FAQ
Frequently asked questions about MANTRA.
General
What is MANTRA?
MANTRA is a constitutional governance system for technical decisions. Think of it like Git for code, but for architecture rules and decisions. Once connected to your AI assistant (Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf), your AI automatically understands your team's rules without needing to re-explain every session.
How is MANTRA different from ADR (Architecture Decision Records)?
ADRs are typically just Markdown files in a repo — inconsistent format, no validation, not searchable by AI, and no enforcement. MANTRA takes the ADR concept and adds: standard format (4×4 matrix), 3-stage validation, direct AI assistant integration via MCP, automatic constraint enforcement, and immutability (decisions can't be modified, only superseded).
Is MANTRA only for software engineering?
No. MANTRA provides 10 industry templates: Software Engineering, Healthcare, Government, Finance, Education, Manufacturing, Research, NGO, Startup, and Corporate Law. Each template adapts terminology and examples to match the domain.
Is MANTRA free?
Yes, all features are currently free during Early Access — including unlimited organizations, unlimited decisions, 40+ MCP tools, and 10 industry templates. Paid plans (Pro and Enterprise) will be available in the future with additional features.
AI & Security
Can AI make architecture decisions on its own?
No. This is a fundamental MANTRA principle (MANTRA-LAW-001 §6): AI has ZERO approval authority. AI can only help draft, search for relevant decisions, and check code compliance. Final decisions always come from humans.
What happens if the MANTRA server goes down?
Your AI assistant continues to work as usual — it just won't be able to access MANTRA decisions temporarily. Once the server is back online, all data remains intact because decisions are immutable.
Is my decision data secure?
Yes. Each organization has isolated data. Decisions are immutable (cannot be modified or deleted), providing a complete audit trail. You can also export all data anytime in JSON, Markdown, ADR, or SQL dump format.
Does AI read my code?
The MANTRA MCP server only processes queries you send (like file paths, scope, or statements). MANTRA doesn't access your repository directly — your AI assistant reads the code, then uses MANTRA to check compliance against decisions.
Technical
What is MCP and why does MANTRA use it?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard from Anthropic that lets AI assistants connect to external tools. With MCP, your AI assistant automatically knows when to use MANTRA — you don't need to memorize tool names or write manual commands.
Which IDEs are supported?
MANTRA supports all MCP-compatible AI assistants: Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and others. Additionally, MANTRA can export decisions as IDE rules in 9 formats: .cursorrules, CLAUDE.md, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf, Aider, Cline, AGENTS.md, universal format, and custom.
How are decisions enforced?
There are several enforcement layers: (1) AI assistant automatically checks code against constraints during review, (2) mantra_scan can scan annotation coverage across the entire project, (3) mantra_diff_review can check git diffs before merge. Every violation is recorded with a reference to the violated decision.
What is the 4×4 Decision Matrix?
Every decision is classified into 4 Domains (INT: intent, ARCH: architecture, CTL: control, EVO: evolution) × 4 Aspects per domain = 16 total categories. This ensures every decision has a clear place and can be searched structurally.
What does 'immutable' mean?
Decisions that have been created and approved cannot be modified or deleted. If a decision needs updating, you create a new version that 'supersedes' the old one (e.g., v1.0.0 → v2.0.0). The old version remains as a historical record, so you always have a complete audit trail.
Team & Organization
How many people can use one organization?
During Early Access, there are no limits on team size. Every member can log in, create decisions, and review others' decisions.
Can I have multiple organizations?
Yes. One account can create or join multiple organizations. Each organization has isolated decisions and configuration.
How does onboarding new engineers work?
This is one of MANTRA's core value propositions. New engineers just need to set up the MCP server (5 minutes), then their AI assistant automatically understands all team architecture rules. No need to read pages of documentation — AI explains context when needed.