gsd-research-phase

<objective> Research how to implement a phase. Spawns gsd-phase-researcher agent with phase context.

Note: This is a standalone research command. For most workflows, use

{{COMMAND_PREFIX}}plan-phase

which integrates research automatically.

Use this command when:

You want to research without planning yet
You want to re-research after planning is complete
You need to investigate before deciding if a phase is feasible

Orchestrator role: Parse phase, validate against roadmap, check existing research, gather context, spawn researcher agent, present results.

Why subagent: Research burns context fast (WebSearch, Context7 queries, source verification). Fresh 200k context for investigation. Main context stays lean for user interaction. </objective>

<context> Phase number: $ARGUMENTS (required)

Normalize phase input in step 1 before any directory lookups. </context>

0. Initialize Context

bash

INIT=$(node {{PLATFORM_ROOT}}/get-shit-done/bin/gsd-tools.cjs init phase-op "$ARGUMENTS")

Extract from init JSON:

phase_dir

phase_number

phase_name

phase_found

commit_docs

has_research

state_path

requirements_path

context_path

research_path

Resolve researcher model:

bash

RESEARCHER_MODEL=$(node {{PLATFORM_ROOT}}/get-shit-done/bin/gsd-tools.cjs resolve-model gsd-phase-researcher --raw)

1. Validate Phase

bash

PHASE_INFO=$(node {{PLATFORM_ROOT}}/get-shit-done/bin/gsd-tools.cjs roadmap get-phase "${phase_number}")

If
found
is false: Error and exit. If
found
is true: Extract

phase_number

phase_name

goal

from JSON.

2. Check Existing Research

bash

ls .planning/phases/${PHASE}-*/RESEARCH.md 2>/dev/null

If exists: Offer: 1) Update research, 2) View existing, 3) Skip. Wait for response.

If doesn't exist: Continue.

3. Gather Phase Context

Use paths from INIT (do not inline file contents in orchestrator context):

```
requirements_path
```
```
context_path
```
```
state_path
```

Present summary with phase description and what files the researcher will load.

4. Spawn gsd-phase-researcher Agent

Research modes: ecosystem (default), feasibility, implementation, comparison.

markdown

<research_type>
Phase Research — investigating HOW to implement a specific phase well.
</research_type>

<key_insight>
The question is NOT "which library should I use?"

The question is: "What do I not know that I don't know?"

For this phase, discover:
- What's the established architecture pattern?
- What libraries form the standard stack?
- What problems do people commonly hit?
- What's SOTA vs what Claude's training thinks is SOTA?
- What should NOT be hand-rolled?
</key_insight>

<objective>
Research implementation approach for Phase {phase_number}: {phase_name}
Mode: ecosystem
</objective>

<files_to_read>
- {requirements_path} (Requirements)
- {context_path} (Phase context from discuss-phase, if exists)
- {state_path} (Prior project decisions and blockers)
</files_to_read>

<additional_context>
**Phase description:** {phase_description}
</additional_context>

<downstream_consumer>
Your RESEARCH.md will be loaded by `{{COMMAND_PREFIX}}plan-phase` which uses specific sections:
- `## Standard Stack` → Plans use these libraries
- `## Architecture Patterns` → Task structure follows these
- `## Don't Hand-Roll` → Tasks NEVER build custom solutions for listed problems
- `## Common Pitfalls` → Verification steps check for these
- `## Code Examples` → Task actions reference these patterns

Be prescriptive, not exploratory. "Use X" not "Consider X or Y."
</downstream_consumer>

<quality_gate>
Before declaring complete, verify:
- [ ] All domains investigated (not just some)
- [ ] Negative claims verified with official docs
- [ ] Multiple sources for critical claims
- [ ] Confidence levels assigned honestly
- [ ] Section names match what plan-phase expects
</quality_gate>

<output>
Write to: .planning/phases/${PHASE}-{slug}/${PHASE}-RESEARCH.md
</output>

Task(
  prompt="First, read {{PLATFORM_ROOT}}/agents/gsd-phase-researcher.md for your role and instructions.\n\n" + filled_prompt,
  subagent_type="general-purpose",
  model="{researcher_model}",
  description="Research Phase {phase}"
)

5. Handle Agent Return

## RESEARCH COMPLETE
: Display summary, offer: Plan phase, Dig deeper, Review full, Done.

## CHECKPOINT REACHED
: Present to user, get response, spawn continuation.

## RESEARCH INCONCLUSIVE
: Show what was attempted, offer: Add context, Try different mode, Manual.

6. Spawn Continuation Agent

markdown

<objective>
Continue research for Phase {phase_number}: {phase_name}
</objective>

<prior_state>
<files_to_read>
- .planning/phases/${PHASE}-{slug}/${PHASE}-RESEARCH.md (Existing research)
</files_to_read>
</prior_state>

<checkpoint_response>
**Type:** {checkpoint_type}
**Response:** {user_response}
</checkpoint_response>

Task(
  prompt="First, read {{PLATFORM_ROOT}}/agents/gsd-phase-researcher.md for your role and instructions.\n\n" + continuation_prompt,
  subagent_type="general-purpose",
  model="{researcher_model}",
  description="Continue research Phase {phase}"
)

</process>

<success_criteria>

Phase validated against roadmap
Existing research checked
gsd-phase-researcher spawned with context
Checkpoints handled correctly
User knows next steps </success_criteria>

gsd-research-phase

NPX Install

Tags

SKILL.md Content

0. Initialize Context

1. Validate Phase

2. Check Existing Research

3. Gather Phase Context

4. Spawn gsd-phase-researcher Agent

5. Handle Agent Return

6. Spawn Continuation Agent