Research First

Community

danielvm-git

research-first

Look-before-build — search registries, repo, existing skills, and web for prior art before implementing. Appends Prior Art to the spec. Use after survey-context and before elaborate-spec, when adding dependencies, or when the task may already be solved.

Overview

Publisher	danielvm-git
Repository	`bigpowers`
Skill name	`research-first`
Stars	206
Forks	18
Bundled files	1
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository Homepage

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
1 bundled files
Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.
Open source
Published by danielvm-git on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Research First AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/danielvm-git/bigpowers.git /tmp/bigpowers
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/bigpowers/skills/research-first .claude/skills/research-first

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Research First in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Research First on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Research First is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

story: e03s01

story: e21s02

Research First

HARD GATE — Do NOT implement until prior art is searched. Minimum outcome: adopt, extend, compose, or build — with evidence.

Process

Read specs/product/SCOPE_LATEST.yaml, specs/release-plan.yaml + epic shards, and the current task statement.
Search in order: this repo → bigpowers skills (search-skills) → package registries → web docs.
Check opensrc cache — if the task integrates an external library, run bash scripts/bp-opensrc-check.sh (or npx opensrc search <pkg>) to find locally-cached source. Read the src/ directory for API shapes before writing any integration code.
For each candidate: note name, URL/path, fit (adopt | extend | compose | build).
Append ## Prior Art to requirements/SCOPE_LATEST.yaml notes or the active epic story.

opensrc Integration

opensrc is a local cache of 200+ open-source repos and npm/PyPI packages. Query it before building any external integration to avoid re-inventing documented API shapes.

bash
# Check if a package is cached
npx opensrc search <package-name>

# Or use the bundled helper (checks all deps from package.json or requirements.txt)
bash scripts/bp-opensrc-check.sh [package.json|requirements.txt]

If opensrc finds a match, read its src/ or source directory and append findings to the Prior Art section:


opensrc: found <pkg> v<version> — exports <key classes/functions>

If opensrc is not installed or the package is not cached, fall through to web docs normally.

Outcome matrix

Verdict	Action
adopt	Use as-is; link in plan; no new code
extend	Wrap or configure existing solution
compose	Chain existing skills/modules
build	New implementation — justify why others failed

Verify

→ verify: grep -rq 'Prior Art' specs/product specs/release-plan.yaml specs/epics 2>/dev/null

See REFERENCE.md for search commands and registry checklist.

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

REFERENCE.md1 KB

Frequently asked questions

What does the Research First AI skill do?

Why use Research First on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Research First is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Research First in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/danielvm-git/bigpowers/tree/main/skills/research-first. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Research First?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Research First?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Research First with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Research First AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by danielvm-git under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

story: e03s01

story: e21s02

Research First

Process

opensrc Integration

Outcome matrix

Verify

Bundled files

Frequently asked questions

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