# Research Synthesis Playbook

Loaded by `rcode-research-synthesizer` via `@-include`. Contains the full
eight-step synthesis process, output format specification, structured return
formats, and success criteria.

---

## Step 1: Read Research Files

Read all 4 research files:

```bash
cat .planning/research/STACK.md
cat .planning/research/FEATURES.md
cat .planning/research/ARCHITECTURE.md
cat .planning/research/PITFALLS.md

# Planning config loaded via rcode-tools.cjs in commit step
```

Parse each file to extract:
- **STACK.md:** Recommended technologies, versions, rationale
- **FEATURES.md:** Table stakes, differentiators, anti-features
- **ARCHITECTURE.md:** Patterns, component boundaries, data flow
- **PITFALLS.md:** Critical/moderate/minor pitfalls, phase warnings

## Step 2: Synthesize Executive Summary

Write 2-3 paragraphs that answer:
- What type of product is this and how do experts build it?
- What's the recommended approach based on research?
- What are the key risks and how to mitigate them?

Someone reading only this section should understand the research conclusions.

## Step 3: Extract Key Findings

For each research file, pull out the most important points:

**From STACK.md:**
- Core technologies with one-line rationale each
- Any critical version requirements

**From FEATURES.md:**
- Must-have features (table stakes)
- Should-have features (differentiators)
- What to defer to v2+

**From ARCHITECTURE.md:**
- Major components and their responsibilities
- Key patterns to follow

**From PITFALLS.md:**
- Top 3-5 pitfalls with prevention strategies

## Step 4: Derive Roadmap Implications

This is the most important section. Based on combined research:

**Suggest phase structure:**
- What should come first based on dependencies?
- What groupings make sense based on architecture?
- Which features belong together?

**For each suggested phase, include:**
- Rationale (why this order)
- What it delivers
- Which features from FEATURES.md
- Which pitfalls it must avoid

**Add research flags:**
- Which phases likely need `/rcode-research-phase` during planning?
- Which phases have well-documented patterns (skip research)?

## Step 5: Assess Confidence

| Area | Confidence | Notes |
|------|------------|-------|
| Stack | [level] | [based on source quality from STACK.md] |
| Features | [level] | [based on source quality from FEATURES.md] |
| Architecture | [level] | [based on source quality from ARCHITECTURE.md] |
| Pitfalls | [level] | [based on source quality from PITFALLS.md] |

Identify gaps that couldn't be resolved and need attention during planning.

## Step 6: Write SUMMARY.md

**ALWAYS use the Write tool to create files** — never use `Bash(cat << 'EOF')` or heredoc commands for file creation.

Use template: .rcode/templates/research-project/SUMMARY.md

Write to `.planning/research/SUMMARY.md`

## Step 7: Commit All Research

The 4 parallel researcher agents write files but do NOT commit. You commit everything together.

```bash
node ".rcode/bin/rcode-tools.cjs" commit "docs: complete project research" --files .planning/research/
```

## Step 8: Return Summary

Return brief confirmation with key points for the orchestrator.

---

Use template: .rcode/templates/research-project/SUMMARY.md

Key sections:
- Executive Summary (2-3 paragraphs)
- Key Findings (summaries from each research file)
- Implications for Roadmap (phase suggestions with rationale)
- Confidence Assessment (honest evaluation)
- Sources (aggregated from research files)

---

## Synthesis Complete

When SUMMARY.md is written and committed:

```markdown
## SYNTHESIS COMPLETE

**Files synthesized:**
- .planning/research/STACK.md
- .planning/research/FEATURES.md
- .planning/research/ARCHITECTURE.md
- .planning/research/PITFALLS.md

**Output:** .planning/research/SUMMARY.md

### Executive Summary

[2-3 sentence distillation]

### Roadmap Implications

Suggested phases: [N]

1. **[Phase name]** — [one-liner rationale]
2. **[Phase name]** — [one-liner rationale]
3. **[Phase name]** — [one-liner rationale]

### Research Flags

Needs research: Phase [X], Phase [Y]
Standard patterns: Phase [Z]

### Confidence

Overall: [HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW]
Gaps: [list any gaps]

### Ready for Requirements

SUMMARY.md committed. Orchestrator can proceed to requirements definition.
```

## Synthesis Blocked

When unable to proceed:

```markdown
## SYNTHESIS BLOCKED

**Blocked by:** [issue]

**Missing files:**
- [list any missing research files]

**Awaiting:** [what's needed]
```

---

Synthesis is complete when:

- [ ] All 4 research files read
- [ ] Executive summary captures key conclusions
- [ ] Key findings extracted from each file
- [ ] Roadmap implications include phase suggestions
- [ ] Research flags identify which phases need deeper research
- [ ] Confidence assessed honestly
- [ ] Gaps identified for later attention
- [ ] SUMMARY.md follows template format
- [ ] File committed to git
- [ ] Structured return provided to orchestrator

Quality indicators:

- **Synthesized, not concatenated:** Findings are integrated, not just copied
- **Opinionated:** Clear recommendations emerge from combined research
- **Actionable:** Roadmapper can structure phases based on implications
- **Honest:** Confidence levels reflect actual source quality

---

- synthesize findings from multiple researchers coherently
- preserve source attribution and evidence chains
- identify contradictions and validate against facts
- output structured SYNTHESIS.md for planning input
- validate conclusions against research standards
