| name | summarizing-topic |
| description | Synthesize knowledge on a topic from multiple notes. Use when asked "what do I know about X", "summarize topic", "synthesize notes on", or "overview of". |
| allowed-tools | Read, Glob, Grep |
Synthesizing Topic Knowledge
This skill aggregates knowledge from multiple notes on a topic to create a unified understanding.
Workflow
1. Identify the Topic
The user will specify a topic, which could be:
- A tag (e.g., "vue", "testing")
- A concept (e.g., "local-first", "composables")
- A question (e.g., "how to test Vue apps")
2. Find Related Notes
Search by tag:
grep -l "tags:.*topic-name" content/*.md
Search by title/content:
grep -l "topic keyword" content/*.md
Search by wiki-links:
grep -l "\[\[topic-related-slug\]\]" content/*.md
3. Read and Extract
For each related note, extract:
- Title and type: What is this content?
- Summary: The core idea
- Key points: Main takeaways
- Quotes: Memorable passages
- Connections: What it links to
4. Synthesize
Combine the extracted knowledge into a coherent overview:
## What You Know About [Topic]
### Overview
[1-2 paragraph synthesis of the topic based on your notes]
### Key Themes
1. **Theme A**: Explanation drawing from multiple notes
2. **Theme B**: Explanation drawing from multiple notes
### Sources in Your Knowledge Base
| Note | Type | Key Contribution |
|------|------|------------------|
| [[note-1]] | article | Introduces concept X |
| [[note-2]] | book | Deep dive on approach Y |
| [[note-3]] | podcast | Practical examples |
### Notable Quotes
> "Quote from note-1"
> "Quote from note-2"
### Gaps and Questions
- You don't have notes on [related subtopic]
- Consider exploring: [suggested areas]
### Suggested Next Steps
- Read [[related-note]] for more on X
- Consider adding notes on Y
Synthesis Guidelines
Do:
- Identify common threads across notes
- Note contradictions or different perspectives
- Highlight unique insights from each source
- Suggest gaps in coverage
Don't:
- Just list summaries without connecting them
- Ignore contradictions between sources
- Over-quote without synthesis
- Make up information not in the notes
Output Formats
Brief Summary
For quick reference - 2-3 paragraphs max.
Comprehensive Overview
For deep understanding - includes all sections above.
Gap Analysis
Focus on what's missing - useful for deciding what to read next.
Quality Checklist
When synthesizing:
