# Tool Usage

> Recovery protocol for tool failures and search budgets. Use when Edit fails repeatedly on the same target, when hooks may have modified file contents between operations, or when WebSearch/WebFetch is not converging on an answer.

- Skill: `stuartshields/tool-usage` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add stuartshields/tool-usage`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/stuartshields/tool-usage/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: stuartshields (https://skillmd.com/u/stuartshields)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/stuartshields/tool-usage

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<!-- Last updated: 2026-04-08T00:00+11:00 -->

# Tool Usage

## Edit Tool
- **Edit retry limit.** If Edit fails twice on the same target, re-read the file for actual content. If it still fails, use Write to replace the full file.
- **Read before Edit, always.** Hooks may modify file contents after Write — the file on disk may differ from what you expect.

## Search Tools
- **WebSearch/WebFetch budget: 3 searches + 2 fetches per question.** If you haven't found the answer, summarise what you learned and ask the user.