# Technical Research Step 3: Integration Patterns

<purpose>
Conduct integration patterns analysis identifying API design patterns, communication protocols, data formats and standards, system interoperability approaches, microservices integration patterns, event-driven integration, and integration security patterns using verified web search data.
</purpose>

<instructions>
1. Execute parallel web searches for API patterns, communication protocols, interoperability, and integration approaches
2. Analyze and aggregate integration findings
3. Generate integration patterns analysis content with seven subsections (API Design Patterns, Communication Protocols, Data Formats, System Interoperability, Microservices Integration, Event-Driven Integration, Integration Security)
4. Include source citations for all integration data
5. Write content immediately to document
6. Present [C] continue option after content generation
7. Update frontmatter stepsCompleted to [1, 2, 3] before loading next step
</instructions>

<output>
Integration patterns analysis sections containing:
- API design patterns and protocols with source citations
- Communication protocols analysis with source citations
- Data formats and standards with source citations
- System interoperability approaches with source citations
- Microservices integration patterns with source citations
- Event-driven integration patterns with source citations
- Integration security patterns with source citations
- All content appended to research document
</output>

## MANDATORY EXECUTION RULES (READ FIRST):

- 🛑 NEVER generate content without web search verification

- 📖 CRITICAL: ALWAYS read the complete step file before taking any action - partial understanding leads to incomplete decisions
- 🔄 CRITICAL: When loading next step with 'C', ensure the entire file is read and understood before proceeding
- ✅ Search the web to verify and supplement your knowledge with current facts
- 📋 YOU ARE AN INTEGRATION ANALYST, not content generator
- 💬 FOCUS on APIs, protocols, and system interoperability
- 🔍 WEB SEARCH REQUIRED - verify current facts against live sources
- 📝 WRITE CONTENT IMMEDIATELY TO DOCUMENT
- ✅ YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT In your Agent communication style with the config `{communication_language}`

## EXECUTION PROTOCOLS:

- 🎯 Show web search analysis before presenting findings
- ⚠️ Present [C] continue option after integration patterns content generation
- 📝 WRITE INTEGRATION PATTERNS ANALYSIS TO DOCUMENT IMMEDIATELY
- 💾 ONLY proceed when user chooses C (Continue)
- 📖 Update frontmatter `stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3]` before loading next step
- 🚫 FORBIDDEN to load next step until C is selected

## CONTEXT BOUNDARIES:

- Current document and frontmatter from previous steps are available
- **Research topic = "{{research_topic}}"** - established from initial discussion
- **Research goals = "{{research_goals}}"** - established from initial discussion
- Focus on APIs, protocols, and system interoperability
- Web search capabilities with source verification are enabled

## YOUR TASK:

Conduct integration patterns analysis focusing on APIs, communication protocols, and system interoperability. Search the web to verify and supplement current facts.

## INTEGRATION PATTERNS ANALYSIS SEQUENCE:

### 1. Begin Integration Patterns Analysis

**UTILIZE SUBPROCESSES AND SUBAGENTS**: Use research subagents, subprocesses or parallel processing if available to thoroughly analyze different integration areas simultaneously and thoroughly.

Start with integration patterns research approach:
"Now I'll conduct **integration patterns analysis** for **{{research_topic}}** to understand system integration approaches.

**Integration Patterns Focus:**

- API design patterns and protocols
- Communication protocols and data formats
- System interoperability approaches
- Microservices integration patterns
- Event-driven architectures and messaging

**Let me search for current integration patterns insights.**"

### 2. Parallel Integration Patterns Research Execution

**Execute multiple web searches simultaneously:**

Search the web: "{{research_topic}} API design patterns protocols"
Search the web: "{{research_topic}} communication protocols data formats"
Search the web: "{{research_topic}} system interoperability integration"
Search the web: "{{research_topic}} microservices integration patterns"

**Analysis approach:**

- Look for recent API design guides and best practices
- Search for communication protocol documentation and standards
- Research integration platform and middleware solutions
- Analyze microservices architecture patterns and approaches
- Study event-driven systems and messaging patterns

### 3. Analyze and Aggregate Results

**Collect and analyze findings from all parallel searches:**

"After executing comprehensive parallel web searches, let me analyze and aggregate integration patterns findings:

**Research Coverage:**

- API design patterns and protocols analysis
- Communication protocols and data formats evaluation
- System interoperability approaches assessment
- Microservices integration patterns documentation

**Cross-Integration Analysis:**
[Identify patterns connecting API choices, communication protocols, and system design]

**Quality Assessment:**
[Overall confidence levels and research gaps identified]"

### 4. Generate Integration Patterns Content

**WRITE IMMEDIATELY TO DOCUMENT**

Prepare integration patterns analysis with web search citations:

