Scout

What it does

Scout formalizes early-stage research framing. When a task lacks a clear objective, metric, dataset contract, or baseline, this skill runs a focused, minimal discovery pass to produce a durable next anchor (e.g., a baseline shortlist or a clarified evaluation contract). The goal is not exhaustive literature review but to eliminate the framing ambiguities that block progress.

When to use it

Use Scout when the user's goal is still ambiguous, the dataset or split contract is unclear, the primary metric is undefined, no trustworthy baseline exists, or the project has been paused and needs framing reconstruction. Avoid Scout when a validated baseline and clear execution plan already exist.

What's included

• Scripts: none embedded, but the repo includes references with playbooks and templates.
• References: references/* contains paper-triage, literature-scout templates, and evaluation-contract templates used to structure the pass.
• Instructions: stepwise control workflow emphasizing reconstructing current frame, identifying minimum unknowns, searching the smallest neighborhood needed, and ending with a decision-facing baseline shortlist.

Compatible agents

Primarily useful for research-focused agents and workflows (agents with web/paper search, memory, and artifact access). Works well when the agent has access to memory.search, artifact.arxiv, and repository artifacts for durable context.