Signal From Expert

CommunityPopular

davidondrej

signal-from-expert

Compare the user's notes with an expert's work on a topic. Return relevant exact quotes, source locations, and at least one gap in the user's thinking. Use only when /signal-from-expert is explicitly invoked.

Overview

Publisher	davidondrej
Repository	`skills`
Skill name	`signal-from-expert`
Stars	4.1K
Forks	599
Bundled files	3
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository

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.
3 bundled files
Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.
Open source
Published by davidondrej on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Signal From Expert 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.

Store

Installed

Skills

Add skills

Import one or more skills from a public GitHub folder or a local .skill or .zip archive, or SKILL.md file.

From GitHub URLFrom .skill, .zip, or SKILL.md

GitHub repo or folder

https://github.com/davidondrej/skills/tree/main/skills/thinking-and-docs/signal-from-expert

Points to a single skill folder, or any folder that contains multiple skills. Public repos only.

CancelContinue

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/davidondrej/skills.git /tmp/skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/skills/skills/thinking-and-docs/signal-from-expert .claude/skills/signal-from-expert

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

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Signal From Expert 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 Signal From Expert 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 Signal From Expert 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.

Signal from Expert

Inputs

Require a corpus (files or folders of the user's thinking), expert, and topic. URLs are optional. Ask for missing inputs in one plain-text question.

Workflow

1. Read the corpus

Read every named file in full with cat -n. Do not read other files for context.

2. Choose sources

Check <repo>/essays/<expert-slug>/ for saved pieces. Load the deepapi skill; if the key is unset, run source ~/.deepapi/env. Make 5+ separate POST /v1/search/web calls, varying <expert> <topic> queries across essays, talks, interviews, and specific sub-questions. Pick the 5–8 most relevant pieces and merge with the user's URLs and saved sources.

Show titles and URLs, one per line, and ask "go?". Wait for approval before scraping.

3. Scrape and save

From the skill directory, fetch all URLs in one batch:

bash
python3 scripts/fetch-sources.py --expert "Paul Graham" --out <repo>/essays/paul-graham \
  https://paulgraham.com/startupideas.html https://paulgraham.com/schlep.html

The helper saves each page as NN-slug.md with a header and verbatim text. Check every head/tail preview for the real first and last lines. Remove leftover layout junk without changing the prose.

If <repo>/essays/AGENTS.md is missing, copy assets/essays-AGENTS.md there and add the CLAUDE.md symlink.

4. Read all sources

Read every saved source in full with cat -n before writing; use its line numbers for citations.

5. Write the analysis

Use this format with 4 numbered items by default. Repeat the item block as needed, then end with the concluding paragraph:

markdown
# DD-MM-YYYY — Signal from <Expert>

Corpus: <files>. Sources: `essays/<expert-slug>/` (N pieces). Agent analysis, not the user's words.

## 1. <Short claim; prefix with "Gap:" for a gap>

<Quote the user's relevant words and explain the connection in 1–2 lines.>

> "<Exact expert quote, 1–4 sentences>"

Full section: `essays/<expert-slug>/NN-slug.md:START-END`

**Co-founder read:** <One paragraph connecting the findings and what to do next.>

Include at least one Gap: item showing where the expert's work challenges the user's thinking or reveals something missing, backed by a quote.
Quote both people exactly; never paraphrase the user's reasoning. Keep expert quotes short and point to full passages in saved files.
One claim per item. Plain English. No hedging. Exclude private personal matters unrelated to the topic.

6. Save and show

Save as <corpus folder>/signal-<expert-slug>.md (a single file's parent folder). Show the full analysis in chat. Do not commit.

Failures

Truncated source: rerun with a higher --max-chars.
Poor search results: ask for URLs instead of guessing.
Fewer than 3 sources: say so and ask; do not pad with weak pieces.

Bundled files

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

Frequently asked questions

What does the Signal From Expert AI skill do?

Why use Signal From Expert on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Signal From Expert 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 Signal From Expert in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/davidondrej/skills/tree/main/skills/thinking-and-docs/signal-from-expert. 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 Signal From Expert?

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 Signal From Expert?

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

Is the Signal From Expert AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by davidondrej 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

Signal from Expert

Inputs

Workflow

1. Read the corpus

2. Choose sources

3. Scrape and save

4. Read all sources

5. Write the analysis

6. Save and show

Failures

Bundled files

Frequently asked questions

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