Using Live Documentation
Overview
Your training data is outdated. Current documentation is always more accurate.
When implementing features, answering questions, or debugging issues involving libraries/frameworks/tools, you MUST fetch current documentation using Context7 before writing code or making recommendations.
Core Principle
LLM training data becomes stale the moment training ends. Libraries evolve:
- •APIs change between versions
- •Best practices get updated
- •New features get added
- •Old patterns get deprecated
Never implement from memory. Always verify with current docs.
Mandatory Workflow
Step 1: Recognize the Trigger
You MUST use documentation search when you encounter ANY of these:
- •Library name mentioned (react-query, fastapi, pydantic, express, etc.)
- •Framework name mentioned (Next.js, Django, React, Vue, etc.)
- •Version number specified (react-query v5, Python 3.12, etc.)
- •Technical concept tied to specific tool (optimistic updates in react-query)
- •Implementation questions (how do I X in Y?)
- •Best practices questions (what's the right way to X?)
- •Debugging library-specific behavior
Red flags that mean you're about to fail:
- •"Based on my knowledge of..."
- •"From what I remember about..."
- •"The typical pattern for..."
- •Writing code without checking docs first
- •Having uncertainty about the correct approach
Step 2: Dispatch Documentation Search Subagent
Why subagent instead of direct Context7:
- •Saves 10,000-20,000 tokens of context in main agent
- •Subagent filters docs to only what you need
- •Main agent stays focused on implementation
- •Better token management across the session
How to dispatch:
Dispatch the documentation-searcher agent with the following information:
- •Library name: Exact package/library name (e.g., "react-query", "fastapi", "pydantic")
- •Topic: Specific concept or feature (e.g., "optimistic updates", "path parameters", "field validators")
- •What you need: Specific APIs, patterns, or examples you're looking for
The agent will search Context7 documentation and provide a focused synthesis with:
- •Exact API signatures
- •Recommended patterns and best practices
- •Code examples
- •Version-specific guidance
Step 3: Implement Using Verified Patterns
After receiving subagent synthesis:
- •Cite what you learned: "According to react-query v5 docs (from subagent search)..."
- •Use exact API signatures provided
- •Follow recommended patterns from synthesis
- •Note any differences from what you expected
- •If gaps exist, dispatch another search or use WebSearch
Never:
- •Mix training data patterns with doc patterns
- •Assume API names/signatures
- •Skip documentation check "to save time"
- •Implement first, verify later
- •Use Context7 MCP tools directly (always dispatch documentation-searcher agent)
Red Flags - STOP
If you're thinking ANY of these, you're about to violate the skill:
Context Rationalization Flags
- •❌ "I'm only using X% of budget" - Percentage hides absolute waste
- •❌ "Well within acceptable limits" - Ignores session-wide compounding
- •❌ "I have plenty of budget left" - Context is for ENTIRE session
- •❌ "This is just one search" - "Just one" becomes "just one more"
Efficiency Framing Flags
- •❌ "Direct access is more efficient" - You're optimizing for wrong metric
- •❌ "Subagent dispatch is overhead" - It's an investment, not overhead
- •❌ "Completed in fewer messages" - Messages don't matter, tokens do
- •❌ "For straightforward lookups, direct is optimal" - Context math doesn't change
Quality Justification Flags
- •❌ "I got comprehensive examples" - You don't need comprehensive, you need relevant
- •❌ "I can filter the docs myself" - Filtering doesn't remove docs from context
- •❌ "I need detailed information" - Subagent provides exactly what you need
The context math:
- •Direct Context7: 15,000-25,000 tokens per search
- •Subagent: 2,000-5,000 tokens per search
- •Difference: 10,000-20,000 tokens SAVED per search
- •3 searches: 48,000 tokens saved
- •That's 48,000 tokens for MORE searches, longer conversations, complex implementations
Never use "I have budget left" to justify waste.
