deep-research

What This Skill Does

The deep-research skill transforms OpenClaw into a sophisticated research assistant capable of conducting multi-source investigations. Rather than providing quick, shallow answers, this skill employs a structured two-phase workflow that mimics professional research methodologies.

In Phase 1 (Planning), the agent collaborates with you to refine your inquiry. It breaks down broad topics into targeted sub-questions, sets research boundaries (scope), and defines specific output requirements. This ensures the agent understands your goals perfectly before it consumes tokens on actual data retrieval.

In Phase 2 (Execution), the agent enters a high-autonomy mode where it utilizes a sub-agent to navigate, scrape, and synthesize information from multiple sources. It performs iterative searches, dynamically adjusting its strategy based on initial findings, and finally compiles a comprehensive, cited, and well-structured report tailored exactly to your specified constraints.

Installation

Run the following command in your OpenClaw terminal: clawhub install openclaw/skills/skills/bird-frank/deep-research-plan

Use Cases

• Market Research: Analyzing industry trends, identifying key players, and summarizing competitive landscapes.
• Technical Documentation: Compiling deep dives into complex technologies, programming languages, or architectural patterns.
• Academic/Fact Finding: Gathering evidence-based information for reports, essays, or decision-making processes.
• Strategic Analysis: Investigating the long-term feasibility of a new business model or project direction.

Example Prompts

1. "I need a deep research report on the current state of decentralized identity solutions. Please start by helping me draft a research plan."
2. "Perform an investigation into the scalability challenges of Layer 2 rollup solutions compared to sharding, focusing on technical trade-offs."
3. "Conduct a deep dive into the recent advancements in sustainable agricultural technology for arid climates, including a list of the top 10 startups in this space."

Tips & Limitations

• Phase 2 involves significant data processing; ensure your session has the necessary resources enabled.
• Always review the generated JSON plan carefully; the quality of your report is directly dependent on the precision of the research questions you approve.
• The skill defaults to a minimum of 8 sources but can be configured for deeper analysis by adjusting the plan parameters.
• Respect the 'Wait for confirmation' rule: the agent will pause indefinitely until you explicitly approve the research plan file.