API Researcher Skill

Overview

Comprehensive API research and documentation skill for the API Researcher Agent. This skill provides structured workflows for investigating external APIs, libraries, and services, producing standardized documentation that includes overviews, authentication guides, endpoint references, and integration instructions.

Prerequisites

• •Web access for documentation lookup
• •Write access to documentation output directories
• •Familiarity with REST APIs, GraphQL APIs, Python libraries, npm packages, or cloud service APIs

Instructions

1. •Receive research assignment from orchestrator with library name and scope
2. •Gather information from official documentation sources
3. •Create all five standard document types using templates
4. •Report completion with minimal report format

Checklist

Copy this checklist and track your progress:

• • Receive research assignment with library name and scope
• • Acknowledge assignment in format: [RESEARCH STARTED] <library> API - <scope>
• • Consult official documentation sources (in order: official docs, GitHub repo, API explorer)
• • Verify information: auth method, endpoints, rate limits, error codes
• • Create API Overview Document
• • Create Authentication Guide
• • Create Endpoints Reference
• • Create Integration Guide
• • Create Configuration Template
• • Report completion: [DONE] <library> API research complete

Output

Table of Contents

Research Procedures

For the step-by-step research workflow, see research-procedure.md:

• •
  1. •Step 1: Understand Requirements
  • •1.1 Input from Orchestrator
  • •1.2 Acknowledgment Format
  • •1.3 Verification Checklist
• •
  1. •Step 2: Gather Information
  • •2.1 Sources to Consult (in order)
  • •2.2 Information Verification Checklist
• •
  1. •Step 3: Document Findings
  • •3.1 Document Types to Create
  • •3.2 Verification Checklist
• •
  1. •Step 4: Report to Orchestrator
  • •4.1 Minimal Report Format
  • •4.2 Verification Checklist

Output Templates

For all documentation templates, see output-templates.md:

• •
  1. •API Overview Document Template
• •
  1. •Authentication Guide Template
• •
  1. •Endpoints Reference Template
• •
  1. •Integration Guide Template
• •
  1. •Configuration Template

Tools Reference

For available tools and usage, see tools-reference.md:

• •
  1. •Read Tool - for local files
• •
  1. •WebFetch Tool - for online documentation
• •
  1. •WebSearch Tool - for finding resources
• •
  1. •Write Tool - for documentation output
• •
  1. •Glob/Grep Tools - for finding existing code

Research Scenarios

For common research patterns, see research-scenarios.md:

• •
  1. •Scenario 1: Research REST API
• •
  1. •Scenario 2: Research Python Library
• •
  1. •Scenario 3: Research Cloud Service API
• •
  1. •Scenario 4: Research GraphQL API

Collaboration Patterns

For interaction with other agents, see collaboration-patterns.md:

• •
  1. •Integration with Orchestrator
  • •1.1 Receiving Tasks
  • •1.2 Reporting Progress
  • •1.3 Delivering Results
• •
  1. •Handling Blockers
  • •2.1 Documentation Not Found
  • •2.2 API Deprecated
  • •2.3 Multiple Versions
• •
  1. •Handoff Protocol
  • •3.1 Handoff Report Format
  • •3.2 Return to Orchestrator
• •
  1. •Collaboration with Other Agents
  • •4.1 With Code-Writer Agent
  • •4.2 With Documentation-Writer Agent
  • •4.3 With Requirements-Analyst Agent
• •
  1. •Best Practices

Quick Reference

Research Output Files

Research Workflow

Communication Formats

Examples

Example 1: Research a REST API

Orchestrator: Research the Stripe API for payment processing
Agent: [RESEARCH STARTED] Stripe API - payment processing scope

1. Consult official docs at https://stripe.com/docs/api
2. Document authentication (API keys, webhooks)
3. List key endpoints (charges, customers, subscriptions)
4. Create integration guide with code samples

Output files:
- stripe-api-overview.md
- stripe-authentication.md
- stripe-endpoints.md
- stripe-integration.md
- stripe-config-template.md

[DONE] Stripe API research complete

Example 2: Research a Python Library

Orchestrator: Research the requests library for HTTP calls
Agent: [RESEARCH STARTED] requests library - HTTP client scope

1. Read PyPI page and official docs
2. Document installation and basic usage
3. List key methods (get, post, put, delete)
4. Create integration examples

[DONE] requests library research complete

Error Handling

Resources

• •research-procedure.md - Step-by-step research workflow
• •output-templates.md - All documentation templates
• •tools-reference.md - Available tools and usage
• •research-scenarios.md - Common research patterns
• •collaboration-patterns.md - Agent interaction patterns