> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://smithers-feat-claude-workflow-mirror.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# research

> Gather repo and external context for a request.

`research` asks a tool-capable agent to inspect the repo and gather relevant context before planning or implementation.

```bash theme={null}
bunx smithers-orchestrator workflow run research --prompt "How should we add audit logs?"
```

## Inputs

| Input    | Type   | Default                       |
| -------- | ------ | ----------------------------- |
| `prompt` | string | `"Research the given topic."` |

## Use it when

* The task touches unfamiliar code.
* External docs or dependency behavior matter.
* You want file references and prior art before committing to a plan.

Follow with `plan` or `mission`.

## Use something else when

* You already have enough context and just need a plan: use [`plan`](/workflows/plan).
* You are ready to build: use [`research-plan-implement`](/workflows/research-plan-implement), which runs this research step for you.

## Resume & retry

`research` is read-only; it gathers context without changing the repo and returns it in the run output. Runs are durable and resume with `up --resume`.