research

Explore codebases and external documentation to answer technical questions.

Updated Mar 17, 2023

Search Tags:#documentation #research #investigation #code exploration #knowledge discovery #api lookup

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/IainMcl/dotfiles --skill research-iainmcl

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: research
Source: https://github.com/IainMcl/dotfiles/tree/main/claude/skills/research
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/IainMcl/dotfiles --skill research-iainmcl

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes scripts (resource) and references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps you understand complex topics by systematically exploring codebases and external documentation, providing concise and actionable answers.

Core Features & Use Cases

Codebase Exploration: Trace code execution from entry points, identify patterns, and map code structure.
External Documentation Lookup: Efficiently search and retrieve information from libraries, APIs, and general web topics.
Use Case: When asked "How does the user authentication flow work?", this Skill will trace the relevant code paths and consult external security best practices to provide a comprehensive answer.

Quick Start

Use the research skill to investigate how the 'process_payment' function is implemented in the codebase.

Frequently Asked Questions about research

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I investigate code implementation and external documentation together?▼

To investigate code implementation and external documentation, this Skill traces relevant code execution paths and queries external resources to identify usage patterns and external concepts. It combines codebase exploration with API lookup to provide concise answers.

What is the best way to trace code execution from entry points and map code structure?▼

The best way to trace code execution and map structure is by systematically exploring the codebase to identify patterns and implementation details. This approach identifies how specific functions operate internally and connects them to broader architectural concepts.

Can I use this to look up external API documentation while exploring a codebase?▼

Yes, you can look up external API documentation while exploring a codebase. The Skill performs targeted information retrieval from internal code and external resources simultaneously, connecting library implementations with their respective external documentation.

Does this Skill work for understanding complex topics like user authentication flows?▼

This Skill works for understanding complex topics like user authentication flows by tracing relevant code paths and consulting external security best practices. It maps internal logic against external concepts to deliver comprehensive, actionable explanations.

How do I research how a specific function like process_payment is implemented?▼

To research how a function like process_payment is implemented, you investigate its execution path within the codebase and retrieve related external documentation. This identifies specific implementation details, usage patterns, and connected external concepts.

When should I use codebase exploration instead of general web research?▼

You should use codebase exploration instead of general web research when you need to identify internal implementation details and usage patterns within a specific project. Combining internal code tracing with external documentation lookup yields a complete understanding of the topic.