Research Retrieval

Research Retrieval

Use this skill when the answer depends on finding, evaluating, and synthesizing source material.

Routing

• Read references/search-first.md before coding tasks where existing libraries, APIs, or patterns might already solve the problem.
• Read references/exa-search.md when Exa MCP is available or the user specifically wants Exa-style neural search.
• Read references/iterative-retrieval.md for broad or ambiguous tasks that require progressive query refinement.
• Read references/deep-research.md for multi-source research reports.
• Read references/research-ops.md for current-state research with explicit evidence handling.

Workflow

1. Clarify the claim or decision the research must support.
2. Search broadly, then narrow by evidence quality, recency, and source authority.
3. Keep track of source URLs, dates, and uncertainty.
4. Synthesize rather than paste long excerpts.
5. Label inference, speculation, and reported claims distinctly.
6. For coding tasks, prefer primary documentation and actively check whether the proposed tool or API is current.

Output

Return concise conclusions with citations or source notes, open questions, and the recommended next action.