polymath

Researches domains, analyzes options, and guides pre-build decisions through structured dialogue.

1|Updated Jun 24, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/sundarshahi/drydock --skill polymath-sundarshahi
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: polymath
Source: https://github.com/sundarshahi/drydock/tree/main/skills/polymath
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/sundarshahi/drydock --skill polymath-sundarshahi

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Users often start building software before they understand the problem space, leading to vague scope, missed constraints, and costly rework. This Skill acts as a thinking partner that researches domains, maps codebases, and crystallizes fuzzy ideas before any code is written. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Domain Research: Runs parallel web searches to map market landscapes, competitors, pricing, and technology options, then synthesizes findings into structured summaries. - Codebase Onboarding: Scans an unfamiliar repository with Glob and Grep to produce a persistent repo map covering tech stack, architecture, data model, and business flows. - Decision Support & Handoff: Builds comparison matrices for technical and build-vs-buy decisions, logs conclusions, and writes a context package that downstream pipeline skills consume. - Use Case: A founder says "build something for restaurants." The Skill researches the restaurant tech landscape, presents segments and gaps as selectable options, helps narrow scope, then hands a crystallized context package to the product-manager skill. ## Quick Start Ask the assistant to help you think through an idea, for example: "Help me explore what it would take to build a booking platform for dog walkers before I commit to code."

Frequently Asked Questions about polymath

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I validate a product idea before writing code?▼

Use ideate mode to mirror your idea back as concrete interpretations, challenge it with market research, and crystallize scope, target users, and differentiators. Conclusions are logged to a decisions file and packaged for handoff to execution skills.

How to understand an unfamiliar codebase quickly?▼

Onboard mode runs parallel Glob and Grep scans to detect languages, frameworks, and entry points, then presents a layered overview from bird's-eye summary to deep dives. The resulting repo map persists across sessions so the codebase is never re-scanned.

What tool helps compare technologies like NestJS vs FastAPI?▼

Advise mode researches both options with current web data, builds a comparison matrix across maturity, performance, ecosystem, and cost, then gives a clear recommendation with stated confidence and trade-offs.

Does this skill write production code or run pipelines?▼

No. It is explicitly read-only on project source and other skills' outputs, writing only to its own workspace. It produces research, analysis, and context packages, then hands off to executor skills when the user is ready.

When should I skip the pre-flight consultation?▼

Skip it when your request has a clear problem domain, at least two constraints such as scale or tech preference, and domain-specific language showing familiarity. Selecting "skip, just build it" at any point triggers an immediate handoff.