Fact-Grounding with External Sources
Overview
Ground responses in verified, current information rather than relying solely on LLM knowledge. Use Perplexity MCP tools to search the web for facts.
Core principle: When in doubt, verify. When outdated, search. When complex, research.
When to Use
Error Resolution
- Error codes/messages - Look up specific error codes to find working solutions
- Stack traces - Search for others who encountered the same issue
- Deprecation warnings - Find migration guides and updated approaches
Exploration & Discovery
- New territory - Exploring unfamiliar frameworks, APIs, or domains
- What's possible - Finding what others have tried, patterns that work
- Best practices - Current recommendations (not outdated training data)
Verification
- API signatures - Verify current method signatures, parameters
- Version compatibility - Check which versions work together
- Pricing/limits - Current pricing, rate limits, quotas
- Release status - Is feature X stable? When was Y released?
Currency
- Recent releases - Features in versions released after training cutoff
- Current events - News, announcements, breaking changes
- Documentation changes - APIs evolve, docs update
Tool Selection (by depth)
| Need |
Tool |
Use Case |
| Quick answer |
perplexity_ask |
Single factual question, error code lookup, conversational follow-up |
| Find sources |
perplexity_search |
Multiple sources needed, comparing solutions, finding alternatives |
| Deep dive |
perplexity_research |
Complex topic, synthesized analysis with citations, exploring new ground |
The Process
- Recognize the trigger - Is this something I should verify externally?
- Select depth - Quick answer, source search, or deep research?
- Formulate query - Clear, specific, searchable
- Execute search - Use appropriate Perplexity tool
- Synthesize results - Present findings with source attribution
- Acknowledge limitations - Note if information is incomplete or conflicting
Query Formulation Tips
For Error Lookups
- Include the exact error message or code
- Add technology context: framework, version, platform
- Example:
"ECONNREFUSED 127.0.0.1:5432" PostgreSQL Docker Windows
For Exploration
- Be specific about what you're trying to achieve
- Include constraints: language, framework, requirements
- Example:
"real-time collaboration React alternatives to Yjs 2024"
For Verification
- Include version numbers when relevant
- Ask for current or latest explicitly
- Example:
"Next.js 14 app router middleware current syntax"
Poor Queries (avoid)
- Vague: "best framework"
- Opinion-seeking: "should I use React"
- Too broad: "how does authentication work"
Examples
Error Code Lookup
Query: "CS8602 possible null reference" C# nullable reference types fix
Tool: perplexity_ask
Exploring Possibilities
Query: "PDF generation libraries .NET 8 comparison 2024" features pricing
Tool: perplexity_search
Deep Research
Query: "implementing event sourcing with Azure Cosmos DB" patterns pitfalls production
Tool: perplexity_research
Red Flags
- Presenting outdated info as current - Always verify versions, dates, pricing
- Skipping verification for technical claims - API signatures, library features change
- Not citing sources - When using researched info, attribute it
- Over-researching simple facts - Use
perplexity_ask for quick answers
- Under-researching complex topics - Use
perplexity_research for deep dives
Integration
Related workflows (shortcuts for specific depths):
/ask - Quick questions (uses perplexity_ask)/search - Find sources (uses perplexity_search)/research - Deep investigation (uses perplexity_research)
Invoke with @fact-grounding when you need guidance on which approach to use.
1---2name: fact-grounding3description: Use when you need current, accurate information from the web - verifying claims, researching unfamiliar topics, looking up error codes, or when LLM training data may be outdated or insufficient. Selects appropriate Perplexity tool based on depth needed.4---56# Fact-Grounding with External Sources78## Overview910Ground responses in verified, current information rather than relying solely on LLM knowledge. Use Perplexity MCP tools to search the web for facts.1112**Core principle:** When in doubt, verify. When outdated, search. When complex, research.1314## When to Use1516### Error Resolution17- **Error codes/messages** - Look up specific error codes to find working solutions18- **Stack traces** - Search for others who encountered the same issue19- **Deprecation warnings** - Find migration guides and updated approaches2021### Exploration & Discovery22- **New territory** - Exploring unfamiliar frameworks, APIs, or domains23- **What's possible** - Finding what others have tried, patterns that work24- **Best practices** - Current recommendations (not outdated training data)2526### Verification27- **API signatures** - Verify current method signatures, parameters28- **Version compatibility** - Check which versions work together29- **Pricing/limits** - Current pricing, rate limits, quotas30- **Release status** - Is feature X stable? When was Y released?3132### Currency33- **Recent releases** - Features in versions released after training cutoff34- **Current events** - News, announcements, breaking changes35- **Documentation changes** - APIs evolve, docs update3637## Tool Selection (by depth)3839| Need | Tool | Use Case |40|------|------|----------|41| **Quick answer** | `perplexity_ask` | Single factual question, error code lookup, conversational follow-up |42| **Find sources** | `perplexity_search` | Multiple sources needed, comparing solutions, finding alternatives |43| **Deep dive** | `perplexity_research` | Complex topic, synthesized analysis with citations, exploring new ground |4445## The Process46471. **Recognize the trigger** - Is this something I should verify externally?482. **Select depth** - Quick answer, source search, or deep research?493. **Formulate query** - Clear, specific, searchable504. **Execute search** - Use appropriate Perplexity tool515. **Synthesize results** - Present findings with source attribution526. **Acknowledge limitations** - Note if information is incomplete or conflicting5354## Query Formulation Tips5556### For Error Lookups57- Include the **exact error message** or code58- Add **technology context**: framework, version, platform59- Example: `"ECONNREFUSED 127.0.0.1:5432" PostgreSQL Docker Windows`6061### For Exploration62- Be specific about **what you're trying to achieve**63- Include **constraints**: language, framework, requirements64- Example: `"real-time collaboration React alternatives to Yjs 2024"`6566### For Verification67- Include **version numbers** when relevant68- Ask for **current** or **latest** explicitly69- Example: `"Next.js 14 app router middleware current syntax"`7071### Poor Queries (avoid)72- Vague: "best framework"73- Opinion-seeking: "should I use React"74- Too broad: "how does authentication work"7576## Examples7778### Error Code Lookup79```80Query: "CS8602 possible null reference" C# nullable reference types fix81Tool: perplexity_ask82```8384### Exploring Possibilities85```86Query: "PDF generation libraries .NET 8 comparison 2024" features pricing87Tool: perplexity_search88```8990### Deep Research91```92Query: "implementing event sourcing with Azure Cosmos DB" patterns pitfalls production93Tool: perplexity_research94```9596## Red Flags9798- **Presenting outdated info as current** - Always verify versions, dates, pricing99- **Skipping verification for technical claims** - API signatures, library features change100- **Not citing sources** - When using researched info, attribute it101- **Over-researching simple facts** - Use `perplexity_ask` for quick answers102- **Under-researching complex topics** - Use `perplexity_research` for deep dives103104## Integration105106Related workflows (shortcuts for specific depths):107- `/ask` - Quick questions (uses `perplexity_ask`)108- `/search` - Find sources (uses `perplexity_search`)109- `/research` - Deep investigation (uses `perplexity_research`)110111Invoke with `@fact-grounding` when you need guidance on which approach to use.
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