# atomic-decomposition

Splits a research idea into atomic concepts, then finds the math formula in papers and the matching code for each one.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1600 installs · ★ 433
- Author: lingzhi227
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/lingzhi227/agent-research-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/atomic-decomposition/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-02-27
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/atomic-decomposition

## What it does

The skill takes an idea, method or paper and breaks it into single-concept atoms. Each atom needs a mathematical foundation, a code implementation and a traceable reference to a specific paper. From there it runs two searches per concept: papers for the exact LaTeX formula, codebases for the implementation.

Every concept becomes a knowledge entry holding the definition, formula, code, reference papers, repositories, assumptions and links to other parts of the method. The entries merge into one knowledge base, and the skill checks both directions: each formula has code, each code module traces back to a formal definition. Gaps surface as formulas without implementations or code without theory.

The workflow reads `~/.claude/skills/atomic-decomposition/references/decomposition-prompts.md`; without that file the decomposition steps do not run. Input is a single argument, `$0` — the idea, paper or method description. The author's rule is to break down further when atomicity is unclear rather than merge concepts, so a long paper produces a long breakdown. It sits between `research-planning` and `idea-generation` upstream and `experiment-code`, `algorithm-design` downstream.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add lingzhi227/agent-research-skills --skill atomic-decomposition -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/atomic-decomposition/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/atomic-decomposition/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add lingzhi227/agent-research-skills --skill atomic-decomposition -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/atomic-decomposition/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add lingzhi227/agent-research-skills --skill atomic-decomposition -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/atomic-decomposition/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install lingzhi227/agent-research-skills atomic-decomposition
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/atomic-decomposition/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add lingzhi227/agent-research-skills --skill atomic-decomposition -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/lingzhi227/agent-research-skills --path skills/atomic-decomposition
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/atomic-decomposition/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add lingzhi227/agent-research-skills --skill atomic-decomposition -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/lingzhi227/agent-research-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/atomic-decomposition/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- break a method description into separate concepts
- pull the exact formula from a paper and its code
- check that every formula has an implementation
- trace each code module back to its source paper
- assemble a knowledge base for a complex system

## Example prompts
- decompose this paper into atomic concepts with formulas and code
- find the LaTeX formula and a repo implementation for each concept in my method
- check my knowledge base for formulas that have no code

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From the same set: [lingzhi227/agent-research-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/lingzhi227/agent-research-skills.md) — 30 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md