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ark-research

tessl install github:mckinsey/agents-at-scale-ark --skill ark-research

github.com/mckinsey/agents-at-scale-ark

Research technical solutions by searching the web, examining GitHub repos, and gathering evidence. Use when exploring implementation options or evaluating technologies.

Review Score

88%

Validation Score

14/16

Implementation Score

100%

Activation Score

67%

Ark Research

Research technical solutions and gather evidence before implementation.

Research Process

1. Web Search First

Always start with web search to find:

  • Official documentation
  • GitHub repositories
  • Blog posts and tutorials
  • Protocol specifications (PDFs, RFCs)

2. Examine GitHub Repositories

GitHub raw content is often blocked. Clone repos to examine them:

cd /tmp
git clone https://github.com/owner/repo.git
cat /tmp/repo/README.md

Look for:

  • README documentation
  • Code examples
  • Architecture patterns
  • Dependencies and requirements

3. Handle Blocked Content

If a website cannot be loaded:

  • Ask the user to paste the relevant content
  • Request PDFs or specification documents
  • Ask for screenshots if visual content is needed

Example prompt:

"I found a relevant resource at [URL] but cannot access it. Could you paste the key content or provide the PDF?"

4. Local Research Workspace

Store findings in ./scratch/research/ for review:

mkdir -p ./scratch/research

Save:

  • Cloned repo summaries
  • Code snippets
  • Architecture diagrams
  • Comparison notes

5. Evidence Requirements

Minimum 2-3 datapoints required before recommending a solution:

  • GitHub repo with active maintenance
  • Documentation or specification
  • Real-world usage examples
  • Community feedback (issues, discussions)

If insufficient evidence, ask for guidance:

"I found only one reference to this approach. Can you point me to additional resources or clarify the requirements?"

Output Format

Always back up findings with sources:

## Research: [Topic]

### Option 1: [Solution Name]
- **Source**: [URL or repo link]
- **Pros**: ...
- **Cons**: ...
- **Evidence**: [What confirms this works]

### Option 2: [Solution Name]
...

### Recommendation
Based on [N] sources, I recommend [Option] because...

### Sources
- [Title](URL)
- [Repo](GitHub URL) - cloned and examined
- [Spec](URL) - user provided

Example Usage

User: "Research options for terminal recording in an MCP server"

  1. Web search: "terminal recording library node typescript"
  2. Find GitHub repos → clone to /tmp and examine
  3. Find asciinema, VHS, xterm.js
  4. Compare approaches in ./scratch/research/terminal-recording.md
  5. Present options with 2-3 sources each