griffinhilly/claude-code-synthesis/research

Research Agent

Launch a research-only investigation. This agent gathers information but does NOT implement anything.

Input

Research topic: $ARGUMENTS

If no arguments, ask the user what to research.

Process

Step 1: Scope the Research

Before launching agents, determine:

• What specifically needs to be answered?
• What sources are relevant? (codebase, web, specific files, databases)
• What does the user need to decide based on this research?

Step 2: Launch Research Agent(s)

Use the Agent tool with subagent_type=Explore for codebase research, or subagent_type=general-purpose for broader research.

The agent prompt should:

1. State the research question clearly
2. List specific things to look for
3. Specify the output format (findings, options, recommendations)
4. Explicitly instruct: "Do NOT make any changes. Read-only research."

For broad topics, launch multiple agents in parallel targeting different aspects.

Step 3: Synthesize

After agents return, synthesize findings into:

1. Key Facts — what we now know
2. Options — if the research was to inform a decision, list options with tradeoffs
3. Recommendation — if appropriate, suggest a path forward
4. Unknowns — what we still don't know

Rules

• Research agents must NOT edit files, write code, or make changes
• Present findings neutrally — don't bias toward a conclusion
• If research reveals the task is more complex than expected, say so
• Record important findings in project MEMORY.md if they'll be needed later