AI Tool

Keep the Why Review

Keep the Why is a tool that captures the reasoning behind codebase changes and decisions, maintaining a contextual history in Markdown format.

shipped Sep 19, 2026codefree

codewritingresearch

Why it matters

1Operates without a database or account, utilizing Git for version control.

2Stores contextual history in Markdown format.

3Available for free under an MIT license.

4Developed by Oliver Zehentleitner.

About Keep the Why

Business Model

Open Source

Funding

Bootstrapped

Platforms

Web

Target Audience

Software developers and teams

Leadership

Oliver ZehentleitnerCreator

GitHubOpen Source

Specs

GitHub

View Repository →

overview

What is Keep the Why?

Keep the Why is a code writing tool developed by Oliver Zehentleitner that enables software developers and teams to capture the reasoning behind codebase changes and decisions. It maintains a contextual history in Markdown format, operating without a database or account and utilizing Git for version control.

features

Key Features of Keep the Why

Keep the Why provides several features designed to enhance code documentation and team collaboration, focusing on simplicity and integration with existing development workflows.

Continuous capture of project reasoning and decision-making.
No database or account required for operation.
Markdown-based context storage for readability and portability.
Versioned with code via Git for integrated history tracking.
Open-source under the MIT license, allowing for community contributions.
Maintains a contextual history of codebase changes.

use cases

Who Should Use Keep the Why?

Keep the Why is primarily designed for software developers and teams who require robust documentation of their development processes and decision-making.

Software developers: To preserve project memory and understand past decisions.
Development teams: For enhanced collaboration on code changes and shared understanding.
Project managers: To document decision-making processes and project evolution.

how to use

How to Use Keep the Why

Keep the Why integrates directly into development workflows by leveraging Git for version control and Markdown for content storage. Users can begin by incorporating the tool into their existing repositories.

1Integrate Keep the Why into a Git-versioned project.
2Capture reasoning and decisions directly within the development environment.
3Store contextual information in Markdown files alongside code.
4Utilize Git to version control the Markdown documentation.
5Access historical context for codebase changes as needed.

pricing

Keep the Why Pricing & Plans

Keep the Why is available completely free of charge. It is an open-source project released under the MIT license, meaning there are no paid tiers or subscription plans.

Free: All features included, open-source under MIT license.

Pros

+Captures the specific reasoning behind codebase changes and decisions.
+Operates without requiring a database or user account, simplifying setup.
+Utilizes Git for version control, integrating seamlessly with existing workflows.
+Stores information in Markdown, ensuring readability and portability.
+Open-source under the MIT license, promoting transparency and community involvement.

Cons

−Requires familiarity with Git for effective version control of documentation.
−Lacks advanced features found in dedicated project management or knowledge base systems.
−Relies on manual input for capturing reasoning, requiring developer discipline.
−No centralized dashboard or web interface for managing multiple projects outside of a Git repository.

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GitHubgithub.com/oliver-zehentleitner/keep-the-why