rudironsoni Deep Research
Autonomous multi-agent research system. Dispatches parallel sub-agents, stores findings to files, synthesizes into briefs or reports.
Core principle: Planning → Parallel research agents → File-based findings → Synthesis = high quality research with minimal context usage.
When to Use
digraph when_to_use {
"User requests research?" [shape=diamond];
"Quick factual lookup?" [shape=diamond];
"Use single search tool directly" [shape=box];
"Multiple sources or synthesis needed?" [shape=diamond];
"deep-research" [shape=box];
"User requests research?" -> "Quick factual lookup?" [label="yes"];
"Quick factual lookup?" -> "Use single search tool directly" [label="yes"];
"Quick factual lookup?" -> "Multiple sources or synthesis needed?" [label="no"];
"Multiple sources or synthesis needed?" -> "deep-research" [label="yes"];
}
```text
**Use for:** Technical research, domain knowledge, market analysis, architectural patterns, comparing approaches,
learning complex topics
**Don't use for:** Single fact lookups, specific URL fetches, questions answerable in one search
## The Process
```dot
digraph process {
rankdir=TB;
"Create research directory in scratchpad" -> "Dispatch Query Analyzer agent";
"Dispatch Query Analyzer agent" -> "Analyzer writes research-plan.md";
"Analyzer writes research-plan.md" -> "Read plan, dispatch N Research agents IN PARALLEL";
"Read plan, dispatch N Research agents IN PARALLEL" -> "Each agent writes findings-{thread}.md";
"Each agent writes findings-{thread}.md" -> "Wait for all agents";
"Wait for all agents" -> "Dispatch Synthesizer agent";
"Dispatch Synthesizer agent" -> "Synthesizer reads all findings, writes final-output.md";
"Synthesizer reads all findings, writes final-output.md" -> "Read final output, present summary to user";
}
```text
## Quick Reference
### Phase 1: Planning (Query Analyzer Agent)
Uses `./query-analyzer-prompt.md`. Writes `research-plan.md` containing:
- Query type: technical | domain | hybrid
- Complexity: simple (2-3 agents) | moderate (3-4) | complex (5-6)
- Research threads with source recommendations
- Output format recommendation: brief | report
### Phase 2: Parallel Research
Uses `./research-agent-prompt.md`. Each agent:
1. Invokes `exa-search` skill for source strategy
2. Executes searches (Exa-primary, see Source Selection below)
3. Writes `findings-{thread-name}.md`
**Source Selection:**
| Query Signal | Primary Source |
| ---------------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| Code, APIs, libraries | `mcp__exa__get_code_context_exa` |
| Concepts, analysis, opinions | `mcp__exa__web_search_exa` |
| Video explanations needed | `yt-transcribe` skill |
| Very recent news (< 1 week) | `WebSearch` fallback |
### Phase 3: Synthesis
Uses `./synthesizer-prompt.md`. Reads all findings files, writes `final-output.md`:
- **Actionable Brief** (~300 words): Simple query + clear consensus
- **Structured Report** (~1500 words): Complex query or conflicting findings
## Agent Dispatch Methods
**For complex queries (4+ threads):** Use Task tool with `subagent_type: "general-purpose"` for true sub-agent
isolation. Dispatch all research agents in a single message (parallel Task calls).
**For simpler queries (2-3 threads):** Parallel tool calls within same context is acceptable - make all searches
simultaneously, then write findings files.
Either way: research threads must execute in parallel, not sequentially.
## File Structure
```text
{scratchpad}/deep-research-{timestamp}/
├── research-plan.md
├── findings-*.md
└── final-output.md
```text
## Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
| ----------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| Doing research yourself instead of dispatching agents | Always use the three-phase architecture |
| Keeping findings in context instead of files | Each agent MUST write to files |
| Sequential research agents | Dispatch all research agents in PARALLEL |
| Skipping planning phase | Always run Query Analyzer first |
| Using WebSearch as default | Exa is primary; WebSearch only for very recent news |
## Red Flags - STOP
- "I'll just do a quick search myself" → Use the full process
- "I don't need to write files for this" → Files are mandatory
- "I'll research these topics one at a time" → Parallel dispatch
- "This is simple, I'll skip planning" → Always plan first