AgentIndex icon
AgentIndex
context-mode logo
context-mode
★ 31.8k
vs
Zengram logo
Zengram
★ 64

context-mode vs Zengram

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.; Zengram: Zengram is a shared memory system for multi-agent AI systems, enabling agents to store and retrieve memories across machines. It features typed memory, dual storage (Qdrant + SQLite/Postgres), multi-path search, and cross-agent capabilities like briefings and corroboration. Self-hosted, open-source, with MCP server and SDKs.

01

TL;DR

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 →
Zengram logo
ZengramMemory & Context · ★ 64

Cross-agent memory sharing across different machines

Read Zengram full review →
02

Side-by-Side Comparison

Field
context-mode logocontext-mode
Zengram logoZengram
Category
Memory & Context
Memory & Context
Stars
★ 31.8k
★ 64
License
Elastic License 2.0
MIT
Install Command
npm install -g context-mode
git clone https://github.com/ZenSystemAI/zengram.git && cd zengram && cp .env.example .env && docker compose up -d
Updated
1d ago
1d ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Website
↗ Visit
↗ Visit
GitHub
↗ GitHub
↗ GitHub
Tags
antigravity, claude, claude-code
claude, claude-ai, claude-code
03

Features

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.
Zengram logoZengram
01Typed memory: events, facts, statuses, decisions
02Dual storage with semantic and structured search
03Multi-path search (vector, BM25, entity graph) with RRF fusion
04Cross-agent capabilities: briefings, corroboration, credential scrubbing
05Self-hosted, open-source, with MCP server and SDKs
04

Use Cases

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
Zengram logoZengram
↳Cross-agent memory sharing across different machines
↳Session reflection and context retrieval for agents
↳Logging memories from automation tools (e.g., n8n) for AI agents
05

Best For

context-mode logocontext-mode
Most PopularTrending
Zengram logoZengram
—
FAQ

FAQ

What is the difference between context-mode and Zengram?
Both context-mode and Zengram are in the Memory & Context category. context-mode has 31.8k stars, while Zengram has 64 stars.
Which is better, context-mode or Zengram?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose context-mode if Deep repository research and analysis (e.g., architecture, contributors, issues), and Zengram if Cross-agent memory sharing across different machines.
Is context-mode free or open source?
Yes, context-mode is open source on GitHub (Elastic License 2.0).
Is Zengram free or open source?
Yes, Zengram is open source on GitHub (MIT).
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Related

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