memory-metadata-search

Structured metadata search for Basic Memory: query notes by custom frontmatter fields using equality, range, array, and nested filters. Use when finding notes by status, priority, confidence, or any custom YAML field rather than free-text content.

Quality

87%

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Securityby

Passed

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Quality

Content

82%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 a tight, actionable reference with executable examples and good structural organization. The main weaknesses are minor redundancy between the two example sections and the absence of an explicit feedback loop for silent no-results failures.

Suggestions

Consolidate the "Example: Custom Frontmatter in Practice" query block with the earlier "Using search_notes with Metadata" examples to remove repeated patterns and tighten the document.

Add a short troubleshooting note on diagnosing silent no-results (e.g., verifying the `$` operator prefix and confirming the frontmatter key is indexed) to form an explicit validation/feedback loop.

Consider moving the full quick-reference operator table and detailed filter-syntax examples into a separate reference file linked from SKILL.md to improve progressive disclosure.

Dimension	Reasoning	Score
Conciseness	Lean reference-style content with no padding over basic concepts, but the "Example: Custom Frontmatter in Practice" section repeats query patterns already shown in "Using search_notes with Metadata", a minor trim opportunity.	4 / 5
Actionability	Provides fully executable, copy-paste-ready Python examples covering the common cases (filter-only, tags/status shortcuts, text+metadata, mixed) plus a quick-reference operator table, matching the level-5 anchor.	5 / 5
Workflow Clarity	The single-action query process is unambiguous with clear rules and a silent-failure warning, but there is no explicit error-recovery/feedback loop for the no-results case, keeping it just below level 5.	4 / 5
Progressive Disclosure	Well-organized into clear sections with no nested references and no bundle files to navigate, but at ~180 lines the single-file reference is moderately long and a couple of detailed example sections could be split out, so it sits at level 4 rather than 5.	4 / 5
	Total	17 / 20 Passed

Description

92%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 strong: it concisely states what the skill does and gives concrete, natural trigger conditions tied to specific frontmatter fields. Minor room for improvement only in trigger-term synonym coverage.

Dimension	Reasoning	Score
Specificity	Names multiple concrete query actions — "equality, range, array, and nested filters" — giving comprehensive coverage of the filter capabilities, matching the level-5 anchor.	5 / 5
Completeness	Explicitly states both what it does ("Structured metadata search... query notes by custom frontmatter fields") and when to use it ("Use when finding notes by status, priority, confidence..."), matching the level-5 anchor with concrete trigger phrases.	5 / 5
Trigger Term Quality	Includes natural trigger terms users would say ("status, priority, confidence, or any custom YAML field") but is missing some synonyms and variations, sitting just below comprehensive level-5 coverage.	4 / 5
Distinctiveness Conflict Risk	Scoped to a clear niche ("Structured metadata search for Basic Memory" by custom frontmatter fields) with distinct triggers and minimal overlap risk with other skills.	5 / 5
	Total	19 / 20 Passed

Validation

100%

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 — 16 / 16 Passed

Validation for skill structure

No warnings or errors.

Repository: basicmachines-co/basic-memory
Path: skills/memory-metadata-search/SKILL.md
Commit: a5fb68e

Reviewed: 3 days ago

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