research-trackerManage and track autonomous AI research projects with state logging, instruction queues, agent coordination, and progress monitoring via SQLite.
Install via ClawdBot CLI:
clawdbot install julian1645/research-trackerCLI tool for managing autonomous research agents with append-only state, instruction queues, and oversight.
brew tap 1645labs/tap
brew install julians-research-trackerOr: go install github.com/1645labs/julians-research-tracker/cmd/research@latest
research init market-q1 --name "Q1 Market Analysis" --objective "Analyze competitor pricing and positioning"export RESEARCH_SESSION_ID="$SESSION_KEY" # Track which agent is writing
research log market-q1 STEP_BEGIN --step 1 --payload '{"task":"gather sources"}'
# ... do work ...
research log market-q1 STEP_COMPLETE --step 1
research heartbeat market-q1research status market-q1 --json
research context market-q1 --last 5 # Truncated context for promptsresearch instruct market-q1 "Focus on enterprise segment" --priority URGENT
research stop-signal market-q1 # Request graceful stopresearch pending market-q1 --json
research ack market-q1 --all # Acknowledge after processing
research check-stop market-q1 # Exit 0 = stop, Exit 1 = continue| Command | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| init | Create project with objective |
| list [--status active\|done\|all] | List projects (includes needs_attention flag) |
| show | Project details + recent events |
| stop | Stop project, send STOP instruction |
| archive | Archive completed project |
| log | Log event (STEP_BEGIN, CHECKPOINT, BLOCKED, etc.) |
| heartbeat | Update alive timestamp |
| block | Mark blocked, needs input |
| complete | Mark done |
| status | Current state summary |
| context | Truncated context for agent prompts |
| instruct | Send instruction |
| pending | List unacked instructions |
| ack | Acknowledge instructions |
| check-stop | Exit code: 0=stop, 1=continue |
| audit | Log audit result |
STARTED, STEP_BEGIN, STEP_COMPLETE, CHECKPOINT, BLOCKED, UNBLOCKED, AUDIT_PASS, AUDIT_DRIFT, HEARTBEAT, DONE, STOPPED, TIMEOUT
1. research init <project> --objective "..."
2. sessions_spawn with task including:
- Project ID and objective
- Instructions to use research CLI for state
- Check stop signal before each step
- Log progress with heartbeat
3. Heartbeat monitors: research list --json | check needs_attention
4. Send instructions via: research instruct <project> "..."while research check-stop $PROJECT; [ $? -eq 1 ]; do
research pending $PROJECT --json # Check instructions
research log $PROJECT STEP_BEGIN --step $STEP
# ... do work ...
research log $PROJECT STEP_COMPLETE --step $STEP
research heartbeat $PROJECT
STEP=$((STEP + 1))
done
research complete $PROJECTresearch list --json includes needs_attention: true when:
SQLite at ~/.config/research-tracker/research.db (WAL mode, append-only events).
Run research db migrate after install. Schema auto-migrates on first use.
Generated Mar 1, 2026
A startup launching a new SaaS product uses the Research Tracker to autonomously analyze competitor pricing, feature sets, and market positioning over several days. The tool logs each analysis step, tracks progress, and allows founders to send priority instructions to focus on specific segments like enterprise customers.
A university research team employs the skill to coordinate multiple AI agents in reviewing scientific papers for a systematic review. Each agent logs sources gathered, checks for gaps, and the tool monitors heartbeats to ensure agents remain active, with oversight from a lead researcher who can audit for drift.
A financial firm uses the Research Tracker to manage autonomous agents investigating potential investment targets. Agents track multi-step investigations into company financials, market trends, and risks, logging events and blocking when input is needed, while managers send urgent instructions based on real-time data.
A consumer goods company leverages the skill to analyze customer feedback across social media and reviews. AI agents autonomously categorize sentiments, identify trends, and log progress, with the tool flagging attention needs when agents are blocked or audits show drift from objectives.
A public health organization coordinates AI agents to research evolving healthcare policies and compliance requirements. The tool tracks long-running investigations, logs checkpoints, and allows supervisors to send stop signals or priority updates as regulations change, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.
Offer the Research Tracker as a cloud-based service with tiered subscriptions, providing enhanced features like team collaboration, advanced analytics, and API access. Revenue is generated through monthly or annual fees based on usage levels and number of projects managed.
Sell on-premise or private cloud licenses to large organizations in sectors like finance or healthcare, where data security and customization are critical. Revenue comes from one-time license fees plus annual support and maintenance contracts for updates and technical assistance.
Provide professional services to help businesses integrate the Research Tracker into their existing workflows, including custom training, setup, and ongoing oversight. Revenue is generated through project-based fees and retainer agreements for continuous optimization and support.
💬 Integration Tip
Ensure the AI agent checks for stop signals before each step and logs heartbeats regularly to avoid stale flags; use the pending command to process instructions efficiently in the agent loop.
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