# Investigate

> Gather facts (files, deps, patterns) without making changes. Trigger when the user runs /investigate or asks to "look into this", "explore the codebase", "understand how this works", "what files are involved", "map the dependencies", or wants read-only fact-gathering before deciding what to do.

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-allemaar-open-skills-investigate`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [allemaar](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/allemaar)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [AI & ML](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/ai-and-ml)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** Apache-2.0
- **Upstream author:** [allemaar](https://github.com/allemaar)
- **Source:** https://github.com/allemaar/open-skills/tree/main/skills/investigate
- **Website:** https://allemaar.com

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-allemaar-open-skills-investigate
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# /investigate

Read-only fact-gathering — understand the codebase before acting.

> **Structured execution spec:** [`protocol.yon`](protocol.yon). Read it for the canonical rules and step sequence; this file is explanation. The two must stay in sync — if you edit one, update the other and refresh the `@STAMP` date.

> **Caller Options.** Before executing, run the Caller Options protocol (`caller-options/SKILL.md`): triage this invocation for material optionality across the venues and modes declared in front-matter; if one path clearly dominates, proceed silently; otherwise surface the options to the caller. A resolved-invocation marker means COP already ran — execute the fixed combination directly, do not re-enter COP.

> **Fact-Gathering Protocol. READ ONLY.** No plans, no code, no refactors. Just facts.

## Phase 1 — Context Loading

1. **Parse the query** — identify target files, directories, or concepts from the user's request.
2. **List files** — read the target directory structure.
3. **Read entrypoints** — load `package.json`, `README.md`, index files, or whatever serves as the front door to the target area.

## Phase 2 — Pattern Discovery

1. **Search for usages** — grep for functions, components, or patterns relevant to the query. Follow call sites and import chains.
2. **Load relevant skills** — check if a domain skill applies:
   - If your repository maintains its own standards skills (UI conventions, coding standards), load the matching one — this pack does not ship them.
   - Otherwise → any matching installed skill for additional context

## Phase 3 — Reporting

Output a structured fact report:

- **Files Found** — paths to all relevant files, not just descriptions
- **Patterns Used** — architectural or implementation patterns in play
- **Dependencies** — what this area depends on; what depends on it
- **Constraints Discovered** — existing conventions, locked APIs, shared types — anything that would constrain a future implementation

## Rules

- MUST NOT create plans or write code — read only
- MUST include file paths in the report, not just descriptions

> **Human output.** This skill's handler-facing output obeys the human-output
> contract (`human-output/SKILL.md`).

> **Next skills.** On completion, run the Next Skills protocol (`next-skills/SKILL.md`): surface the `next-skills` recommendations from front-matter for the caller to pick. Offer only — never auto-invoke.

> **Self-improvement.** On completion, run the Self-Improvement Protocol (`self-improve/SKILL.md`): if this run surfaced a concrete, blocking-or-recurring weakness in this skill, propose a specific fix for the handler to approve. Conservative — silent otherwise. Never auto-apply.

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [allemaar](https://github.com/allemaar)
- **Source:** [allemaar/open-skills](https://github.com/allemaar/open-skills)
- **License:** Apache-2.0
- **Homepage:** https://allemaar.com

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-allemaar-open-skills-investigate
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/allemaar
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.