ResearchMonitor

Original source / Raw SKILL.md

---
name: ResearchMonitor
description: Monitors research topics for new papers, conferences, and journals.
---

# ResearchMonitor

This skill helps you keep the user updated on their specific research field.

## Workflow

1.  **Check Configuration**:
    -   Read `research_config.json` in this directory to find the user's research topics and last checked date.
    -   If the file doesn't exist or topics are empty, ask the user what research topics they are interested in and save them using `scripts/daily_briefing.py --add-topic "topic"`.

2.  **Daily Check**:
    -   Get the current date.
    -   Compare with `last_checked` in `research_config.json`.
    -   If already checked today, do nothing unless explicitly asked.

3.  **Perform Search**:
    -   For each topic, use `search_web` to look for:
        -   "new research papers [topic] [current month/year]"
        -   "upcoming conferences [topic] [current year]"
        -   "new journal issues [topic] [current month/year]"
        -   Check specialized platforms like arXiv, IEEE Xplore, Google Scholar (via web search), or X (Twitter) if relevant.

4.  **Filter & Analyze**:
    -   For each potential item found, use `scripts/daily_briefing.py --check-seen "URL or Unique Title"`.
    -   If it returns "true", SKIP IT.
    -   Compare found items with what might have been seen yesterday (this requires some memory or just checking if the publication date is very recent, e.g., last 24-48 hours).
    -   **CRITICAL**: If there is *nothing significantly new* (no new major papers, no new conference announcements), **DO NOT BOTHER THE USER**.

5.  **Report**:
    -   If new items are found, compile a brief markdown report.
    -   Include:
        -   **Title**: News/Paper Title
        -   **Source**: URL/Journal Name
        -   **Summary**: 1-sentence summary of why it's relevant.
    -   Present this to the user.
    -   Mark the items as seen using `scripts/daily_briefing.py --mark-seen "URL or Unique Title"`.
    -   Update the `last_checked` date using `scripts/daily_briefing.py --update-date`.

## Scripts

-   `python scripts/daily_briefing.py --add-topic "topic"`: Adds a new research topic.
-   `python scripts/daily_briefing.py --list-topics`: Lists current topics.
-   `python scripts/daily_briefing.py --update-date`: Updates the last checked timestamp to now.
-   `python scripts/daily_briefing.py --check-seen "ID"`: Checks if an item ID (URL/Title) is already in memory.
-   `python scripts/daily_briefing.py --mark-seen "ID"`: Marks an item ID as seen.


---

## Referenced Files

> The following files are referenced in this skill and included for context.

### scripts/daily_briefing.py

```python
import argparse
import json
import os
from datetime import datetime

CONFIG_FILE = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)), 'research_config.json')

def load_config():
    if not os.path.exists(CONFIG_FILE):
        return {"topics": [], "last_checked": "1970-01-01", "seen_items": []}
    with open(CONFIG_FILE, 'r') as f:
        config = json.load(f)
        if "seen_items" not in config:
            config["seen_items"] = []
        return config

def save_config(config):
    with open(CONFIG_FILE, 'w') as f:
        json.dump(config, f, indent=4)

def add_topic(topic):
    config = load_config()
    if topic not in config['topics']:
        config['topics'].append(topic)
        save_config(config)
        print(f"Topic '{topic}' added.")
    else:
        print(f"Topic '{topic}' already exists.")

def list_topics():
    config = load_config()
    print("Current Research Topics:")
    for t in config['topics']:
        print(f"- {t}")

def update_last_checked():
    config = load_config()
    config['last_checked'] = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
    save_config(config)
    print(f"Last checked date updated to {config['last_checked']}.")

def check_seen(identifier):
    config = load_config()
    if identifier in config.get('seen_items', []):
        print("true")
        return True
    print("false")
    return False

def mark_seen(identifier):
    config = load_config()
    if identifier not in config.get('seen_items', []):
        config.setdefault('seen_items', []).append(identifier)
        save_config(config)
        print(f"marked")
    else:
        print(f"already_seen")

def main():
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Manage Research Monitor configuration.")
    parser.add_argument("--add-topic", type=str, help="Add a new research topic.")
    parser.add_argument("--list-topics", action="store_true", help="List all research topics.")
    parser.add_argument("--update-date", action="store_true", help="Update last checked date to today.")
    parser.add_argument("--check-seen", type=str, help="Check if an item identifier has been seen.")
    parser.add_argument("--mark-seen", type=str, help="Mark an item identifier as seen.")
    
    args = parser.parse_args()
    
    if args.add_topic:
        add_topic(args.add_topic)
    elif args.list_topics:
        list_topics()
    elif args.update_date:
        update_last_checked()
    elif args.check_seen:
        check_seen(args.check_seen)
    elif args.mark_seen:
        mark_seen(args.mark_seen)
    else:
        parser.print_help()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

```



---

## Skill Companion Files

> Additional files collected from the skill directory layout.

### README.md

```markdown
# ResearchMonitor

A skill for OpenClaw to monitor research topics and report new findings.

## Features
-   Daily scanning for new research papers, conferences, and journal publications.
-   Filters out noise to avoid unnecessary notifications.
-   Configurable research topics.

## Setup
The skill uses `research_config.json` to store your preferences. You can let the agent manage this, or edit it manually.

## Usage
Simply ask the agent to "check for research updates" or let it run its daily routine.

```

### _meta.json

```json
{
  "owner": "eksubin",
  "slug": "researchassistant",
  "displayName": "ResearchMonitor",
  "latest": {
    "version": "0.1.2",
    "publishedAt": 1770160729545,
    "commit": "https://github.com/clawdbot/skills/commit/da730088cbd4974b77b4d65a2d4ca374e38209ff"
  },
  "history": [
    {
      "version": "0.1.1",
      "publishedAt": 1769985679130,
      "commit": "https://github.com/clawdbot/skills/commit/5ba2eb88b7b57286cd4df1ba97509df2d779e825"
    }
  ]
}

```