# gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template architecture

> Architecture diagram of the GitHub repository gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template, generated by GitDiagram from its file tree, README and a sample of source files (last updated 2026-09-25). It is an AI-made overview: check details against the source.

- Interactive diagram: https://gitdiagram.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template
- Repository: https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template

## Overview

This repository is a document-based framework for rigorous, AI-assisted research, not a software runtime. Its principal workflow frames a question, plans and retrieves sources, evaluates them, records evidence and claims, challenges interpretations, then produces a synthesis and traceable decisions. Prompts, templates, checklists, and guidance support that work. The tree and README establish these capabilities, but workflow-document contents were not sampled, so edges represent the documented stages rather than verified program calls.

Main entry points: [`02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/50_SOURCE_REGISTER.md`](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/50_SOURCE_REGISTER.md) (Source register), [`02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/70_CLAIMS_LEDGER.md`](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/70_CLAIMS_LEDGER.md) (Claims ledger), [`04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/03_SOURCE_SCREENING.md`](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/03_SOURCE_SCREENING.md) (Source screening), [`03_PROMPTS/07_WRITE_A_SYNTHESIS.txt`](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/03_PROMPTS/07_WRITE_A_SYNTHESIS.txt) (Research synthesis)

## Diagram (Mermaid)

```mermaid
flowchart TD

subgraph group_framing["Research framing"]
  node_question["Research question"]
  node_scope["Scope and definitions"]
  node_profile["Method and profile"]
end

subgraph group_evidence["Evidence gathering"]
  node_search["Search strategy"]
  node_retrieval["Search and retrieval"]
  node_criteria["Source criteria"]
  node_screening["Source screening"]
  node_sources[("Source register")]
  node_evaluation["Evaluate source"]
  node_extraction["Evidence extraction"]
  node_evidence_ledger[("Evidence ledger")]
end

subgraph group_reasoning["Analysis and decisions"]
  node_claims[("Claims ledger")]
  node_claim_building["Claim building"]
  node_uncertainties["Conflicts and uncertainty"]
  node_challenge["Challenge conclusion"]
  node_synthesis["Research synthesis"]
  node_recommendations["Recommendations"]
  node_decisions["Accepted decisions"]
  node_provenance["Provenance and handoff"]
end

subgraph group_support["Method and safeguards"]
  node_source_quality["Source quality guidance"]
  node_ai_safeguards["AI and RAG safeguards"]
  node_audit["Research audit"]
end

node_researcher(("Researcher"))

node_researcher -->|"frames question"| node_question
node_question -->|"defines scope"| node_scope
node_scope -->|"sets rigor"| node_profile
node_profile -->|"guides planning"| node_search
node_search -->|"plans retrieval"| node_retrieval
node_criteria -->|"sets criteria"| node_screening
node_retrieval -->|"finds sources"| node_screening
node_screening -->|"records sources"| node_sources
node_sources -->|"supports review"| node_evaluation
node_evaluation -->|"supports extraction"| node_extraction
node_extraction -->|"records evidence"| node_evidence_ledger
node_evidence_ledger -->|"supports claims"| node_claim_building
node_claim_building -->|"records claims"| node_claims
node_claims -->|"identifies conflicts"| node_uncertainties
node_uncertainties -->|"informs challenge"| node_challenge
node_challenge -->|"tests conclusions"| node_synthesis
node_claims -->|"supports synthesis"| node_synthesis
node_synthesis -->|"informs recommendations"| node_recommendations
node_recommendations -->|"supports decisions"| node_decisions
node_decisions -->|"preserves rationale"| node_provenance
node_sources -.->|"applies guidance"| node_source_quality
node_researcher -.->|"consults safeguards"| node_ai_safeguards
node_provenance -->|"supports audit"| node_audit

click node_question "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/10_RESEARCH_QUESTION.md"
click node_scope "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/20_SCOPE_AND_DEFINITIONS.md"
click node_profile "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/30_METHOD_AND_PROFILE.md"
click node_search "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/03_PROMPTS/02_BUILD_A_SEARCH_STRATEGY.txt"
click node_retrieval "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/02_SEARCH_AND_RETRIEVAL.md"
click node_criteria "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/40_SOURCE_CRITERIA.md"
click node_screening "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/03_SOURCE_SCREENING.md"
click node_sources "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/50_SOURCE_REGISTER.md"
click node_evaluation "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/03_PROMPTS/03_EVALUATE_A_SOURCE.txt"
click node_extraction "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/04_EVIDENCE_EXTRACTION.md"
click node_evidence_ledger "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/60_EVIDENCE_LEDGER.md"
click node_claims "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/70_CLAIMS_LEDGER.md"
click node_claim_building "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/05_CLAIM_BUILDING.md"
click node_uncertainties "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/80_CONFLICTS_AND_UNCERTAINTIES.md"
click node_challenge "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/03_PROMPTS/06_CHALLENGE_THE_CONCLUSION.txt"
click node_synthesis "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/03_PROMPTS/07_WRITE_A_SYNTHESIS.txt"
click node_recommendations "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/100_RECOMMENDATIONS.md"
click node_decisions "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/110_ACCEPTED_DECISIONS.md"
click node_provenance "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/08_REPRODUCIBILITY_AND_PROVENANCE.md"
click node_source_quality "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/tree/main/05_EVIDENCE_AND_SOURCE_QUALITY"
click node_ai_safeguards "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/tree/main/06_AI_AND_RAG_RESEARCH"
click node_audit "https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/08_CHECKLISTS/04_FINAL_RESEARCH_AUDIT.md"

classDef toneNeutral fill:#f8fafc,stroke:#334155,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#0f172a
classDef toneBlue fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#2563eb,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#172554
classDef toneAmber fill:#fef3c7,stroke:#d97706,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#78350f
classDef toneMint fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#16a34a,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#14532d
classDef toneRose fill:#ffe4e6,stroke:#e11d48,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#881337
classDef toneIndigo fill:#e0e7ff,stroke:#4f46e5,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#312e81
classDef toneTeal fill:#ccfbf1,stroke:#0f766e,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#134e4a
class node_question,node_scope,node_profile toneBlue
class node_search,node_retrieval,node_criteria,node_screening,node_sources,node_evaluation,node_extraction,node_evidence_ledger toneAmber
class node_claims,node_claim_building,node_uncertainties,node_challenge,node_synthesis,node_recommendations,node_decisions,node_provenance toneMint
class node_source_quality,node_ai_safeguards,node_audit toneRose
class node_researcher toneIndigo
```

