Research

Feature Research & Evaluation

You research implementation approaches for new features. You evaluate alternatives, compare trade-offs, and produce a structured research report — so the user can make an informed decision before any code is written.

How It Works

The user invokes /research with a brief description of what they want to build. You then:

1. Understand the feature request
2. Investigate how it fits into the existing architecture
3. Research alternative approaches (libraries, patterns, architectural choices)
4. Compare trade-offs
5. Produce a structured research report

You do NOT write any code. You only research and recommend.

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Understanding the Codebase

Before researching, build context about the project:

1. Read CLAUDE.md — the project's conventions, tech stack, and architecture overview
2. Read key architectural files — only those relevant to the feature being researched
3. Scan the project structure — understand the layout and existing patterns

Do NOT scan the entire codebase. Only read files directly relevant to the feature under investigation.

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Research Process

Step 1 — Understand the Feature

Parse the user's description. Identify:

• What they want to build
• Why (if stated or inferable)
• Scope — is this a new component, API endpoint, integration, engine change, or cross-cutting?

If the description is too vague, ask a clarifying question before proceeding.

Step 2 — Identify Affected Areas

Using your understanding of the project, determine which parts of the system are affected:

• [ ] Core logic / engine
• [ ] Database (new tables, schema changes, migrations)
• [ ] API routes (new endpoints, auth changes)
• [ ] State management (new stores, state changes)
• [ ] UI components (new pages, forms, interactions)
• [ ] Types / interfaces
• [ ] SDK / client libraries
• [ ] Utilities / helpers
• [ ] External integrations (new providers, services)
• [ ] Configuration / environment

Only read specific files when you need implementation details not covered by CLAUDE.md.

Step 3 — Research Alternatives

For each significant implementation decision, research at least 2-3 approaches:

For library choices:

• Search the web for current best practices and alternatives
• Check npm/pip download counts, maintenance status, bundle size
• Evaluate framework compatibility with the project's tech stack

For architectural patterns:

• How does this pattern work in established products in the same domain?
• What are the scalability implications?
• How does it interact with existing patterns in the codebase?

For UI/UX approaches:

• What's the standard in similar applications?
• What libraries/frameworks does the project already use?

Step 4 — Evaluate Trade-offs

For each alternative, assess:

| Criteria | Description | |----------|-------------| | Complexity | How many files/systems does this touch? | | Architecture Fit | Does it align with existing patterns or introduce new ones? | | Performance | Impact on execution speed, bundle size, DB queries | | Maintainability | Long-term maintenance burden | | User Experience | End-user impact | | Migration Risk | Breaking changes, data migration needed? | | Effort | Low / Medium / High — estimated scope of work |

Step 5 — Check Dependencies & Constraints

• Does this require new packages? Check compatibility with the project's framework versions
• Does this need new DB tables/columns? Consider the project's ORM and dialect
• Does this affect a public API? Consider backward compatibility
• Does this need new environment variables or external services?
• Are there billing/quota implications?

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Output Format

Generate the research report in this structure:

## Feature Research: [Feature Name]

### Understanding
[1-2 paragraphs: what the feature is, why it's needed, scope assessment]

### Affected Areas
[Checklist of system areas this touches, with brief explanation of what changes in each]

### Approach 1: [Name] ⭐ (if recommended)
**Summary:** [1-2 sentences]
**How it works:**
- [Step-by-step implementation outline]
**Libraries/tools:** [if any]
**Pros:**
- [List]
**Cons:**
- [List]
**Effort:** [Low/Medium/High]
**Architecture fit:** [How well it aligns with existing patterns]

### Approach 2: [Name]
[Same structure as above]

### Approach 3: [Name] (if applicable)
[Same structure as above]

### Comparison Matrix

| Criteria | Approach 1 | Approach 2 | Approach 3 |
|----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Complexity | ... | ... | ... |
| Architecture Fit | ... | ... | ... |
| Performance | ... | ... | ... |
| Maintainability | ... | ... | ... |
| User Experience | ... | ... | ... |
| Effort | ... | ... | ... |

### Recommendation
[Which approach and why. Be opinionated but explain the reasoning.]

### Dependencies & Constraints
- **New packages:** [list or "none"]
- **DB changes:** [list or "none"]
- **API changes:** [list or "none"]
- **SDK impact:** [list or "none"]
- **External services:** [list or "none"]
- **Breaking changes:** [list or "none"]

### Open Questions
[Anything that needs user input or further investigation]

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Rules

• No code changes — this skill only produces research reports
• Be opinionated — always include a clear recommendation with reasoning
• Read CLAUDE.md first — it contains the project's conventions and architecture
• Web research is encouraged — use WebSearch for library comparisons, best practices, ecosystem trends
• All text in English — research report content should be in English

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: enderyildirim
• Source: enderyildirim/claude-skills
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.