pyzotero

Interact with Zotero reference management libraries using the pyzotero Python client. Retrieve, create, update, and delete items, collections, tags, and attachments via the Zotero Web API v3. Use this skill when working with Zotero libraries programmatically, managing bibliographic references, exporting citations, searching library contents, uploading PDF attachments, or building research automation workflows that integrate with Zotero.

Quality

80%

Does it follow best practices?

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Securityby

Passed

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tessl review fix ./skills/pyzotero/SKILL.md

Quality

Content

72%Weight 40%Scale 1-5

Reviews the quality of instructions and guidance provided to agents. Good implementation is clear, handles edge cases, and produces reliable results.

The body is well-structured and actionable with executable examples and excellent progressive disclosure through a verified reference table. Its main weakness is the absence of explicit validation checkpoints for destructive write operations, which caps workflow clarity.

Suggestions

Add an explicit validate/verify step after destructive write operations (e.g. re-fetch with zot.item() after update_item, or check the returned dict after create_items) so write workflows include a feedback loop.

Surface a short inline error-handling note (e.g. catching ZoteroError and what failure looks like) rather than only delegating to references/error-handling.md, so destructive paths are safer by default.

Trim restated basics like 'Pyzotero is a Python wrapper for the Zotero API v3' and the parenthetical 'returns 100 by default' repetitions to tighten token usage.

Dimension	Reasoning	Score
Conciseness	The body is largely efficient with executable code and assumes competence, but a few sentences restate basics (e.g. 'Pyzotero is a Python wrapper for the Zotero API v3', 'returns 100 items by default') that could be trimmed, keeping it just below the lean 5.	4 / 5
Actionability	Executable Quick Start and Common Patterns blocks with real method names (zot.top, zot.items, zot.everything, zot.create_items, zot.update_item) cover common cases copy-paste ready, with minor gaps like inline error-handling being delegated to a reference file.	4 / 5
Workflow Clarity	Read and write flows are sequenced via Quick Start and Common Patterns, but destructive/batch operations (update_item, create_items, delete) lack explicit validation or verification checkpoints; the rubric caps such skills at 3.	3 / 5
Progressive Disclosure	A concise overview with a Reference Files table linking to 14 real, one-level-deep reference files (all verified present in references/) and clear signaling, matching the 'clear overview with well-signaled one-level-deep references' anchor.	5 / 5
	Total	16 / 20 Passed

Description

87%Weight 40%Scale 1-5

Based on the skill's description, can an agent find and select it at the right time? Clear, specific descriptions lead to better discovery.

The description is well-crafted: it states concrete capabilities tied to the Zotero Web API v3 and provides an explicit, multi-trigger 'Use when' clause. It is specific, distinct, and complete with only minor gaps in synonym coverage.

Dimension	Reasoning	Score
Specificity	Names the domain and lists several concrete actions — 'Retrieve, create, update, and delete items, collections, tags, and attachments via the Zotero Web API v3' — with only minor coverage gaps, matching the 'several specific actions' anchor rather than the fully comprehensive 5.	4 / 5
Completeness	It explicitly answers both 'what' (retrieve/create/update/delete items, collections, tags, attachments) and 'when' via a concrete 'Use this skill when working with Zotero libraries programmatically, managing bibliographic references...' clause, matching the 5 anchor.	5 / 5
Trigger Term Quality	Good coverage of natural terms ('Zotero libraries', 'bibliographic references', 'exporting citations', 'searching library contents', 'uploading PDF attachments') with a few synonyms/variations missing, placing it above the partial 3 but below the exhaustive 5.	4 / 5
Distinctiveness Conflict Risk	Zotero is a distinct niche with specific, non-generic triggers ('Zotero libraries', 'bibliographic references', 'PDF attachments') that minimize overlap with other skills.	5 / 5
	Total	18 / 20 Passed

Validation

93%

Warnings & errors only

Checks the skill against the spec for correct structure and formatting. All validation checks must pass before discovery and implementation can be scored.

Validation — 15 / 16 Passed

Validation for skill structure

Criteria	Description	Result
metadata_field	'metadata' should map string keys to string values	Warning

	Total	15 / 16 Passed

Repository: K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills
Path: skills/pyzotero/SKILL.md
Commit: 9cf7d9a

Reviewed: 18 hours ago

Table of Contents

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