Research Skills

The synth-* family gathers, compares, and synthesises information from multiple sources or model perspectives. Output feeds strategic and architectural decisions.

Skills

Skill ID	Description	Model Class
synth-comparative	Structured comparison of N options across defined evaluation dimensions	free
synth-research	Deep-dive research on a topic: collects evidence, identifies consensus and controversy	free
synth-engine	Research synthesis engine: takes multiple raw research inputs and produces a unified report	strong
synth-recommendation	Generates a decision recommendation with supporting rationale from research outputs	cheap

Pattern 5 — Free Triple Parallel

Research Request
  ├── GPT-5 mini        → perspective A (broad)
  ├── GPT-4.1           → perspective B (thorough)
  └── GPT-4.1           → perspective C (alt framing)
          │
          └── synth-engine (Claude Sonnet 4.6) → unified synthesis
                  │
                  └── synth-recommendation → decision output

Cost: 3 free calls + 1 synthesis pass ≈ 80% cheaper than strong end-to-end.

When to Use

Situation	Skill(s)
Choosing between frameworks/tools	synth-comparative + synth-recommendation
Understanding an unfamiliar domain	synth-research + synth-engine
Building a justified recommendation	All four

Instructions That Invoke These Skills

• research — primary consumer; all four coordinated with Pattern 5
• strategy — uses synth-comparative + synth-recommendation for tradeoff analysis
• design — uses synth-research for technology selection

synth-comparative Format

## Comparison: Option A vs Option B vs Option C

| Dimension | Option A | Option B | Option C |
|-----------|----------|----------|----------|
| Performance | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| ...

**Recommendation**: Option C for high-throughput, Option A for ease of maintenance.