ContextBudget: Multi-File Codebase Chunking Planner for AI-Assisted Refactors

The Problem

Developers using Claude Code, Cursor, or Copilot Workspace on real codebases repeatedly hit the same wall: they don't know which files to include in context to get a coherent refactor without blowing the token window or getting hallucinated imports. ContextBudget analyzes your repo's dependency graph and surfaces the minimal, maximally-connected file set for any given task — ranked by call-graph centrality and semantic relevance to the task description. It outputs a ready-to-paste context manifest and estimates token cost before you run it.

Target Audience

Mid-level to senior developers using AI coding assistants on codebases larger than 10k LOC who have burned tokens on bad context selections

Monetization Angle

Free CLI tier up to 5 uses/day; $12/mo for unlimited + VS Code extension + GitHub Action integration

Recommended Tech Stack

Why Now

Claude Code's launch and the explosion of 'vibe coding' on real production repos in 2025 has made context window mismanagement the #1 source of AI refactor failures reported on r/LocalLLaMA and HN.

MVP Scope

A CLI tool that takes a task description and a repo path, parses imports/exports, and outputs a ranked list of files with estimated token counts and a copyable file manifest.

AI Angle

Embedding-based semantic similarity between the task description and file summaries re-ranks the dependency-graph output so the most task-relevant files float to the top.

Primary Risk

Tree-sitter parsing coverage gaps for exotic languages or monorepo structures could make the tool unreliable for the exact power users most likely to pay.

Validation Checklist

• Search GitHub Issues for 'context too large' or 'which files to include' in the Cursor, Continue, and Aider repos to quantify complaint volume
• Post a poll on r/LocalLLaMA: 'What's your biggest pain when using AI on large codebases?' and track how many cite context selection
• Build a rough Python script version and share on HN 'Show HN' to measure star velocity and issue quality
• Offer early access in the Claude Code subreddit and measure signup conversion from a single post

Who Would Pay For This

Likely buyers are engineering teams, platform leads, developer-experience teams, and technical founders. Start with Mid-level to senior developers using AI coding assistants on codebases larger than 10k LOC who have burned tokens on bad context selections and look for teams already spending time or money on this workflow.

First 10 Users

Find the first 10 users by searching for recent complaints around "developer tools LLM" in Reddit, developer communities, GitHub issues, and niche Slack or Discord groups. Offer a concierge version first: manually solve the workflow for a few users, then automate only the repeated steps.

Idea Playbooks

This opportunity also appears in curated IdeaGenius playbooks for builders comparing adjacent markets.

More Developer Search Paths

Why This Idea Has Legs

• Sourced from real discussions and complaints across Reddit and social media
• Cross-checked against recurring demand signals in the IdeaGenius archive
• Difficulty rated Medium — buildable by a solo developer or small team
• Clear monetization path from day one

Generate Your Full Project Spec

Get a complete blueprint for building this app — tech stack, database schema, API endpoints, go-to-market plan, and more. Generated by AI in seconds. Download as Markdown.