You have Firecrawl or Exa MCP available and need a comprehensive multi-source report.
It directly specifies multi-source search, full-source reading, inline citations, and claim-validation rules.
Editorial confidence: highResearch a topic across the web with citations
Choose a general web-research workflow by source access, citation traceability, synthesis depth, and output destination.
Last meaningful review July 20, 2026
The job
You have a broad question or topic and need a multi-source research brief whose important claims link back to public web sources.
Includedgeneral multi-source web search · source comparison and claim attribution · cited research briefs
Not this pagesystematic academic literature review · market or competitor landscape analysis · private-data retrieval
30-second route
Consider Deep Research ↗
You need a smaller evidence-backed answer or comparison and already have web access.
It provides direct citation, source-evaluation, conflict-handling, and concise synthesis guidance without a heavyweight process.
Editorial confidence: highThe research is broad and your host supports delegated tasks plus local research files.
It is purpose-built for planned parallel subresearch and cited synthesis from saved findings.
Editorial confidence: highNo web-search or declared research-tool access is available.
All selected workflows depend on web access or named external research tools.
Editorial confidence: highBefore you install
Install Deep Research when its MCP prerequisites are available; adapt Web Search to an existing web-enabled host; use Web Research only where its delegated-task and file tools exist.
The supplied sources explicitly declare MCP requirements for Deep Research and tool-dependent workflows for Web Research, while Web Search declares guidance but no runtime setup.
Read the intervention guide →Source-led comparison
What changes the choice
Facts are extracted from each selected Skill’s declared workflow. Signals describe public adoption; they are not a universal score.
SkillBest forActionEdits?Setup
Deep ResearchA thorough general web-research brief with inline source links and explicit quality checks.Install and configure at least one required MCP, then use its six-step research workflow.None.Requires Firecrawl and/or Exa MCP; the source says both give best coverage and can be configured in ~/.codex/config.toml. ↗Web SearchA lighter-weight, citation-first research workflow for clear web answers and concise comparisons.Install and apply its research principles while using the host's available web-search capability.None.No runtime, command, or platform setup is declared in the supplied source. ↗Web ResearchA research brief that benefits from a saved plan, parallel subagents, local findings files, and final synthesis with source URLs.Install or adapt it only in a host with the documented tools; create a research folder and delegate non-overlapping subtopics.None.Requires the tool surface named in the source, including task delegation, web search, local file operations, and URL fetching. ↗Source notes
Inspect evidence and candidate limits 3 candidates
Why these candidatesEach candidate comes from tracked public sources and has a source-attributed adoption signal. This is a shortlist, not a catalogue or global ranking.
What this cannot establishWe read declared instructions and public signals. We do not run skills, benchmark outputs, audit security, or claim a universal best choice.
Use it forA thorough general web-research brief with inline source links and explicit quality checks.
Avoid ifFirecrawl or Exa MCP access is unavailable.
ActionInstall and configure at least one required MCP, then use its six-step research workflow.
EditsNone.
SetupRequires Firecrawl and/or Exa MCP; the source says both give best coverage and can be configured in ~/.codex/config.toml.
Inspect workflow and compatibility details
ContextBreak the topic into 3–5 sub-questions, search multiple sources, read key sources in full, and synthesize a cited report.
OutputResearch report with executive summary, themed findings with inline citations, takeaways, sources, and methodology.
ControlStructured end-to-end workflow with source-quality, corroboration, recency, gap, and fact-versus-inference rules.
InvocationNot yet mapped from the source.
Install scopeNot yet mapped from the source.
Agent fitGood for an agent that has the declared MCP tools and must produce a complete cited brief.
Watch outIts documented MCP tool names and result shapes are external dependencies; verify the configured tools before relying on live coverage.
