Web Research Skill

Use this skill when the user needs:

• •Current information on any topic
• •Comparison between products, services, or concepts
• •Documentation or official sources
• •News or recent developments
• •Cited summaries with sources

Research Workflow

Step 1: Plan Your Research

Before searching, define:

1. •Main question: What specifically does the user want to know?
2. •Subtopics: Break complex topics into 2-3 focused areas
3. •Source types: What kinds of sources are most relevant?
   • •Documentation (official docs, specs)
   • •News (recent articles, announcements)
   • •Academic (papers, research)
   • •Community (forums, discussions, reviews)

Step 2: Search and Gather

For each subtopic:

1. •Run 2-3 targeted searches using the web_search tool
2. •Evaluate sources for credibility:
   • •Official domains (.gov, .edu, company sites)
   • •Publication date (prefer recent for evolving topics)
   • •Author expertise
3. •Extract key information and note the source URL

Step 3: Organize Findings

Create a structured output:

## Research: [Topic Name]

### Key Findings
- Finding 1 [Source](url)
- Finding 2 [Source](url)

### Detailed Summary
[Synthesis of information with inline citations]

### Sources
1. [Title](url) - Brief description of what this source provided
2. [Title](url) - Brief description of what this source provided

Step 4: Synthesize and Respond

When presenting to the user:

1. •Lead with the answer - Don't bury the key information
2. •Provide context - Why is this relevant?
3. •Cite sources - Use inline links or footnotes
4. •Note limitations - If information is incomplete or conflicting, say so

Citation Format

Use this format for citations:

• •Inline: According to [Source Name](url), ...
• •Footnote: Key fact here[^1] with [^1]: Source Name - url
• •List: See references/citation-format.md for detailed examples

Quality Checklist

Before finishing research:

• • Answered the user's core question
• • Used at least 2-3 distinct sources
• • Cited all factual claims
• • Noted if information is dated or incomplete
• • Provided actionable next steps if relevant

Available Tools

When conducting research, you have access to:

• •web_search: Search the web for information
• •read_file: Read local reference files (e.g., this skill's references/)
• •write_file: Save research notes or reports locally

Tips for Better Research

1. •Be specific in queries - "Python asyncio error handling 2024" vs "Python errors"
2. •Verify across sources - Don't rely on a single source for important facts
3. •Check dates - Technology and news change quickly
4. •Use quotes for exact phrases - "error message here" finds exact matches
5. •Exclude noise - Add -pinterest -reddit if results are cluttered