#### Content Structure:

When saving to document, append these Level 2 and Level 3 sections:

```markdown
## Integration Patterns Analysis

### API Design Patterns

[API design patterns analysis with source citations]
_RESTful APIs: [REST principles and best practices for {{research_topic}}]_
_GraphQL APIs: [GraphQL adoption and implementation patterns]_
_RPC and gRPC: [High-performance API communication patterns]_
_Webhook Patterns: [Event-driven API integration approaches]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Communication Protocols

[Communication protocols analysis with source citations]
_HTTP/HTTPS Protocols: [Web-based communication patterns and evolution]_
_WebSocket Protocols: [Real-time communication and persistent connections]_
_Message Queue Protocols: [AMQP, MQTT, and messaging patterns]_
_grpc and Protocol Buffers: [High-performance binary communication protocols]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Data Formats and Standards

[Data formats analysis with source citations]
_JSON and XML: [Structured data exchange formats and their evolution]_
_Protobuf and MessagePack: [Efficient binary serialization formats]_
_CSV and Flat Files: [Legacy data integration and bulk transfer patterns]_
_Custom Data Formats: [Domain-specific data exchange standards]_
_Source: [URL]_

### System Interoperability Approaches

[Interoperability analysis with source citations]
_Point-to-Point Integration: [Direct system-to-system communication patterns]_
_API Gateway Patterns: [Centralized API management and routing]_
_Service Mesh: [Service-to-service communication and observability]_
_Enterprise Service Bus: [Traditional enterprise integration patterns]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Microservices Integration Patterns

[Microservices integration analysis with source citations]
_API Gateway Pattern: [External API management and routing]_
_Service Discovery: [Dynamic service registration and discovery]_
_Circuit Breaker Pattern: [Fault tolerance and resilience patterns]_
_Saga Pattern: [Distributed transaction management]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Event-Driven Integration

[Event-driven analysis with source citations]
_Publish-Subscribe Patterns: [Event broadcasting and subscription models]_
_Event Sourcing: [Event-based state management and persistence]_
_Message Broker Patterns: [RabbitMQ, Kafka, and message routing]_
_CQRS Patterns: [Command Query Responsibility Segregation]_
_Source: [URL]_

### Integration Security Patterns

[Security patterns analysis with source citations]
_OAuth 2.0 and JWT: [API authentication and authorization patterns]_
_API Key Management: [Secure API access and key rotation]_
_Mutual TLS: [Certificate-based service authentication]_
_Data Encryption: [Secure data transmission and storage]_
_Source: [URL]_
```

### 5. Present Analysis and Continue Option

**Show analysis and present continue option:**

"I've completed **integration patterns analysis** of system integration approaches for {{research_topic}}.

**Key Integration Patterns Findings:**

- API design patterns and protocols thoroughly analyzed
- Communication protocols and data formats evaluated
- System interoperability approaches documented
- Microservices integration patterns mapped
- Event-driven integration strategies identified

**Ready to proceed to architectural patterns analysis?**
[C] Continue - Save this to document and proceed to architectural patterns

### 6. Handle Continue Selection

#### If 'C' (Continue):

- **CONTENT ALREADY WRITTEN TO DOCUMENT**
- Update frontmatter: `stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3]`
- Load: `./step-04-architectural-patterns.md`

## APPEND TO DOCUMENT:

Content is already written to document when generated in step 4. No additional append needed.

## SUCCESS METRICS:

✅ API design patterns and protocols thoroughly analyzed
✅ Communication protocols and data formats evaluated
✅ System interoperability approaches documented
✅ Microservices integration patterns mapped
✅ Event-driven integration strategies identified
✅ Content written immediately to document
✅ [C] continue option presented and handled correctly
✅ Proper routing to next step (architectural patterns)
✅ Research goals alignment maintained

## FAILURE MODES:

❌ Relying solely on training data without web verification for current facts

❌ Missing critical API design patterns or protocols
❌ Incomplete communication protocols analysis
❌ Not identifying system interoperability approaches
❌ Not writing content immediately to document
❌ Not presenting [C] continue option after content generation
❌ Not routing to architectural patterns step

❌ **CRITICAL**: Reading only partial step file - leads to incomplete understanding and poor decisions
❌ **CRITICAL**: Proceeding with 'C' without fully reading and understanding the next step file
❌ **CRITICAL**: Making decisions without complete understanding of step requirements and protocols

## INTEGRATION PATTERNS RESEARCH PROTOCOLS:

- Research API design guides and best practices documentation
- Use communication protocol specifications and standards
- Analyze integration platform and middleware solutions
- Study microservices architecture patterns and case studies
- Focus on current integration data
- Present conflicting information when sources disagree
- Apply confidence levels appropriately

## INTEGRATION PATTERNS ANALYSIS STANDARDS:

- Always cite URLs for web search results
- Use authoritative integration research sources
- Note data currency and potential limitations
- Present multiple perspectives when sources conflict
- Apply confidence levels to uncertain data
- Focus on actionable integration insights

## NEXT STEP:

After user selects 'C', load `./step-04-architectural-patterns.md` to analyze architectural patterns, design decisions, and system structures for {{research_topic}}.

Remember: Always write research content to document immediately and emphasize current integration data with rigorous source verification!
