Research and Incorporate

Transform external knowledge into actionable, searchable project context through structured research, analysis, and memory integration.

Quick Start

/research-and-incorporate

Topic: Chesterton's Fence
Context: Decision-making principle for understanding existing systems before changing them
URLs: https://fs.blog/chestertons-fence/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._K._Chesterton

| Input | Output | Duration | |-------|--------|----------| | Topic + Context + URLs | Analysis doc + Serena memory + 5-10 Forgetful memories | 20-40 min |

Triggers

/research-and-incorporate - Main invocation
"research and incorporate {topic}" - Natural language
"study {topic} and add to memory" - Alternative phrasing
"deep dive on {topic}" - Research focus
"learn about {topic} for the project" - Project integration focus

Parameters

| Parameter | Required | Description | |-----------|----------|-------------| | TOPIC | Yes | Subject to research (e.g., "Chesterton's Fence") | | CONTEXT | Yes | Why this matters to the project | | URLS | No | Comma-separated source URLs |

Workflow Overview

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Phase 1: RESEARCH (BLOCKING)                                    │
│ • Check existing knowledge (Serena + Forgetful)                 │
│ • Fetch URLs with quote extraction                              │
│ • Web search for additional context                             │
│ • Synthesize: principles, frameworks, examples, failure modes   │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Phase 2: ANALYSIS DOCUMENT (BLOCKING)                           │
│ • Write 3000-5000 word analysis to .agents/analysis/            │
│ • Include: concepts, frameworks, applications, failure modes    │
│ • Verify: 3+ examples, 3+ failure modes, 2+ relationships       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Phase 3: APPLICABILITY (BLOCKING)                               │
│ • Map integration points: agents, protocols, memory, skills     │
│ • Propose applications with effort estimates                    │
│ • Prioritize: High/Medium/Low based on project goals            │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Phase 4: MEMORY INTEGRATION (BLOCKING)                          │
│ • Create Serena project memory with cross-references            │
│ • Create 5-10 atomic Forgetful memories (importance 7-10)       │
│ • Link memories to related concepts (auto + manual)             │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Phase 5: ACTION ITEMS                                           │
│ • Create GitHub issue if implementation work identified         │
│ • Document in session log                                       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Quality Gates (BLOCKING)

| Gate | Requirement | Phase | |------|-------------|-------| | Research depth | Core principles + frameworks + 3 examples | 1 | | Analysis length | 3000-5000 words minimum | 2 | | Concrete examples | 3+ with context and outcomes | 2 | | Failure modes | 3+ anti-patterns with corrections | 2 | | Relationships | 2+ connections to existing concepts | 2 | | Memory atomicity | Each memory <2000 chars, ONE concept | 4 | | Memory count | 5-10 Forgetful memories created | 4 |

Verification Checklist

After completion, verify:

[ ] Analysis document exists at .agents/analysis/{topic-slug}.md
[ ] Analysis is 3000-5000 words with concrete examples
[ ] Applicability section documents integration opportunities
[ ] Serena memory created with cross-references
[ ] 5-10 Forgetful memories created (importance 7-10)
[ ] Memories linked to related concepts
[ ] Each memory is atomic (<2000 chars, one concept)
[ ] Action items documented (issue or next steps)

Anti-Patterns

| Avoid | Why | Instead | |-------|-----|---------| | Superficial research | Surface definitions miss actionable insights | Dig into frameworks, examples, failure modes | | Missing applicability | Research without integration is wasted | Every insight must show HOW it applies | | Non-atomic memories | >2000 chars or multiple concepts pollutes graph | ONE concept per memory | | Disconnected knowledge | Orphaned artifacts aren't discoverable | Link memories to related concepts | | Template over-compliance | Forcing irrelevant sections wastes tokens | Organize for the topic, not the template | | Skipping verification | Quality gates exist for a reason | Verify each phase before proceeding |

Related Skills

| Skill | Relationship | |-------|--------------| | using-forgetful-memory | Memory creation best practices | | encode-repo-serena | Similar but for codebase analysis | | exploring-knowledge-graph | Navigate created knowledge | | memory | Search and retrieve incorporated knowledge |

References

| Document | Content | |----------|---------| | workflow.md | Detailed phase workflows with templates | | memory-templates.md | Forgetful memory structure templates |

Extension Points

Additional research sources: Add MCP tools for specialized domains
Custom analysis templates: Topic-specific document structures
Automated validation: Scripts to verify memory atomicity
Integration hooks: Connect to ADR review for architecture topics