web-research

Generate a formatted markdown report from research findings.

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