Research

Research Skill

Research Methodology

1. Define Scope

What specific question needs answering?

2. Identify Sources

• Official documentation (Context7)
• Community resources (Exa search)
• Example repositories
• Expert articles

3. Gather Information

• Use multiple sources
• Note contradictions
• Track source reliability

4. Synthesize Findings

• Identify patterns
• Extract actionable recommendations
• Flag uncertainties

5. Document Results

Create RESEARCH.md with findings.

Research Tools

Context7 (Official Docs)

// Resolve library ID first
context7_resolve_library_id({
  query: "how to implement auth in Next.js",
  libraryName: "next.js"
})

// Query documentation
context7_query_docs({
  libraryId: "/vercel/next.js",
  query: "authentication middleware"
})

Exa Search (Web)

web_search_exa({
  query: "Next.js authentication best practices 2024",
  numResults: 5
})

Web Fetch (Deep Dive)

webfetch({
  url: "https://example.com/article",
  format: "markdown"
})

Research Areas

Stack Discovery

• Core libraries and frameworks
• Build tools and bundlers
• Testing frameworks
• Development tools

Architecture Patterns

• Common patterns for domain
• Best practices
• Project structure conventions

Pitfalls

• Common mistakes
• Performance issues
• Security vulnerabilities
• Maintenance traps

Expert Resources

• Official documentation
• Community guides
• Reference implementations

RESEARCH.md Template

# Research: {Topic}

**Domain:** {Technology area}
**Date:** {YYYY-MM-DD}
**Sources:** {Count} analyzed

## Executive Summary
{2-3 sentences on key findings}

## Standard Stack

| Category | Recommended | Alternatives | Notes |
|----------|-------------|--------------|-------|
| Framework | Next.js | Remix, SvelteKit | SSR support |
| Auth | NextAuth | Clerk, Auth0 | Built-in |

## Architecture Patterns

### Recommended: {Pattern Name}
{Description and when to use}

## Common Pitfalls

1. **{Issue}** - {Description}
   - Prevention: {How to avoid}

## Expert Resources

- [Official Docs]({url}) - {description}
- [Guide]({url}) - {description}

## Recommendations

### Must Use
- {Technology} - {Rationale}

### Avoid
- {Technology} - {Why}

## Uncertainties
- {Question needing clarification}

Parallel Research

Spawn multiple researchers for different aspects:

Researcher 1: Stack Discovery
Researcher 2: Architecture Patterns
Researcher 3: Pitfalls & Gotchas
Researcher 4: Expert Resources

Best Practices

1. Cite sources - Every claim has a source
2. Note dates - Technology changes fast
3. Flag uncertainty - Be honest about gaps
4. Actionable findings - Recommendations, not just facts
5. Time-box - 30-60 minutes typical, 2 hours max

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