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distill-resource

Guides progressive summarization of saved resources into layered notes in Obsidian.

6|1|Updated Nov 26, 2025
Search Tags:#knowledge management#note taking#obsidian#para method#tiago forte#distillation#progressive summarization
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/nathanvale/side-quest-marketplace-old --skill distill-resource-nathanvale
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: distill-resource
Source: https://github.com/nathanvale/side-quest-marketplace-old/tree/main/plugins/para-obsidian/skills/distill-resource
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/nathanvale/side-quest-marketplace-old --skill distill-resource-nathanvale

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve? Saved articles, videos, and threads often sit unread in a notes vault, never converted into usable knowledge. This Skill walks you through Tiago Forte's progressive summarization method to turn raw clippings into layered, discoverable notes. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Auto-discovery of undistilled resources: Scans the Obsidian Resources folder for notes marked distilled:false and presents a selection list. - Collaborative layered summarization: Works through bolding key passages, highlighting the core essence, and writing an executive summary in your own words. - Multi-source content fetching: Retrieves full content from YouTube transcripts, X/Twitter via X-API, and general web pages via Firecrawl when the saved clipping is sparse. - Use Case: You saved a dozen articles last week but never read them deeply. Run this Skill to pick one, discuss it interactively, and finish with a note containing bolded passages, highlighted essence, and your personal takeaways. ## Quick Start Ask the assistant to distill an undistilled resource from your Obsidian vault, optionally naming a specific file to process.

Frequently Asked Questions about distill-resource

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I distill saved articles in Obsidian?▼

Run the distill-resource skill with no arguments to auto-discover notes marked distilled:false in your Resources folder, or pass a filename to target a specific note. The skill then guides you through bolding, highlighting, and summarizing layers interactively.

What is progressive summarization in Building a Second Brain?▼

Progressive summarization is Tiago Forte's method of compressing notes in layers: captured notes, bolded passages, highlighted essence, and an executive summary in your own words. Each layer preserves the previous ones so context is never lost.

Can I distill YouTube videos and Twitter threads?▼

Yes. The skill fetches YouTube content via the YouTube Transcript MCP and X/Twitter content via the X-API tools, since Firecrawl is blocked on twitter.com domains. Other URLs are scraped with Firecrawl, with WebFetch as fallback.

What happens if the source URL is unavailable during distillation?▼

The skill degrades gracefully by working with the existing Layer 1 captured notes content. For Twitter URLs that fail to fetch, it asks you to paste the tweet content manually so the session can continue.

Can I skip layers or finish a distillation session quickly?▼

Yes. Saying quick or fast triggers quick mode, which presents proposed bold passages and highlights for one-shot approval. You can also skip individual layers, though the note is then marked only partially distilled.

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