Version Archaeology logo

Version Archaeology

Community
Dragoon0x
version-archaeology

Study how products evolve over time using archived versions. The decisions that survive redesigns are the taste decisions. Use when understanding what's essential vs. cosmetic in a design, or learning from product evolution.

Overview

PublisherDragoon0x
Repositorytaste-skills
Skill nameversion-archaeology
Stars
6
Forks
3
Bundled files
Instructions only
LicenseMIT
Links
  • 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.

  • Self-contained

    Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.

  • Open source

    Published by Dragoon0x on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

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

1

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.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
    https://github.com/Dragoon0x/taste-skills/tree/main/skills/analysis/version-archaeology
  4. 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.
2

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/Dragoon0x/taste-skills.git /tmp/taste-skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/taste-skills/skills/analysis/version-archaeology .claude/skills/version-archaeology
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Version Archaeology 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 Version Archaeology 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 Version Archaeology 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.

Version Archaeology

The decisions that survive redesigns are the load-bearing walls.

How to use

  • /version-archaeology Apply evolutionary analysis to a product's design history.

Constraints

Analysis Method

  • MUST compare at least 3 versions of the same product over time
  • MUST document for each version: what changed, what stayed, what was tried and reverted
  • MUST identify the persistent decisions (things that survived multiple redesigns)
  • SHOULD note the ratio of cosmetic changes to structural changes

What Persistence Means

  • Elements that survive 3+ redesigns are core taste decisions
  • Elements that change every redesign are cosmetic/trend-following
  • Elements that were added and then removed reveal failed experiments
  • MUST treat persistent decisions as evidence of what the team considers essential

Anti-Patterns

  • Only looking at the visual surface (layout changes) and missing structural persistence (information architecture)
  • Assuming newer versions are always better
  • Ignoring reverted changes (these are some of the most informative data points)

Frequently asked questions

What does the Version Archaeology AI skill do?

Study how products evolve over time using archived versions. The decisions that survive redesigns are the taste decisions. Use when understanding what's essential vs. cosmetic in a design, or learning from product evolution.

Why use Version Archaeology on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Version Archaeology 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 Version Archaeology in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/Dragoon0x/taste-skills/tree/main/skills/analysis/version-archaeology. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Version Archaeology?

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 Version Archaeology?

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

Is the Version Archaeology AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by Dragoon0x 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.

View all

Set up your own AI workspace now

Get notified about new features and future giveaways by subscribing to our newsletter 👇