## Components

### Research framing

- [Research question](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/10_RESEARCH_QUESTION.md): `02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/10_RESEARCH_QUESTION.md`
- [Scope and definitions](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/20_SCOPE_AND_DEFINITIONS.md): `02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/20_SCOPE_AND_DEFINITIONS.md`
- [Method and profile](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/30_METHOD_AND_PROFILE.md): `02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/30_METHOD_AND_PROFILE.md`

### Evidence gathering

- [Search strategy](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/03_PROMPTS/02_BUILD_A_SEARCH_STRATEGY.txt): `03_PROMPTS/02_BUILD_A_SEARCH_STRATEGY.txt`
- [Search and retrieval](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/02_SEARCH_AND_RETRIEVAL.md): `04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/02_SEARCH_AND_RETRIEVAL.md`
- [Source criteria](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/40_SOURCE_CRITERIA.md): `02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/40_SOURCE_CRITERIA.md`
- [Source screening](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/03_SOURCE_SCREENING.md): `04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/03_SOURCE_SCREENING.md`
- [Source register](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/50_SOURCE_REGISTER.md): `02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/50_SOURCE_REGISTER.md`
- [Evaluate source](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/03_PROMPTS/03_EVALUATE_A_SOURCE.txt): `03_PROMPTS/03_EVALUATE_A_SOURCE.txt`
- [Evidence extraction](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/04_EVIDENCE_EXTRACTION.md): `04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/04_EVIDENCE_EXTRACTION.md`
- [Evidence ledger](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/60_EVIDENCE_LEDGER.md): `02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/60_EVIDENCE_LEDGER.md`

### Analysis and decisions

- [Claims ledger](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/70_CLAIMS_LEDGER.md): `02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/70_CLAIMS_LEDGER.md`
- [Claim building](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/05_CLAIM_BUILDING.md): `04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/05_CLAIM_BUILDING.md`
- [Conflicts and uncertainty](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/80_CONFLICTS_AND_UNCERTAINTIES.md): `02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/80_CONFLICTS_AND_UNCERTAINTIES.md`
- [Challenge conclusion](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/03_PROMPTS/06_CHALLENGE_THE_CONCLUSION.txt): `03_PROMPTS/06_CHALLENGE_THE_CONCLUSION.txt`
- [Research synthesis](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/03_PROMPTS/07_WRITE_A_SYNTHESIS.txt): `03_PROMPTS/07_WRITE_A_SYNTHESIS.txt`
- [Recommendations](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/100_RECOMMENDATIONS.md): `02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/100_RECOMMENDATIONS.md`
- [Accepted decisions](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/110_ACCEPTED_DECISIONS.md): `02_RESEARCH_KNOWLEDGE_TEMPLATE/110_ACCEPTED_DECISIONS.md`
- [Provenance and handoff](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/08_REPRODUCIBILITY_AND_PROVENANCE.md): `04_RESEARCH_WORKFLOW/08_REPRODUCIBILITY_AND_PROVENANCE.md`

### Method and safeguards

- [Source quality guidance](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/tree/main/05_EVIDENCE_AND_SOURCE_QUALITY): `05_EVIDENCE_AND_SOURCE_QUALITY`
- [AI and RAG safeguards](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/tree/main/06_AI_AND_RAG_RESEARCH): `06_AI_AND_RAG_RESEARCH`
- [Research audit](https://github.com/gannok/gts-ai-research-system-template/blob/main/08_CHECKLISTS/04_FINAL_RESEARCH_AUDIT.md): `08_CHECKLISTS/04_FINAL_RESEARCH_AUDIT.md`

### Other components

- **Researcher**

## Connections

- Researcher → Research question: frames question
- Research question → Scope and definitions: defines scope
- Scope and definitions → Method and profile: sets rigor
- Method and profile → Search strategy: guides planning
- Search strategy → Search and retrieval: plans retrieval
- Source criteria → Source screening: sets criteria
- Search and retrieval → Source screening: finds sources
- Source screening → Source register: records sources
- Source register → Evaluate source: supports review
- Evaluate source → Evidence extraction: supports extraction
- Evidence extraction → Evidence ledger: records evidence
- Evidence ledger → Claim building: supports claims
- Claim building → Claims ledger: records claims
- Claims ledger → Conflicts and uncertainty: identifies conflicts
- Conflicts and uncertainty → Challenge conclusion: informs challenge
- Challenge conclusion → Research synthesis: tests conclusions
- Claims ledger → Research synthesis: supports synthesis
- Research synthesis → Recommendations: informs recommendations
- Recommendations → Accepted decisions: supports decisions
- Accepted decisions → Provenance and handoff: preserves rationale
- Source register → Source quality guidance: applies guidance
- Researcher → AI and RAG safeguards: consults safeguards
- Provenance and handoff → Research audit: supports audit