What problem does it solve?
The Skill scaffolds a structured investigation workspace in scratch/ for empirical research and documentation. It helps when you want to trace code paths, map data flows, document system architecture, investigate bugs, explore feasibility, or compare design options.
Creates dated folder with README. NOT for simple code questions or single-file searches.
Core Features & Use Cases
- Tracing: trace from X to Y, follow data flow, or identify what touches a component.
- System Architecture Archaeology: create comprehensive architectural documentation with dated records.
- Bug Investigation: reproduce issues, track root causes, and document findings.
- Technical Exploration: test feasibility and gather experimental evidence.
- Design Research: compare options and capture decisions with structured notes.
- Note: Creates a dated folder in scratch/ with a README to capture task context and findings.
Quick Start
Create a folder in scratch/ with the format {YYYY-MM-DD}-{descriptive-name}:
mkdir scratch/$(python -c "import datetime; print(datetime.date.today().isoformat())")-{descriptive-name}
Create a README.md in this folder with: task description, background context, task checklist. Update with findings as you progress.
Create scripts and data files as needed for empirical work.
For complex investigations, split into sub-documents as patterns emerge.