Source-visible capabilitiesCited multi-source reportsSearches multiple web sources and specifies inline citations plus a Sources section in the report template.explicit sourceClaim validationRequires every claim to have a source and flags single-source claims as unverified.explicit source
CompatibilityCodexdeclarednot runtime-tested
Evidence
The skill is for thorough multi-source web research that delivers cited reports with source attribution.SKILL.md:lines 3-8 · inspected 2026-07-20 · high confidence
It requires at least Firecrawl or Exa MCP and documents their search and crawl tools.SKILL.md:lines 18-24 · inspected 2026-07-20 · high confidence
Its report template includes inline citations, sources, and methodology; quality rules require sourced and cross-referenced claims.SKILL.md:lines 83-117, 137-144 · inspected 2026-07-20 · high confidence
Public signal59 /SkillsMP source-specificbest-overallcited-reportmulti-sourceexplicit source
Use it forA lighter-weight, citation-first research workflow for clear web answers and concise comparisons.
Avoid ifYou need documented search-tool setup, delegated research, or a prescribed long-form report template.
ActionInstall and apply its research principles while using the host's available web-search capability.
EditsNone.
SetupNo runtime, command, or platform setup is declared in the supplied source.
Inspect workflow and compatibility details
ContextUse targeted and reformulated queries, assess sources, then organize findings by relevance.
OutputClear answer led by the direct answer, supporting context, and verified source URLs.
ControlPrinciple-based guidance: prefer primary sources, expose conflicts, distinguish fact from opinion, and curate 3–5 sources.
InvocationNot yet mapped from the source.
Install scopeNot yet mapped from the source.
Agent fitGood for agents that already have web access and need a compact evidence discipline rather than a heavy workflow.
Watch outThe supplied source describes research behavior but does not declare a search backend or installation prerequisites.
Source-visible capabilitiesURL citationsRequires sources to be cited with URLs so users can verify information.explicit sourceSource evaluation and synthesisPrefers primary sources, presents conflicting perspectives, and structures findings by relevance.explicit source
CompatibilityUnknownunknownnot runtime-tested
Evidence
The skill describes itself as a web-search and research specialist for finding and synthesizing information.SKILL.md:lines 2-7 · inspected 2026-07-20 · high confidence
It mandates URL citations, primary-source preference, conflict disclosure, and fact/opinion separation.SKILL.md:lines 9-15 · inspected 2026-07-20 · high confidence
It provides query-reformulation and synthesis guidance, including source curation.SKILL.md:lines 17-38 · inspected 2026-07-20 · high confidence
Public signal304 /SkillsMP source-specificcitation-firstlightweightgeneral-web-researchexplicit source
Use it forA research brief that benefits from a saved plan, parallel subagents, local findings files, and final synthesis with source URLs.
Avoid ifThe host cannot provide the documented task, web_search, write_file, list_files, read_file, and fetch_url tools.
ActionInstall or adapt it only in a host with the documented tools; create a research folder and delegate non-overlapping subtopics.
EditsNone.
SetupRequires the tool surface named in the source, including task delegation, web search, local file operations, and URL fetching.
Inspect workflow and compatibility details
ContextPlan 2–5 subtopics, run up to three research subagents in parallel, review their saved findings, then synthesize the cited brief.
OutputA saved research plan, per-subtopic findings files, and optionally a final Markdown report with source URLs and noted gaps.
ControlFile-based, delegated workflow with bounded searches per subtopic and a mandatory synthesis pass.
InvocationNot yet mapped from the source.
Install scopeNot yet mapped from the source.
Agent fitGood for agents with subagent orchestration and shared local workspace tools.
Watch outThe workflow is tool-dependent and writes research artifacts; it is less suitable for a simple in-chat lookup.
Source-visible capabilitiesParallel multi-source researchDelegates distinct subtopics to up to three research subagents in parallel, each using web search.explicit sourceCited synthesisSynthesizes local findings into a response that cites specific sources with URLs and identifies gaps or limitations.explicit source
CompatibilityUnknownunknownnot runtime-tested
Evidence
The skill explicitly searches multiple web sources, synthesizes findings, and produces cited reports using delegated subagents.SKILL.md:lines 2-6 · inspected 2026-07-20 · high confidence
It requires a saved research plan and delegates distinct subtopics to up to three parallel research subagents.SKILL.md:lines 10-50 · inspected 2026-07-20 · high confidence
Its synthesis step requires source URLs and gap identification, with an optional final report file.SKILL.md:lines 52-69 · inspected 2026-07-20 · high confidence
Public signal703 /SkillsMP source-specificdelegated-researchfile-based-workflowcited-reportexplicit source
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