| name | analyzing-source |
| description | 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 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
