AgentIndex icon
AgentIndex
locus logo
locus
★ 15
vs
context-mode logo
context-mode
★ 31.8k

locus vs context-mode

locus: Locus provides persistent project-aware memory for AI coding tools, using three memory layers: structural, semantic, and episodic. It works with any MCP-compatible client and offers 14 tools and 3 resources for exploring, searching, and managing memory. Carbon Copy enables passive conversation capture for later recall.; context-mode: Every tool call in an MCP (Model-Controller-Program) environment dumps raw data into the context window, quickly consuming space and causing the agent to lose track of ongoing tasks. Context Mode is an MCP server that tackles this by sandboxing tool outputs to significantly reduce context usage, tracking session events in SQLite for continuity, and promoting 'think in code' to minimize data processing within the LLM.

01

TL;DR

locus logo
locusMemory & Context · ★ 15

Maintain project context across AI coding sessions to avoid losing architectural decisions and file structure awareness

Read locus full review →
context-mode logo
context-modeMemory & Context · ★ 31.8k
When to choose:
  • Your sessions fill up with tool output such as Playwright snapshots, GitHub issue lists or logs.
  • You want work state (edits, git operations, tasks, decisions) to survive context compaction without being dumped back into the window.
  • You use a hook-capable agent, where tool routing happens automatically.
When to skip:
  • You need an OSI open-source licence: it uses the Elastic License 2.0, which restricts uses such as offering it as a managed service.
  • Your sessions are short and rarely hit the context limit.
  • You do not want hooks changing how your agent's tools behave.
Read context-mode full review →
02

Side-by-Side Comparison

Field
locus logolocus
context-mode logocontext-mode
Category
Memory & Context
Memory & Context
Stars
★ 15
★ 31.8k
License
MIT
Elastic License 2.0
Install Command
npx -y locus-memory@latest install codex
npm install -g context-mode
Updated
4mo ago
1d ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Website
↗ Visit
↗ Visit
GitHub
↗ GitHub
↗ GitHub
Tags
ai-memory, claude-code, codex-cli
antigravity, claude, claude-code
03

Features

locus logolocus
01Three memory layers: structural (auto-parsed), semantic (user-curated), episodic (auto-captured)
02Carbon Copy passive conversation capture via inbox-based event protocol
0314 MCP tools for exploring, recalling, searching, remembering, and managing memory
04FTS5 full-text search across all memory layers and conversation events
054-layer security: metadata-only, file denylist, content redaction, audit UX
context-mode logocontext-mode
01Context Saving: Sandbox tools keep raw data out of the context window, achieving up to 98% reduction.
02Session Continuity: Tracks every file edit, git operation, task, and user decision in SQLite for seamless session resume.
03Think in Code: Promotes LLMs to program analysis, not compute it, saving 100x context by logging only results.
04Batch Execution & Search: Run multiple commands/queries in one call with tools like `ctx_batch_execute`.
05Advanced Knowledge Base: Uses SQLite FTS5 with BM25 ranking, smart snippets, and TTL cache for efficient information retrieval.
04

Use Cases

locus logolocus
↳Maintain project context across AI coding sessions to avoid losing architectural decisions and file structure awareness
↳Store and retrieve important decisions and their rationale for consistent development practices
↳Passively capture conversation history from coding sessions for later search and recall
context-mode logocontext-mode
↳Deep repository research and analysis (e.g., architecture, contributors, issues)
↳Analyze Git history to identify top contributors, commit frequency, and most changed files
↳Efficiently process large JSON APIs, web pages, or logs without flooding the context window
05

Best For

locus logolocus
—
context-mode logocontext-mode
Most PopularTrending
FAQ

FAQ

What is the difference between locus and context-mode?
Both locus and context-mode are in the Memory & Context category. locus has 15 stars, while context-mode has 31.8k stars.
Which is better, locus or context-mode?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose locus if Maintain project context across AI coding sessions to avoid losing architectural decisions and file structure awareness, and context-mode if Deep repository research and analysis (e.g., architecture, contributors, issues).
Is locus free or open source?
Yes, locus is open source on GitHub (MIT).
Is context-mode free or open source?
Yes, context-mode is open source on GitHub (Elastic License 2.0).
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