Technical Research Skill

Structured approach to technical spikes, proof of concepts, and technology evaluations.

What This Skill Does

• Conducts timeboxed technical investigations
• Creates proof of concept implementations
• Compares technical options objectively
• Documents findings and recommendations
• Identifies risks and dependencies
• Provides implementation paths

When to Use

• Technology selection decisions
• Architecture exploration
• Feasibility studies
• Performance investigations
• Library/framework evaluation

Reference Files

• references/TECHNICAL_SPIKE.template.md – Structured spike investigation format

Spike Structure

1. Objective – Clear questions to answer
2. Timebox – Fixed investigation period
3. Options – Multiple approaches explored
4. POC – Working code for each option
5. Comparison – Weighted criteria matrix
6. Recommendation – Justified decision

Best Practices

• Define success criteria upfront
• Explore at least 2-3 options
• Create runnable POC code
• Document trade-offs honestly
• Track unanswered questions
• Stay within timebox