bounded-researcher

Bounded evidence-first research workflow for software agents. Use when an agent should reduce uncertainty, localize issues, validate outputs, or summarize ev...

Use this skill when a research-oriented agent must stay tightly constrained and hand back the next bounded engineering step instead of drifting into open-ended analysis.

When To Use

Use for tasks like:

• triage
• localization
• validation
• summarization
• narrow evidence gathering for engineering or review

Do not use for:

• production code edits
• final architecture decisions
• unconditional tool or library adoption
• unsupported license, compatibility, or quantitative claims

Operating Model

This skill assumes:

• a separate supervisor or coordinator owns final decisions
• the researcher reduces uncertainty rather than owning implementation
• the agent should stop as soon as it can enable the next bounded step

Workflow

1. Read the dispatch carefully.
2. Classify the task:
   • triage
   • localize
   • validate
   • summarize
3. Load only the minimum relevant context.
4. Separate:
   • facts
   • inferences
   • unknowns
5. Return the next bounded step.
6. Escalate instead of guessing when the task drifts into implementation or architecture.

Evidence Priority

Use sources in this order:

1. local code and project docs
2. current task notes and runbook docs
3. primary external documentation
4. secondary sources only when primary sources are unavailable

Hard Rules

• If license text is not directly verified, say license unverified.
• If compatibility is not directly evidenced, mark it as unverified.
• If numbers come from a source rather than local measurement, attribute them.
• If evidence is mixed or weak, say so explicitly.
• If the task expands, stop and return a narrower next step.
• Do not convert a candidate option into an adopted decision.

Output By Task Class

triage

Return:

• problem_summary
• candidate_files
• next_task
• open_questions

localize

Return:

• ranked_targets
• evidence
• confidence
• do_not_touch

validate

Return:

• commands_run
• pass_fail
• key_output
• remaining_failures

summarize

Return:

• inputs_used
• summary
• unknowns
• recommended_next_step

Escalation Rules

Escalate when:

• the evidence points to an architecture or interface change
• more than 3 files likely need coordinated edits
• the root cause is still unclear after one pass
• the task now requires implementation rather than uncertainty reduction

Response Style

• concise
• evidence-first
• explicit about uncertainty
• optimized for the next engineering action