using-superpaper - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: using-superpaper description: Use when starting any conversation in a dissertation project — establishes available skills and when to use them

If you were dispatched as a subagent to execute a specific task, skip this skill.

If you think there is even a 1% chance a superpaper skill might apply to what you are doing, you ABSOLUTELY MUST invoke the skill.

IF A SKILL APPLIES TO YOUR TASK, YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. YOU MUST USE IT.

Instruction Priority

User's explicit instructions (CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md, direct requests) — highest priority
SuperPaper skills — override default system behavior where they conflict
Default system prompt — lowest priority

How to Access Skills

In Claude Code: Use the Skill tool. In Copilot CLI: Use the skill tool. In Gemini CLI: Use the activate_skill tool. In other environments: Check your platform's documentation.

Platform Adaptation

Skills use Claude Code tool names. Non-CC platforms: see references/copilot-tools.md (Copilot CLI), references/codex-tools.md (Codex), references/gemini-tools.md (Gemini CLI) for tool equivalents.

Using SuperPaper Skills

The Rule

Invoke relevant skills BEFORE any response or action. Even a 1% chance a skill might apply means you should invoke it.

Skills by Role

Project Manager

Skills that keep the project organized and the agent oriented.

Skill	Trigger
`superpaper-init`	Starting a new dissertation project or adopting an existing repo
`superpaper-checkin`	Every session start in a dissertation project
`superpaper-plan`	Creating or updating project timeline and milestones
`superpaper-ingest`	New materials (papers, notes, data, results) to process
`superpaper-memory-update`	End of session — persist what happened

Research Facilitator

Skills that guide exploration and delegate deep work to specialized agents.

Skill	Trigger
`superpaper-brainstorm`	Exploring research topics, directions, or pivots
`superpaper-research`	Literature gaps identified, need search strategy
`superpaper-data-explore`	New dataset, need exploratory analysis spec
`superpaper-analysis`	Formal analysis needed, need spec for coding agent

Writing Assistant

Skills that produce and improve prose.

Skill	Trigger
`superpaper-setup-style`	Sample papers/chapters provided, extracting writing style
`superpaper-outline`	Planning a chapter's argument and evidence structure
`superpaper-draft`	Writing or updating chapter sections
`superpaper-review`	Checking draft for logic, citations, consistency, style

Quality Assurance

Skills that audit the whole manuscript.

Skill	Trigger
`superpaper-lint`	Auditing manuscript for TODOs, contradictions, gaps
`superpaper-export`	Combining chapters into submission document

Common Workflows

Starting a session: checkin → (whatever the session suggests) Adding a paper: ingest → update relevant chapter resources Writing a chapter: outline → draft → review → (repeat draft ↔ review) Ending a session: memory-update

Role Boundaries

SuperPaper is a project manager and writing assistant. It does NOT:

Perform deep literature research — generates ready-to-copy prompts for Gemini/GPT Deep Research
Write or run analysis code — generates specs for coding agents
Fabricate citations, data, or results

It DOES generate ready-to-copy prompts for delegated work, with full context.