smart-sourcing

name	smart-sourcing
description	Selects optimal sources for tool calls, balancing accuracy with token cost. Use before research tasks or when deciding whether a claim needs verification.
alwaysApply	false
usage_patterns	["research","source","citation","verify claim","web search","fetch"]
category	optimization
tags	["sourcing","citations","accuracy","efficiency"]
tools	[]
complexity	low
model_hint	fast
estimated_tokens	400

Smart Sourcing

Intelligent sourcing that requires citations only when the cost is justified by the value of verification.

Philosophy

Full sourcing is prohibitively expensive (10-16x token increase). Smart sourcing targets high-value claims where verification materially improves accuracy.

When to Source

REQUIRE Sources

Claim Type	Example	Why Source
Version numbers	"Python 3.12 added..."	Versions change, easy to verify
Performance claims	"30% faster than..."	Quantitative claims need evidence
Security recommendations	"Use bcrypt for..."	Security advice must be current
API specifications	"The function accepts..."	APIs change between versions
Release dates	"Released in Q4 2025"	Factual, verifiable
Pricing/limits	"Free tier allows 1000 requests"	Business terms change
Deprecated features	"X was removed in version Y"	Breaking changes need verification

DO NOT Require Sources

Claim Type	Example	Why No Source
General concepts	"Async improves concurrency"	Foundational knowledge
Code examples	Demonstrative snippets	Illustrative, not factual claims
Opinion/preference	"Consider using..."	Clearly framed as suggestion
Common knowledge	"Git tracks changes"	Universal understanding
Logical derivations	"Therefore, X implies Y"	Reasoning, not factual claim
Syntax	"Use def for functions"	Language documentation is stable

Decision Framework