When NOT to Use Documentation Search
Skip documentation search for:
- •Language built-ins (Python dict, JavaScript Array)
- •Standard library basics (Python os.path, JavaScript fs)
- •Well-known universal concepts (HTTP status codes, REST principles)
- •Questions about YOUR codebase (use Read/Grep)
But DO use documentation search for:
- •Third-party libraries, even familiar ones
- •Framework-specific patterns
- •Version-specific APIs
- •Best practices for tools
When in doubt: dispatch a subagent. The cost of a subagent search (2,000-5,000 tokens) is tiny compared to implementing wrong patterns from training data.
Context Management Strategy
Why subagents are mandatory:
Context savings per search:
- •Direct Context7: 15,000-25,000 tokens per search
- •Subagent approach: 2,000-5,000 tokens per search
- •Savings: 10,000-20,000 tokens per search
Across a session:
- •3 direct searches: ~60,000 tokens
- •3 subagent searches: ~12,000 tokens
- •Savings: ~48,000 tokens
That's 48,000 tokens available for:
- •More codebase files
- •Longer conversations
- •Additional library searches
- •Complex implementations
Verification Checklist
Before claiming you've implemented something correctly, verify:
- • Dispatched documentation-searcher agent to fetch current documentation
- • Provided clear library name, topic, and what you need
- • Received synthesis with API signatures
- • API signatures match documentation exactly
- • Patterns follow current best practices from synthesis
- • No uncertainties remain about correct approach
- • Can cite documentation source for key decisions
- • Did NOT use Context7 MCP tools directly
If you have ANY uncertainty after receiving synthesis:
- •Dispatch another documentation-searcher agent with refined topic
- •Use WebSearch for supplementary info
- •Ask human for clarification
Never:
- •Use Context7 MCP tools directly
- •Ship uncertain implementation
- •Skip documentation search to "save time"
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: "I remember this API"
❌ "I know react-query uses useQuery, let me write this..." ✅ "Let me dispatch documentation-searcher agent to verify the current useQuery API..."
Why it fails: APIs change. Your memory is from training cutoff.
Mistake 2: "Subagent overhead isn't worth it"
❌ "This is just one search, I'll use Context7 directly..." ✅ "Even one search saves 15,000 tokens. Always dispatch documentation-searcher agent."
Why it fails: "Just one" becomes "just one more" throughout the session. Context compounds.
Mistake 3: "I'll verify after writing"
❌ [Writes full implementation] "Let me check if this is right..." ✅ [Dispatches documentation-searcher agent first] "Now I'll implement using verified patterns..."
Why it fails: Fixing wrong code takes longer than writing correct code once.
Integration with Other Workflows
With Test-Driven Development:
- •Dispatch documentation-searcher agent BEFORE writing test
- •Receive synthesis with API signatures
- •Write test using documented patterns
- •Implement using same synthesis
With Brainstorming:
- •During design discussion, dispatch documentation-searcher agent for relevant docs
- •Base design on current capabilities from synthesis
- •Don't propose deprecated patterns
- •Verify feasibility with current API
With Debugging:
- •Dispatch documentation-searcher agent when error involves library
- •Check if API usage matches synthesis patterns
- •Verify you're using correct version's API
- •Look for migration guides if version changed
Summary
Before implementing ANYTHING involving a library/framework:
- •Recognize trigger (library name → stop)
- •Dispatch documentation-searcher agent
- •Provide clear library name, topic, and what you need
- •Receive synthesis with API signatures and patterns
- •Implement using verified patterns from synthesis
- •Cite documentation source
Critical rules:
- •NEVER use Context7 MCP tools directly
- •ALWAYS dispatch documentation-searcher agent for documentation
- •Context savings: 10,000-20,000 tokens per search
- •Your training data is always outdated
- •Current documentation is always more accurate
- •Dispatch agent first, write code second
This is not optional. This is mandatory.