search-before-building

Enforce a three-layer knowledge search before building infrastructure.

Updated Mar 27, 2026

Search Tags:#search #infrastructure #knowledge #fallback #layers #eureka

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/jedrecord/hal2026 --skill search-before-building

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: search-before-building
Source: https://github.com/jedrecord/hal2026/tree/main/skills/search-before-building
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/jedrecord/hal2026 --skill search-before-building

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Enforces a three-layer knowledge search before building infrastructure to prevent reinventing the wheel and reduce wasted effort.

Core Features & Use Cases

Layer 1: Tried-and-true knowledge in distribution reduces needless rework.
Layer 2: New and popular patterns surface current approaches, with caution about hype.
Layer 3: First-principles reasoning anchors decisions and reveals novel solutions.
Eureka Moments: Log timestamped insights into Learnings.md to capture lessons learned.
WebSearch Fallback: If web search is unavailable, proceed with in-distribution knowledge and note the fallback.

Quick Start

Ask the system to perform a three-layer knowledge check before proceeding with a build.

Frequently Asked Questions about search-before-building

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

FAQPage Schema

How do I prevent reinventing the wheel when building infrastructure?▼

A three-layer knowledge search prevents reinventing the wheel during infrastructure builds by checking tried-and-true patterns, new popular approaches, and first-principles reasoning before development.

What is the three-layer knowledge search process for software engineering?▼

The three-layer knowledge search process evaluates existing in-distribution knowledge, surfaces new popular patterns, and applies first-principles reasoning to anchor decisions and reveal novel solutions for unfamiliar infrastructure projects.

How do I log insights and lessons learned during infrastructure development?▼

You log insights during infrastructure development by recording timestamped Eureka Moments into a Learnings.md file, ensuring valuable lessons learned are captured for future reference.

What should I do if WebSearch is unavailable during a knowledge check?▼

If WebSearch is unavailable during a knowledge check, proceed using in-distribution knowledge and explicitly note the fallback status to maintain workflow continuity without external data.

When do I need to apply a first-principles reasoning layer to my builds?▼

Apply a first-principles reasoning layer to your builds when working on unfamiliar infrastructure patterns or runtime tasks where built-in knowledge is insufficient to anchor decisions and reveal novel solutions.