dwmkerr/research
plugins/toolkit/skills/research/SKILL.md
Deep research into technical solutions by searching the web, examining GitHub repos, and gathering evidence. Use when the user explicitly says "use the research skill", "use a research agent", or asks for deep/thorough research into implementation options or technologies.
$ install --global
skillsauthnpx skillsauth add dwmkerr/claude-toolkit researchInstall this skill globally with one command. Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and Windsurf.
Security Scan Results
3 of 9 scanners reported clean
Some scanners were skipped, did not run, or reported a non-clean status. Review each row below.
3
Scanners Passed
9
Scanners in report
Clean
TrivyContainer and dependency vulnerability scanner
95%
Clean
SemgrepStatic code analysis for vulnerabilities
95%
Clean
mcp-scan (Snyk)Model Context Protocol security validation
95%
Skipped
Snyk (dep)Open source security scanning
50%
Skipped
Socket.devSupply chain security analysis
50%
Skipped
VirusTotalMulti-engine malware detection
50%
Skipped
CrowdStrikeAdvanced threat intelligence
50%
Skipped
OSV-ScannerOpen Source Vulnerability database check
50%
Skipped
OWASP Dep-Check
50%
Last scanned: Apr 25, 2026, 3:43 PM112.7s2 files scanned
SKILL.md
- name:
- research
- description:
- Deep research into technical solutions by searching the web, examining GitHub repos, and gathering evidence. Use when the user explicitly says "use the research skill", "use a research agent", or asks for deep/thorough research into implementation options or technologies.
Research
Research technical solutions and gather evidence before implementation.
Research Process
1. Web Search First
Always start with web search to find:
- Official documentation
- GitHub repositories
- Blog posts and tutorials
- Protocol specifications (PDFs, RFCs)
2. Examine GitHub Repositories
GitHub raw content is often blocked. Clone repos to examine them:
cd /tmp
git clone https://github.com/owner/repo.git
cat /tmp/repo/README.md
Look for:
- README documentation
- Code examples
- Architecture patterns
- Dependencies and requirements
3. Handle Blocked Content
If a website cannot be loaded:
- Ask the user to paste the relevant content
- Request PDFs or specification documents
- Ask for screenshots if visual content is needed
Example prompt:
"I found a relevant resource at [URL] but cannot access it. Could you paste the key content or provide the PDF?"
4. Local Research Workspace
Store findings in ./scratch/research/ for review:
mkdir -p ./scratch/research
Save:
- Cloned repo summaries
- Code snippets
- Architecture diagrams
- Comparison notes
5. Evidence Requirements
Minimum 2-3 datapoints required before recommending a solution:
- GitHub repo with active maintenance
- Documentation or specification
- Real-world usage examples
- Community feedback (issues, discussions)
If insufficient evidence, ask for guidance:
"I found only one reference to this approach. Can you point me to additional resources or clarify the requirements?"
Output Format
Always back up findings with sources:
## Research: [Topic]
### Option 1: [Solution Name]
- **Source**: [URL or repo link]
- **Pros**: ...
- **Cons**: ...
- **Evidence**: [What confirms this works]
### Option 2: [Solution Name]
...
### Recommendation
Based on [N] sources, I recommend [Option] because...
### Sources
- [Title](URL)
- [Repo](GitHub URL) - cloned and examined
- [Spec](URL) - user provided
Example Usage
User: "Research options for terminal recording in an MCP server"
- Web search: "terminal recording library node typescript"
- Find GitHub repos -> clone to /tmp and examine
- Find asciinema, VHS, xterm.js
- Compare approaches in ./scratch/research/terminal-recording.md
- Present options with 2-3 sources each
Related Skills
dwmkerr/claude-code-skill-development
tools
VerifiedTrustedCommunity
This skill should be used when the user asks to "create a skill", "write a skill", "build a skill", or wants to add new capabilities to Claude Code. Use when developing SKILL.md files, organizing skill content, or improving existing skills. Do NOT use for plugin development, hook creation, agent creation, or slash command creation — those have dedicated skills.
12SKILL.mdUpdated Apr 25, 2026
dwmkerr/shell-script-development
development
VerifiedTrustedCommunity
This skill should be used when the user asks to "create a bash script", "write a shell script", or mentions shell scripting conventions.
12SKILL.mdUpdated Apr 25, 2026
dwmkerr/release-please-development
tools
VerifiedTrustedCommunity
This skill should be used when the user asks to "set up release please", "configure automated releases", "manage version numbers", "add changelog automation", or mentions release-please, semantic versioning, or monorepo versioning.
12SKILL.mdUpdated Apr 25, 2026
dwmkerr/makefile-development
development
VerifiedTrustedCommunity
This skill should be used when the user asks to "create a Makefile", "write a Makefile", "add a make target", or mentions Makefile conventions.
12SKILL.mdUpdated Apr 25, 2026