# literature-review

Builds structured literature reviews from academic databases, with screening, citation checks, and Markdown or PDF output. Useful for reviews and meta-analyses.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code · 529 installs
- Author: davila7
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/skills/scientific/literature-review
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/literature-review

## What it does

This skill structures a literature review from the research question through search planning, database collection, deduplication, and study screening. It covers title, abstract, and full-text review, with documented inclusion and exclusion criteria. The workflow fits systematic, scoping, narrative, and meta-analytic research across scientific and technical subjects.

It can produce Markdown and PDF documents with citations formatted for APA, Nature, or Vancouver. The supplied workflow includes result aggregation with `search_databases.py` and a PRISMA diagram, plus at least one figure created through `scientific-schematics`. PubMed and bioRxiv searches use `gget`; other sources can be reached through APIs or domain-specific skills.

A connected `gget` skill is needed for the PubMed and bioRxiv routes, so those searches will not run without it.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **claude-code-templates**
```bash
npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill scientific/literature-review
```

2. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill literature-review -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

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

### Cursor

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install davila7/claude-code-templates literature-review
```

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

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates --path cli-tool/components/skills/scientific/literature-review
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### 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/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/skills/scientific/literature-review

## When to use it
- define a research question and screening criteria
- search several academic literature databases
- deduplicate records by DOI or title
- screen studies by title, abstract, and full text
- generate a cited review in Markdown and PDF

## Example prompts
- Run a systematic review on CRISPR for sickle cell disease and define inclusion and exclusion criteria.
- Search PubMed and bioRxiv, deduplicate the records with `search_databases.py`, and save `aggregated_results.md`.
- Create a PRISMA diagram and format the final review with Vancouver citations.

## Similar
- [anysearch](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/anysearch.md) — skill · 38500 installs
- [academic-paper](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/academic-paper.md) — skill · 10900 installs
- [nature-figure](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/nature-figure.md) — skill · 18800 installs
- [academic-paper-reviewer](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/academic-paper-reviewer.md) — skill · 9900 installs
- [nature-polishing](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/nature-polishing.md) — skill · 17500 installs
- [nature-citation](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/nature-citation.md) — skill · 15600 installs

## Other versions with the same name
- [literature-review · k-dense-ai](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/k-dense-ai-literature-review.md) — 2300 installs
- [literature-review · lingzhi227](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/lingzhi227-literature-review.md) — 4000 installs
- [literature-review · collaborative-deep-research](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/collaborative-deep-research-literature-review.md) — 732 installs
- [literature-review · eyadsibai](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/eyadsibai-literature-review.md) — 342 installs

From the same set: [davila7/claude-code-templates](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/davila7/claude-code-templates.md) — 495 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