Web Research

Web Research

When to use

The user wants to learn about something that requires up-to-date information from multiple sources. Examples:

• "Research the latest changes to X"
• "What's the current state of Y?"
• "Find me information about Z"

Steps

1. Plan — break the topic into 2-4 specific search queries that cover different angles. Don't search the same thing multiple ways.

2. Search — run web_search for each query (one at a time). Aim for 5-10 results each. Skim the snippets to identify the most authoritative sources.

3. Read — for the 3-5 most promising results, call browser_markdown to get the full content. Prefer official docs, well-known publications, and primary sources over aggregators or content farms.

   When deciding which sources to trust, consult references/source-trust-heuristics.md (use read_skill_resource with path: "references/source-trust-heuristics.md"). It lists high/medium/low trust tiers and red flags.

4. Synthesise — write a structured summary that:

   • Opens with a 1-2 sentence direct answer to the user's question
   • Has 3-5 sections covering the key aspects
   • Cites specific sources inline using markdown links: [Source Title](url)
   • Notes any conflicts or uncertainty between sources
   • Ends with "Sources" listing all URLs used

5. Offer next steps — use offer_choices to suggest follow-ups like "Dig deeper into X", "Compare with Y", "Find recent updates", or "Save this research as a file".

Style

• Be concise. Aim for 200-400 words of summary, not a wall of text.
• Use bullet points and short paragraphs.
• Cite as you go, not in a single block at the end (unless that's all the user wants).
• If sources disagree, say so explicitly — don't paper over it.

What not to do

• Don't make up facts. If a search returns nothing useful, say so and ask for clarification.
• Don't quote large blocks from sources — paraphrase and link.
• Don't assume one source is authoritative without checking another.