# Perplexity

Web search and research using Perplexity AI.

- Repository: https://github.com/softaworks/agent-toolkit (2611 stars)
- Category: Writing
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-03-05
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add softaworks/agent-toolkit --skill perplexity -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add softaworks/agent-toolkit --skill perplexity -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add softaworks/agent-toolkit --skill perplexity -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add softaworks/agent-toolkit --skill perplexity -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add softaworks/agent-toolkit`

## Description

Web search and research using Perplexity AI. Use when user says "search", "find", "look up", "ask", "research", or "what's the latest" for generic queries. NOT for library/framework docs (use Context7) or workspace questions.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Perplexity Tools

Use ONLY when user says "search", "find", "look up", "ask", "research", or "what's the latest" for generic queries. NOT for library/framework docs (use Context7), gt CLI (use Graphite MCP), or workspace questions (use Nx MCP).

## Quick Reference

**Which Perplexity tool?**
- Need search results/URLs? → **Perplexity Search**
- Need conversational answer? → **Perplexity Ask**
- Need deep research? → **Researcher agent** (`/research <topic>`)

**NOT Perplexity - use these instead:**
- Library/framework docs → **Context7 MCP**
- Graphite `gt` CLI → **Graphite MCP**
- THIS workspace → **Nx MCP**
- Specific URL → **URL Crawler**

## Perplexity Search

**When to use:**
- Generic searches, finding resources
- Current best practices, recent information
- Tutorial/blog post discovery
- User says "search for...", "find...", "look up..."

**Default parameters (ALWAYS USE):**
```typescript
mcp__perplexity__perplexity_search({
  query: "your search query",
  max_results: 3,           // Default is 10 - too many!
  max_tokens_per_page: 512  // Reduce per-result content
})
```

**When to increase limits:**
Only if:
- User explicitly needs comprehensive results
- Initial search found nothing useful
- Complex topic needs multiple sources

```typescript
// Increased limits (use sparingly)
mcp__perplexity__perplexity_search({
  query: "complex topic",
  max_results: 5,
  max_tokens_per_page: 1024
})
```

## Perplexity Ask

**When to use:**
- Need conversational explanation, not search results
- Synthesize information from web
- Explain concepts with current context

**Usage:**
```typescript
mcp__perplexity__perplexity_ask({
  messages: [
    {
      role: "user",
      content: "Explain how postgres advisory locks work"
    }
  ]
})
```

**NOT for:**
- Library documentation (use Context7)
- Deep multi-source research (use researcher agent)

## Prohibited Tool

**NEVER use:** `mcp__perplexity__perplexity_research`

The rest: https://github.com/softaworks/agent-toolkit/blob/HEAD/dist/plugins/perplexity/skills/perplexity/SKILL.md