deep-research

# Deep Research

Systematic methodology for conducting exhaustive, accurate research using all available tools. Prioritizes correctness over speed.

## Core Principles

1. **Multiple sources required** — Never rely on a single source for important claims
2. **Cross-reference everything** — Verify facts appear consistently across independent sources
3. **Citation mandatory** — Every claim must have a source; no unsourced assertions
4. **Acknowledge uncertainty** — When sources conflict or are weak, say so explicitly
5. **Prefer primary sources** — Official docs > blog posts > forum answers > AI-generated content

## Available Research Tools

Use these tools in combination based on the research topic:

| Tool | Best For | Limitations |
|------|----------|-------------|
| **WebSearch** | Current events, recent information, broad topic discovery | Results may be outdated, SEO-influenced |
| **WebFetch** | Reading specific URLs, extracting detailed content | Requires known URL |
| **Playwright browser** | Interactive sites, paywalled content (if logged in), complex navigation | Slower, requires more tokens |
| **Context7/MCP docs** | Library/framework documentation | Only indexed libraries |
| **OpenAI docs MCP** | OpenAI API specifics | OpenAI only |
| **Grep/Glob/Read** | Codebase research, finding implementations | Local files only |

## Research Workflow

### Phase 1: Scope Definition

Before researching, clarify:

1. **Core question** — What specific question(s) need answering?
2. **Required depth** — Surface overview or exhaustive deep-dive?
3. **Recency requirements** — Is timeliness critical? (API versions, current events, etc.)
4. **Authoritative sources** — What would count as a definitive answer?

Ask clarifying questions if scope is ambiguous. Use AskUserQuestion for structured choices when multiple research directions are possible.

### Phase 2: Source Discovery

Cast a wide net to find relevant sources:

```
1. WebSearch with multiple query variations
   -