Research workflow for finding current solutions, best practices, and community patterns. Use when you need the latest 2026 information, not just documentation. Search the web, find what's working NOW.
Find what's working NOW, not just what's documented.
| Need | Search Strategy |
|---|---|
| Official docs | site:docs.example.com [topic] |
| Current best practices | [topic] 2026 best practices |
| Community patterns | [topic] site:github.com |
| Real implementations | [tool] example site:github.com |
| Problems & solutions | [error message] or [topic] issues |
| Comparisons | [tool A] vs [tool B] 2026 |
Before starting research, ask:
| Dimension | Spectrum |
|---|---|
| Depth | Quick answer ←→ Comprehensive understanding |
| Recency | Stable docs ←→ Bleeding edge |
| Source Trust | Official only ←→ Any working solution |
| Format | Code examples ←→ Conceptual understanding |
| Scope | Specific error ←→ Broad topic exploration |
| If Context Is... | Then Consider... |
|---|---|
| Specific error message | Search exact error, check GitHub issues, Stack Overflow |
| Learning new tool | Official docs first, then community examples |
| Comparing options | "[A] vs [B] 2026" search, check recent benchmarks |
| Best practices needed | "[topic] best practices 2026", check popular repos |
| Stuck for 15+ min | Stop researching, try different approach, ask for help |
| Found working example | Verify source tier, test locally, then adapt |
Start with the simplest search:
[topic] [year]
Examples:
If quick search doesn't solve it, go to source: