duckbugio Look up real library docs (don't guess the API)
Training data goes stale: library APIs, method signatures, config keys, and best practices change between versions. Guessing them is a top source of subtly-wrong code. When you touch an external library/framework/SDK/API, get the CURRENT docs.
How
The context7 MCP server is available. Use its tools:
resolve-library-id— resolve the library name (e.g. "tauri", "centrifuge-go", "react-query") to its context7 id.get-library-docs— fetch the up-to-date docs for that id, scoped to the topic/symbol you need (the specific hook, method, or config option).
Pull the version the project actually depends on — check go.mod /
package.json / Cargo.toml / requirements.txt — not "latest", when they
differ.
When to use it
- Calling a method/option you're not 100% sure exists in the version in use.
- Wiring up a new dependency, an SDK client, or a framework feature.
- An unfamiliar or fast-moving library (cloud SDKs, web frameworks, build tools).
- A compile/runtime error that looks like an API mismatch.
When NOT to bother
- The standard library or a tiny, stable utility you know cold.
- Pure project-internal code — read the repo, not external docs.
Prefer one focused docs lookup over a wrong guess you then have to debug.