI
Kai determines which tests actually need to run based on behavioral impact,
not file diffs. Result: 80% CI time reduction for early users.
### AI Code Context
12 MCP tools give AI assistants structured access to your codebase's
dependency graph, call graph, impact analysis, and test coverage.
### Code Reviews
Semantic diff shows *what changed* (function added, condition modified, API changed)
instead of raw line diffs. Inline comments anchored to symbols, not lines.
### Verified AI Agents
Agent proposes edit → Kai validates impact →
agent executes with proof, not generation with hope.
---
## Language Support
Kai uses [tree-sitter](https://tree-sitter.github.io/) for parsing and builds semantic graphs for 9 languages.
Each language is validated with [end-to-end tests](kai-e2e/) against real open-source projects:
| Language | Symbols | Callers/Callees | Dependencies | Tests | Impact | E2E Fixtures |
|----------|---------|-----------------|--------------|-------|--------|-------------|
| **Go** | functions, methods, interfaces, structs | cross-package via import aliases | Go package resolution | same-dir `_test.go` + transitive | via dependency graph | [chi](https://github.com/go-chi/chi), [lo](https://github.com/samber/lo) |
| **Rust** | functions, structs, enums, traits, impl methods, macros | cross-file via exports | `crate::`, `super::`, `self::`, `mod`, wildcards | filename pattern matching for integration tests | via dependency graph | [just](https://github.com/casey/just), [miniserve](https://github.com/svenstaro/miniserve) |
| **TypeScript/JavaScript** | functions, classes, methods, variables | via imports | relative + workspace resolution | `*.test.ts`, `__tests__/` patterns | via dependency graph | — |
| **Python** | functions, classes, methods | via imports | dotted module resolution | `test_*.py`, `*_test.py` patterns | via dependency graph | — |
| **Ruby** | methods, classes, modules | via exports | `require`, `require_relative`, Zeitwerk autoload | `*_spec.rb`, `*_test.rb` patterns | via dependency graph | — |
| **SQL** | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| **PHP** | functions, classes, methods | — | — | — | — | — |
| **C#** | functions, classes, methods | — | — | — | — | — |
67 E2E tests across Go and Rust, all passing. Run them with:
```bash
cd kai-e2e && ./scripts/run-tests.sh
```
---
## Architecture
Kai is fully open source under Apache 2.0: core engine, CLI, and server.
Kai Cloud is the hosted version — same code, managed infrastructure.
```
kai capture → local semantic graph (SQLite)
kai push → kaicontext.com (Postgres + GCS)
├── File viewer with search, language breakdown
├── CI with SSE live updates
├── Code reviews with semantic diffs
└── Email notifications (Postmark)
```
See [What's Open Source vs. Kai Cloud](docs/architecture-boundary.md).
---
## License
[](https://opensource.org/licenses/Apache-2.0)
See [LICENSE](LICENSE).
---
## Community & Contributing
- [Slack](https://join.slack.com/t/kailayer/shared_invite/zt-3q8ulczwl-vkZ05GQH~kwudonmH53hGg)
- [Contributing guidelines](CONTRIBUTING.md)