Search npm / PyPI / MCP / GitHub / existing skills before writing code for any new feature, integration, library selection, or utility. Use whenever the user says 'add X functionality', 'implement Y', 'set up Z', 'integrate W', asks 'what library should I use for...', 'is there a package/client/MCP for...', proposes a specific tool while open to alternatives, or invokes planning.md Phase 0 External Research. Especially when the task adds a dependency, picks between tools, or builds a utility that likely already exists (parser, checker, converter, linter, CI step, E2E framework, payment / auth / API client). DO NOT use for bug fixes, refactoring, config value edits, file summarization, or throwaway scripts whose approach the user already fully specified.
2026-07-25