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research

Delegates topic investigation to a background agent that cites primary sources in Markdown notes.

2|Updated Oct 16, 2021
Search Tags:#documentation#research#investigation#citations#primary sources#background agent#markdown notes
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/pattobrien/dotfiles --skill research-pattobrien
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: research
Source: https://github.com/pattobrien/dotfiles/tree/main/.agents/skills/research
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/pattobrien/dotfiles --skill research-pattobrien

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Researching a topic properly means reading official docs, source code, and specs instead of secondhand summaries, which interrupts your current work. This Skill offloads that reading legwork to a background agent so you keep working while findings are gathered and written up. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Background Delegation: Spins up a background agent to investigate while you continue your current task. - Primary-Source Grounding: Traces every claim back to official docs, source code, specs, or first-party APIs rather than secondary write-ups. - Repo-Native Output: Writes findings to a single Markdown file with per-claim citations, saved where the repo already keeps such notes. - Use Case: Ask how a library's API handles pagination; the agent reads the official docs and source, then saves a cited Markdown summary in your repo's notes convention. ## Quick Start Ask the agent to research how a specific API or library feature works and save the findings as a Markdown note in the repo.

Frequently Asked Questions about research

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I delegate research to a background agent?▼

Invoke the research skill with your question, and it spins up a background agent to investigate while you keep working. The agent reads primary sources and writes findings to a Markdown file in the repo.

What sources does the research agent use?▼

The agent investigates against primary sources only: official documentation, source code, specifications, and first-party APIs. It follows every claim back to the source that owns it rather than relying on secondary write-ups.

Where are research findings saved in the repo?▼

Findings are written to a single Markdown file saved where the repo already keeps such notes, matching the existing convention. If no convention exists, the agent picks a sensible location and tells you where.

Does the research output include citations?▼

Yes, each claim in the Markdown findings file cites its source. The agent traces claims back to the official doc, code, or spec that owns them so you can verify any statement.

When should I not use a background research agent?▼

Avoid it for quick factual lookups you can answer immediately or questions requiring access to private systems the agent cannot reach. It is best suited for reading-heavy investigation of documented topics.

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