Deep Research Skill

Systematic methodology for autonomous comprehensive research. This skill transforms any task into a research-backed, SOTA-optimized implementation by following a structured protocol.

When This Skill Activates

This skill supplements the always-on auto-research instruction with detailed methodology for complex research scenarios:

• Architecture decisions (new system, major refactor, technology choice)
• Technology evaluations (comparing libraries, frameworks, approaches)
• Migration planning (version upgrades, library swaps, architectural shifts)
• Complex debugging (unfamiliar errors, subtle issues, environment-specific bugs)
• Best practices audit (security, performance, accessibility, SEO)
• Prior art search (has someone solved this before? how?)

Phase 1 — Scope & Strategy (Before Searching)

1.1 Decompose the Task

Break the request into atomic research questions:

## Research Questions
- Q1: What is the SOTA approach for [specific problem]?
- Q2: What are the known pitfalls/anti-patterns?
- Q3: What version/compatibility constraints exist?
- Q4: Are there existing implementations to reference?

1.2 Identify Search Domains

Map each question to the most relevant sources:

1.3 Define Search Keywords

Generate 3-5 search query variants per question using:

• Exact terms: "TanStack Query v5" suspense streaming
• Alternations: nextjs|next.js "app router" caching|cache
• Error-specific: paste exact error message + framework version

Phase 2 — Parallel Research Execution

2.1 Codebase Scan (Always First)

1. grep_search / semantic_search for related patterns in workspace
2. Check package.json / lock files for pinned versions
3. Read existing implementations of similar features
4. Check project conventions (AGENTS.md, instructions, README)

2.2 Web Research (Parallel Batches)

Launch 2-4 parallel web/fetch calls per batch:

Batch 1 — Official Sources:

• Framework/library official docs (latest version matching project)
• GitHub repository README, CHANGELOG, migration guide
• Official blog posts / announcements

Batch 2 — Community Sources:

• GitHub Issues/Discussions (filter: open + closed, sort by reactions)
• Stack Overflow (tagged questions, sort by votes)
• awesome-* lists for the technology

Batch 3 — Deep Dive (if needed):

• Specific GitHub repos implementing the pattern
• npm/registry package comparisons
• Blog posts from recognized experts
• Conference talk summaries

2.3 Source Quality Checklist

For each source found, quickly assess:

• Date: Published within last 6 months? (if older, is the info stable/version-independent?)
• Version: Matches project's pinned versions? (reject v4 guides when project uses v5)
• Authority: Official docs > maintainer comments > expert blogs > random posts
• Validation: Can the claim be cross-referenced with at least one other source?
• Completeness: Does it address edge cases, not just happy path?

Phase 3 — Synthesis & Enrichment

3.1 Cross-Reference Matrix

For conflicting information, build a decision matrix:

| Approach  | Source 1 (docs) | Source 2 (GitHub) | Source 3 (blog) | Verdict     |
| --------- | --------------- | ----------------- | --------------- | ----------- |
| Option A  | ✅ Recommended  | ⚠️ Works but...  | ✅ Preferred    | → Use this  |
| Option B  | ❌ Deprecated   | ✅ Still works    | ❌ Anti-pattern | → Avoid     |

3.2 Enrichment Checklist

After research, enrich the original request with:

• Missing requirements the user didn't consider (edge cases, error handling, a11y)
• SOTA patterns discovered during research (better alternatives to naive approach)
• Anti-patterns to explicitly avoid (with source citation)
• Version-specific gotchas for the project's stack
• Performance implications of the chosen approach
• Security considerations if applicable
• Testing strategy informed by common failure modes found in issues

3.3 Synthesis Output Format

Before implementing, briefly present findings:

## Research Findings

**Approach**: [chosen approach with 1-sentence justification]
**Key Sources**: [2-3 most authoritative sources with URLs]
**Enrichments**: [what was added beyond the original request]
**Risks**: [any gotchas or limitations discovered]

Keep this short (5-10 lines max). The user wants implementation, not a thesis.

Phase 4 — Implementation Integration

4.1 Apply Findings

• Implement using the SOTA approach identified in research
• Add inline comments citing sources for non-obvious decisions: // Ref: https://... — avoids hydration mismatch
• Apply discovered anti-pattern avoidance proactively
• Include error handling for edge cases found in issue trackers

4.2 Post-Implementation Validation

• Verify implementation matches the approach described in official docs
• Check for version-specific behaviors (breaking changes, deprecated APIs)
• If available, run tests to confirm the approach works

Common Research Templates

Template: Library/Framework Feature

1. Check official docs for [feature] in [version]
2. Search GitHub issues: "[feature] [version]" label:bug|enhancement
3. Check CHANGELOG for breaking changes since [version]
4. Find usage examples in popular repos

Template: Bug Investigation

1. Search exact error message in GitHub issues
2. Check if fixed in newer version (CHANGELOG)
3. Search Stack Overflow with error + framework version
4. Check if related to known breaking change

Template: Architecture Decision

1. Search ADRs in reference architectures (GitHub)
2. Check official framework recommendations
3. Compare approaches in popular open-source projects
4. Read expert analysis (ThoughtWorks Radar, Martin Fowler, etc.)
5. Check community consensus (Reddit, Discord, Discussions)

Template: Technology Comparison

1. npm trends / star history (activity != quality, but stale = risk)
2. Bundle size comparison (bundlephobia)
3. Official docs quality and completeness
4. GitHub issues: response time, community health
5. Migration path from current tool

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

• ❌ Research paralysis — don't spend 10 min researching a 30-second fix
• ❌ Source dumping — don't paste raw research at user; synthesize
• ❌ Outdated confidence — don't trust a 2022 guide for a tool on v5 when project uses v8
• ❌ Single source — never base architectural decisions on one blog post
• ❌ Ignoring codebase — always check existing patterns first; consistency > theoretical best
• ❌ Over-researching — 3 quality sources beat 15 mediocre ones