search-first

Survey existing tools, libraries, and patterns before coding.

Updated Apr 4, 2026

Search Tags:#research #tooling #patterns #decision-making #software-engineering #reuse

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/mitul-bhatia/Vibes --skill search-first-mitul-bhatia

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: search-first
Source: https://github.com/mitul-bhatia/Vibes/tree/main/.github/skills/search-first
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/mitul-bhatia/Vibes --skill search-first-mitul-bhatia

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Research-before-coding workflow reduces wasted effort by ensuring teams search for existing tools, libraries, and patterns before writing custom code, preventing reinvention.

Core Features & Use Cases

Systematic NEED ANALYSIS, PARALLEL SEARCH, EVALUATE, and DECIDE workflow to guide decision-making.
Encourages leveraging established dependencies and reference architectures to accelerate delivery.
Use Case: starting a feature or adding a dependency, perform broad searches and evaluate candidates to choose Adopt/Extend/Build.

Quick Start

Survey existing tools, libraries, and patterns before writing new code.

Frequently Asked Questions about search-first

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

FAQPage Schema

How do I research existing libraries and patterns before coding a new feature?▼

Research existing libraries and patterns before coding by performing systematic need analysis, parallel searches, and evaluations to identify proven solutions. This prevents reinventing tools and yields a structured assessment recommending whether to adopt, extend, or build.

What is the best way to evaluate dependencies before adding them to a software project?▼

Evaluating dependencies before adding them involves guiding a researcher agent to perform parallel searches across established tools and reference architectures. The process delivers a structured assessment comparing candidates to yield an adopt, extend, or build decision.

When should I search for existing tools instead of writing custom code?▼

Search for existing tools instead of writing custom code whenever starting a feature, integrating dependencies, or adding utilities. This research-before-coding workflow reduces wasted effort by ensuring teams leverage proven solutions and established patterns.

How does parallel search help choose between adopting, extending, or building a solution?▼

Parallel search accelerates choosing between adopt, extend, or build by concurrently evaluating multiple existing tools and patterns against your requirements. This systematic evaluation delivers a recommended course of action based on structured findings.

Can this research workflow integrate with my existing software engineering tooling?▼

The research workflow integrates with existing software engineering tooling by guiding a researcher agent to survey established dependencies and reference architectures. It operates without external dependencies to function within your current environment.

Why does reinventing solutions waste effort during software development?▼

Reinventing solutions wastes effort during software development because it ignores established dependencies and proven patterns. Performing need analysis and broad searches before coding prevents this by delivering a structured assessment to leverage existing tools.