# Skill Nix Research

> Conduct Nix/NixOS/Home Manager research using MCP-NixOS, web docs, and codebase exploration. Invoke for nix research tasks.

- Skill: `benbrastmckie/skill-nix-research` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add benbrastmckie/skill-nix-research`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/benbrastmckie/skill-nix-research/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: benbrastmckie (https://skillmd.com/u/benbrastmckie)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/benbrastmckie/skill-nix-research

---


# Nix Research Skill

Thin wrapper that delegates Nix research to `nix-research-agent` subagent.

**IMPORTANT**: This skill implements the skill-internal postflight pattern. After the subagent returns,
this skill handles all postflight operations (status update, artifact linking, git commit) before returning.

## Context References

Reference (do not load eagerly):
- Path: `.opencode/context/core/formats/return-metadata-file.md` - Metadata file schema
- Path: `.opencode/context/core/patterns/postflight-control.md` - Marker file protocol
- Path: `.opencode/context/core/patterns/jq-escaping-workarounds.md` - jq escaping patterns

## Trigger Conditions

This skill activates when:
- Task language is "nix"
- Research is needed for Nix, NixOS, or Home Manager configuration
- Package definitions or module patterns need to be gathered

---

## Execution Flow

### Stage 1: Input Validation

Validate required inputs:
- `task_number` - Must be provided and exist in state.json
- `focus_prompt` - Optional focus for research direction

```bash
# Lookup task
task_data=$(jq -r --argjson num "$task_number" \
  '.active_projects[] | select(.project_number == $num)' \
  specs/state.json)

# Validate exists
if [ -z "$task_data" ]; then
  return error "Task $task_number not found"
fi

# Extract fields
language=$(echo "$task_data" | jq -r '.language // "nix"')
status=$(echo "$task_data" | jq -r '.status')
project_name=$(echo "$task_data" | jq -r '.project_name')
description=$(echo "$task_data" | jq -r '.description // ""')
```

---

### Stage 2: Preflight Status Update

Update task status to "researching" BEFORE invoking subagent.

```bash
bash .opencode/scripts/update-task-status.sh preflight "$task_number" research "$session_id"
```

---

### Stage 3: Create Postflight Marker

```bash
mkdir -p "specs/OC_${padded_num}_${project_name}"

cat > "specs/OC_${padded_num}_${project_name}/.postflight-pending" << EOF
{
  "session_id": "${session_id}",
  "skill": "skill-nix-research",
  "task_number": ${task_number},
  "operation": "research",
  "reason": "Postflight pending: status update, artifact linking, git commit",
  "created": "$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)"
}
EOF
```

---

### Stage 4: Prepare Delegation Context

```json
{
  "session_id": "sess_{timestamp}_{random}",
  "delegation_depth": 1,
  "delegation_path": ["orchestrator", "research", "skill-nix-research"],
  "timeout": 3600,
  "task_context": {
    "task_number": N,
    "task_name": "{project_name}",
    "description": "{description}",
    "language": "nix"
  },
  "focus_prompt": "{optional focus}",
  "metadata_file_path": "specs/OC_{NNN}_{SLUG}/.return-meta.json"
}
```

---

### Stage 5: Invoke Subagent

**CRITICAL**: You MUST use the **Task** tool to spawn the subagent.

```
Tool: Task (NOT Skill)
Parameters:
  - subagent_type: "nix-research-agent"
  - prompt: [Include task_context, delegation_context, focus_prompt, metadata_file_path]
  - description: "Execute Nix research for task {N}"
```

The subagent will:
- Search local Nix configuration using Read, Grep, Glob
- Search web for NixOS/Home Manager documentation
- Query MCP-NixOS for package/option information (if available)
- Analyze findings and synthesize recommendations
- Create research report
- Write metadata file
- Return brief text summary

---

### Stage 6: Parse Subagent Return

```bash
metadata_file="specs/OC_${padded_num}_${project_name}/.return-meta.json"

if [ -f "$metadata_file" ] && jq empty "$metadata_file" 2>/dev/null; then
    status=$(jq -r '.status' "$metadata_file")
    artifact_path=$(jq -r '.artifacts[0].path // ""' "$metadata_file")
    artifact_type=$(jq -r '.artifacts[0].type // ""' "$metadata_file")
    artifact_summary=$(jq -r '.artifacts[0].summary // ""' "$metadata_file")
else
    status="failed"
fi
```

---

### Stage 7: Update Task Status (Postflight)

If status is "researched", update state.json and TODO.md.

```bash
bash .opencode/scripts/update-task-status.sh postflight "$task_number" research "$session_id"
```

---

### Stage 8: Link Artifacts

Add artifact to state.json with summary.

---

### Stage 9: Git Commit

```bash
git add -A
git commit -m "task ${task_number}: complete research

Session: ${session_id}
```

---

### Stage 10: Cleanup

```bash
rm -f "specs/OC_${padded_num}_${project_name}/.postflight-pending"
rm -f "specs/OC_${padded_num}_${project_name}/.return-meta.json"
```

---

### Stage 11: Return Brief Summary

```
Research completed for task {N}:
- Found NixOS module patterns
- Identified package configuration
- Created report at specs/{NNN}_{SLUG}/reports/research-{NNN}.md
- Status updated to [RESEARCHED]
- Changes committed
```

---

## Error Handling

### Input Validation Errors
Return immediately if task not found.

### Metadata File Missing
Keep status as "researching" for resume.

### Git Commit Failure
Non-blocking: Log failure but continue.

---

## Return Format

Brief text summary (NOT JSON).