Researching Skill

Use when the how is unclear; output is a chosen approach with evidence.

Prerequisites: If what/why is unclear, use discovering skill first.

Quick Reference

Track	When	Output
Fast (default)	Standard decisions	Brief: problem, decision, risks
Full	API/security/multi-subsystem	Research brief + optional design doc

When to Use

• Requirements are fuzzy or incomplete
• Multiple plausible approaches exist (spike, proof of concept needed)
• Change affects architecture, API, data, or security

Skip if: obvious bug, trivial change, pattern already exists.

Fast vs Full Track

Is it high-risk?
├── No → Fast Track (default)
└── Yes → Full Track
    ├── Changes public API
    ├── Security/data implications
    ├── Team disagreement
    └── Touches multiple subsystems

Core Rule

Evidence before opinions. Never recommend anything until facts are gathered: what already exists in code, which constraints are real, what decisions were made before. If evidence is missing — label it as assumption and lower confidence.

Quick Rules

• One question at a time while clarifying requirements
• If multiple interpretations exist, clarify before researching
• State assumptions explicitly with confidence (H/M/L)

When to Ask vs Act

Ask (one question at a time; prefer multiple choice) if:

• Multiple interpretations
• Critical context missing
• Answer would change direction

Act (state assumptions + confidence) if:

• Default interpretation is clear
• Request is specific
• Assumptions are easy to verify

Workflow

Fast Track (default)

1. Clarify & Frame — purpose, constraints, success criteria
2. Collect Signals — code, docs, history
3. Options + Decision — 2-3 options, pick one
4. Brief — Problem (1-2 sentences), Decision, Key Risks (1-3 bullets)

Full Track

Phase	Focus	Output
0. Frame	Problem, non-goals, success criteria	Constraints
1. Signals	Code, docs, history	Current state + assumptions
2. Options	2-4 approaches with trade-offs	Comparison
3. Evaluate	Decide using Phase 0 criteria	Recommendation + fallback plan
4. Artifacts	Research brief (always)	Optional: design doc

Research Brief template: Problem & Context → Constraints → Current State → Options Compared → Recommendation → Risks

Stop Conditions

Stop research when:

• Decision criteria are satisfied
• Remaining unknowns won't change the decision
• Next step is prototype/measurement

Best Practices

• Assumptions + Confidence — label assumptions (H/M/L), propose quick validation
• Spike as Research — 30-90 min spike with clear question and success metric
• Checkpoints (Full Track) — after each phase: "Constraints complete? Which risks matter?"

Delegate

• Use explorer subagent to collect evidence from code/docs/history and dependency/workspace structure before comparing options
• Use sequential-thinking MCP for complex trade-off analysis

After Research

Use blueprinting skill to create implementation blueprint.

Pipeline: discovering → researching → blueprinting → implementing → code-review

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Recommend without evidence	Gather facts first, then opinions
Single option, no alternatives	Always 2-3 options with trade-offs
Drift into tangential topics	Stay connected to problem statement
Hide uncertainty behind confidence	State unknowns explicitly
Finalize with disputed framing	Resolve framing first