# Learn

Research a topic and grow your knowledge graph.

- Repository: https://github.com/agenticnotetaking/arscontexta (3518 stars)
- Category: Writing
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-02-24
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta --skill learn -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta --skill learn -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta --skill learn -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta --skill learn -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add agenticnotetaking/arscontexta`

## Description

Research a topic and grow your knowledge graph. Uses Exa deep researcher, web search, or basic search to investigate topics, files results with full provenance, and chains to processing pipeline. Triggers on "/learn", "/learn [topic]", "research this", "find out about".

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

## EXECUTE NOW

**Topic: $ARGUMENTS**

Parse immediately:
- If topic provided: research that topic
- If topic empty: read `self/goals.md` for highest-priority unexplored direction and propose it
- If topic includes `--deep`/`--light`/`--moderate`: force that depth, strip flag from topic
- If no topic and no goals.md: ask "What would you like to research?"

**Steps:**

1. **Read config**, tool preferences, depth, domain vocabulary
2. **Determine depth**, from flags, config default, or fallback to moderate
3. **Research**, tool cascade: primary → fallback → last resort
4. **File to inbox**, with full provenance metadata
5. **Chain to processing**, next step based on pipeline chaining mode
6. **Update goals.md**, append new research directions discovered

**START NOW.** Reference below explains methodology.

---

## Step 1: Read Configuration

```
ops/config.yaml, research tools, depth, pipeline chaining
ops/derivation-manifest.md, domain vocabulary (inbox folder, reduce skill name)
```

**From config.yaml** (defaults if missing):
```yaml
research:
  primary: exa-deep-research      # exa-deep-research | exa-web-search | web-search
  fallback: exa-web-search
  last_resort: web-search
  default_depth: moderate          # light | moderate | deep
pipeline:
  chaining: suggested             # manual | suggested | automatic
```

**From derivation-manifest.md** (universal defaults if missing):
- Inbox folder: `inbox/` (could be `journal/`, `encounters/`, etc.)
- Reduce skill name: `/reduce` (could be `/surface`, `/break-down`, etc.)
- Domain name and hub MOC name

---

## Step 2: Determine Depth

Priority: explicit flag > config default > `moderate`

The rest: https://github.com/agenticnotetaking/arscontexta/blob/HEAD/skill-sources/learn/SKILL.md