How do I install the Analyzing Source skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add sawyer-middeleer/analyzing-source in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Analyzing Source safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: makes network calls. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Analyzing Source?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Analyzing Source free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Analyzing Source?

Sawyer-Middeleer (@sawyer-middeleer) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Analyzing Source by sawyer-middeleer

Name: Analyzing Source
Rating: 4.666666666666667 (3 reviews)
Author: Sawyer-Middeleer

Analyzing Source

Conducts in-depth analysis of a specific source or topic, producing a comprehensive, information-dense summary for research synthesis. Use when detailed analysis and documentation of an individual source is needed as part of a larger research effort. Primarily used by the research-analyst agent inside the deep-research workflow.

File contents

Analyzing a Source

Analyze a single source in depth and create a comprehensive summary suitable for research synthesis.

Process

Step 1: Retrieve

Given a URL: fetch it directly with WebFetch; verify the content is accessible and relevant
Given a topic: WebSearch for the best source, prioritizing authoritative and detailed ones; fetch the most relevant result
Inaccessible or thin: try alternative sources; note access issues in the summary rather than fabricating around them

Step 2: Deep Analysis

Focus on:

Core concepts, definitions, frameworks the source presents
Main arguments, claims, findings — what is it asserting?
Evidence, data, examples — what supports the claims?
Methodology — how was the work conducted?
Limitations, caveats, counterarguments — where are the boundaries?
Connections to the research focus provided
Quality and credibility — how reliable is this source, and why?
Unique insights — what does this source offer that others won't?

Step 3: Write the Summary

Use the template at ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/analyzing-source/templates/article-summary.md.

Be concise yet thorough — extremely information-dense, leveraging specific data:

Include direct quotes and concrete examples, not just paraphrase
Provide analytical judgment about significance, not just description
Connect explicitly to the research focus
Make the summary self-contained — readable without the original

Step 4: Save

Filename: a descriptive slug (kubernetes-scaling-patterns.md, pricing-research-meta-analysis.md)
Location: {working_directory}/summaries/{filename}.md
All template sections filled

Step 5: Report

What source was analyzed
Where the summary was saved
2–3 sentences on the most important insights

Guidelines

Thorough, not brief — this is deep research, not scanning; capture nuance
Specific evidence — quotes, data points, named examples
Critical — note limitations, assess quality, surface assumptions
Focused — comprehensive within the research focus, not encyclopedic beyond it
Always save the file — the coordinator depends on it existing

---name: analyzing-sourcedescription: Conducts in-depth analysis of a specific source or topic, producing a comprehensive, information-dense summary for research synthesis. Use when detailed analysis and documentation of an individual source is needed as part of a larger research effort. Primarily used by the research-analyst agent inside the deep-research workflow.---# Analyzing a SourceAnalyze a single source in depth and create a comprehensive summary suitable for research synthesis.## Process### Step 1: Retrieve- **Given a URL:** fetch it directly with WebFetch; verify the content is accessible and relevant- **Given a topic:** WebSearch for the best source, prioritizing authoritative and detailed ones; fetch the most relevant result- **Inaccessible or thin:** try alternative sources; note access issues in the summary rather than fabricating around them### Step 2: Deep AnalysisFocus on:- **Core concepts, definitions, frameworks** the source presents- **Main arguments, claims, findings** — what is it asserting?- **Evidence, data, examples** — what supports the claims?- **Methodology** — how was the work conducted?- **Limitations, caveats, counterarguments** — where are the boundaries?- **Connections to the research focus** provided- **Quality and credibility** — how reliable is this source, and why?- **Unique insights** — what does this source offer that others won't?### Step 3: Write the SummaryUse the template at `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/analyzing-source/templates/article-summary.md`.Be concise yet thorough — extremely information-dense, leveraging specific data:- Include direct quotes and concrete examples, not just paraphrase- Provide analytical judgment about significance, not just description- Connect explicitly to the research focus- Make the summary self-contained — readable without the original### Step 4: Save- Filename: a descriptive slug (`kubernetes-scaling-patterns.md`, `pricing-research-meta-analysis.md`)- Location: `{working_directory}/summaries/{filename}.md`- All template sections filled### Step 5: Report1. What source was analyzed2. Where the summary was saved3. 2–3 sentences on the most important insights## Guidelines- **Thorough, not brief** — this is deep research, not scanning; capture nuance- **Specific evidence** — quotes, data points, named examples- **Critical** — note limitations, assess quality, surface assumptions- **Focused** — comprehensive within the research focus, not encyclopedic beyond it- **Always save the file** — the coordinator depends on it existing

Frequently asked questions