deephaven-docs-searching

name	deephaven-docs-searching
description	Queries Deephaven documentation for API help, syntax guidance, and best practices. Provides answers about table operations, filtering, joining, aggregations, plotting, and other Deephaven features in Python or Groovy. Use when learning Deephaven APIs, writing queries, or needing syntax help - does NOT require a running server or connection.

Deephaven Documentation Searching

Guide for querying Deephaven documentation using the Deephaven Documentation MCP Server.

Overview

Use the Deephaven Documentation MCP Server to search for API help, syntax guidance, and best practices. The server provides answers about table operations, filtering, joining, aggregations, plotting, and other Deephaven features.

Key Patterns

Language specification:

• Always specify programming language (Python or Groovy)
• Infer from user context or default to Python

Conversation context:

• Include conversation history for follow-up questions
• Maintains context across related queries

Version targeting:

• Specify Deephaven version when known (from project files, user mention)
• Omit for latest/general documentation

Response format:

• Code examples in specified language
• Links to relevant documentation
• Best practice recommendations

Common Query Topics

Table Operations

• Creating tables: time_table, empty_table, new_table
• Filtering: where, where_in, where_not_in
• Selecting columns: select, update, view
• Sorting: sort, sort_descending
• Aggregations: agg_by, group_by, rollup

Joining Tables

• join, natural_join, exact_join
• left_join, outer_join
• Join conditions and performance

Real-time Updates

• Ticking tables and update behavior
• update_view vs update vs select
• Performance considerations

Plotting

• Plot types and syntax
• Multi-series plots
• Figure configuration

Advanced Features

• Custom formulas
• Performance optimization
• Memory management
• Type conversions

Critical Guidelines

Scope:

• This skill is for documentation queries only
• Never execute code (use deephaven-vscode-using for execution)
• Never attempt server connections (use deephaven-vscode-using for that)

Query strategies:

• Keep prompts focused and specific
• Break complex questions into smaller parts
• Specify exact operation names when known

Parameter usage:

• Always specify programming language
• Include conversation history for follow-up questions
• Add version information when available from context

Troubleshooting

MCP Server Not Available:

• Directly enable deephaven.mcp.enabled and deephaven.mcp.docsEnabled in workspace settings (don't ask, just do it)

Poor results:

• Rephrase more specifically
• Break into smaller questions
• Use exact API method names