Second Brain Query

Community

NicholasSpisak

second-brain-query

Answer questions against the knowledge base wiki. Use when the user asks a question about their collected knowledge, wants to explore connections between topics, says "what do I know about X", or wants to search their wiki.

Overview

Publisher	NicholasSpisak
Repository	`second-brain`
Skill name	`second-brain-query`
Stars	738
Forks	108
Bundled files	Instructions only
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.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by NicholasSpisak on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Second Brain Query 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.
https://github.com/NicholasSpisak/second-brain/tree/main/skills/second-brain-query
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/NicholasSpisak/second-brain.git /tmp/second-brain
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/second-brain/skills/second-brain-query .claude/skills/second-brain-query

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

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Second Brain Query 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 Second Brain Query 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 Second Brain Query 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.

Second Brain — Query

Answer questions by searching and synthesizing knowledge from the wiki.

Search Strategy

1. Start with the index

Read wiki/index.md to identify relevant pages. Scan all category sections (Sources, Entities, Concepts, Synthesis) for entries related to the question.

2. Use qmd for large wikis

If qmd is installed (check with command -v qmd), use it for search:

bash
qmd search "query terms" --path wiki/

This is especially useful when the wiki has grown beyond ~100 pages where scanning the index becomes inefficient.

3. Read relevant pages

Read the wiki pages identified by the index or search. Follow [[wikilinks]] to pull in related context from linked pages. Read enough pages to give a thorough answer, but don't read the entire wiki.

4. Check raw sources if needed

If the wiki pages don't fully answer the question, check relevant source summaries in wiki/sources/ for additional detail. Only go to files in raw/ as a last resort.

Synthesize the Answer

Format

Match the answer format to the question:

Factual question → direct answer with citations
Comparison → table or structured comparison
Exploration → narrative with linked concepts
List/catalog → bulleted list with brief descriptions

Citations

Always cite wiki pages using [[wikilink]] syntax. Example:

According to [[Source - Article Title]], the key finding was X. This connects to the broader pattern described in [[Concept Name]], which [[Entity Name]] has also explored.

Offer to save valuable answers

If the answer produces something worth keeping — a comparison, analysis, new connection, or synthesis — offer to save it:

"This comparison might be useful to keep in your wiki. Want me to save it as a synthesis page?"

If the user agrees:

Create a new page in wiki/synthesis/ with proper frontmatter
Add an entry to wiki/index.md under Synthesis
Append to wiki/log.md: ## [YYYY-MM-DD] query | Question summary

Conventions

Search the wiki first. Only go to raw sources if the wiki doesn't have the answer.
Cite your sources. Every factual claim should link to the wiki page it came from.
Valuable answers compound. Encourage saving good analyses back into the wiki.
Use [[wikilinks]] for all internal references. Never use raw file paths.

Related Skills

/second-brain-ingest — process new sources into wiki pages
/second-brain-lint — health-check the wiki for issues

Frequently asked questions

What does the Second Brain Query AI skill do?

Why use Second Brain Query on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Second Brain Query 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 Second Brain Query in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/NicholasSpisak/second-brain/tree/main/skills/second-brain-query. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Second Brain Query?

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 Second Brain Query?

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

Is the Second Brain Query AI skill free?

It is published on GitHub by NicholasSpisak. Check the repository for licensing terms. 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

Second Brain — Query

Search Strategy

1. Start with the index

2. Use qmd for large wikis

3. Read relevant pages

4. Check raw sources if needed

Synthesize the Answer

Format

Citations

Offer to save valuable answers

Conventions

Related Skills

Frequently asked questions

Related AI Skills

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