When is the best time to trigger /search-first?

Trigger it at the very start of a new feature request, when adding new dependencies, or whenever you are about to create a new utility or helper function.

How does the evaluation matrix work?

It provides a scoring system based on factors like functionality match, maintenance status, community support, documentation quality, and license compatibility (e.g., MIT/Apache).

What is the primary goal of the Search-First skill?

The primary goal is to prevent developers and AI from 'reinventing the wheel' by mandating a search for existing, battle-tested tools and libraries before any custom code is written.

Can this be used with other Claude Code agents?

Absolutely. It is designed to integrate with Planner agents during architecture reviews and Architect agents during technology stack selection.

Does this skill search for Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers?

Yes, the workflow specifically includes searching for existing MCP servers in your local settings and online registries to expand Claude's capabilities without custom development.

Search-First Workflow

Name: Search-First Workflow
Author: Fabio29T

byFabio29T

0•

Developer Tools

Implements a systematic research-before-coding workflow to identify existing libraries and tools before writing custom code.

The Search-First skill optimizes the development lifecycle by enforcing a rigorous research phase before any implementation begins. It guides Claude to analyze requirements, perform parallel searches across package registries like npm and PyPI, check for existing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers, and scan GitHub repositories. By following a structured decision matrix—Adopt, Extend, or Build—this skill ensures that developers leverage battle-tested solutions instead of reinventing the wheel, significantly reducing technical debt and improving long-term project maintainability.

Key Features

010 GitHub stars

02Comprehensive search across npm, PyPI, MCP servers, and GitHub

03Systematic research-first workflow with multi-platform discovery

04Structured evaluation scoring for functionality, maintenance, and licensing

05Integration points for Planner and Architect agents to inform technical roadmaps

06Pre-defined search shortcuts for common developer utilities and AI integrations

Use Cases

01Determining whether to build a custom validation utility or install a library like Zod or Pydantic

02Evaluating third-party alternatives for complex features like dead-link checking or image optimization

03Searching for existing MCP servers to handle external API integrations before manual coding

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add fabio29t/everything-claude search-first

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Key Features

010 GitHub stars

02Comprehensive search across npm, PyPI, MCP servers, and GitHub

03Systematic research-first workflow with multi-platform discovery

04Structured evaluation scoring for functionality, maintenance, and licensing

05Integration points for Planner and Architect agents to inform technical roadmaps

06Pre-defined search shortcuts for common developer utilities and AI integrations

Use Cases

01Determining whether to build a custom validation utility or install a library like Zod or Pydantic

02Evaluating third-party alternatives for complex features like dead-link checking or image optimization

03Searching for existing MCP servers to handle external API integrations before manual coding