What is Knowledge Base? Definition & Meaning

A knowledge base in vibe coding is a curated collection of documentation, code examples, patterns, and context that AI can reference when generating responses. Building a strong knowledge base — through Cursor Rules, documentation, and well-organized code — dramatically improves AI assistance quality.

A knowledge base is the foundation of effective AI assistance. The better your knowledge base, the more relevant and accurate AI suggestions become.

Components of a Project Knowledge Base

Explicit documentation:

README files
Architecture decision records
API documentation
Cursor Rules / System prompts

Implicit knowledge:

Code comments
Type definitions
Test cases (show expected behavior)
Consistent naming conventions

External sources:

Connected documentation (via MCP)
Framework documentation
Internal wikis

Building an Effective Knowledge Base

For AI Tools

Cursor Rules — Define project conventions
Structured READMEs — Explain architecture and patterns
Type definitions — Provide shape and contract information
Example code — Show desired patterns

For Retrieval

Organize by concept — Related code near each other
Name clearly — Descriptive file and function names
Comment intent — Explain why, not just what
Update regularly — Stale docs mislead AI

Knowledge Base vs Context Window

Knowledge Base	Context Window
All available information	What fits in one prompt
Persistent	Session-specific
You build over time	Selected per request
RAG searches it	Model processes it

The Investment Pays Off

Time spent on knowledge base compounds:

Better AI suggestions from day one
Faster onboarding for new team members
Consistent code across the project
Less time correcting AI output

Knowledge Base