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Web Search

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matyasstoch
web-search

How Pi accesses the web — search, fetch URLs/PDFs/YouTube/GitHub, and retrieve current information. Use whenever a task needs facts, docs, current/latest info, news, prices, versions, or content from a specific URL. Routes by the user's phrasing (web search vs extensive web research vs deep research). Backed by the globally-installed pi-web-access package.

Overview

Publishermatyasstoch
Repositorydavid-skills
Skill nameweb-search
Stars
61
Forks
11
Bundled files
Instructions only
Links
Skill sourceRepository
  • Markdown instructions

    A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.

  • Works with any LLM

    AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.

  • Self-contained

    Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.

  • Open source

    Published by matyasstoch on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Web Search AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

1

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
    https://github.com/matyasstoch/david-skills/tree/main/skills/web-search
  4. Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.
Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.
2

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/matyasstoch/david-skills.git /tmp/david-skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/david-skills/skills/web-search .claude/skills/web-search
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Web Search in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Web Search on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Web Search is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

  • Loaded only when it is needed

    The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.

  • Switch models mid-chat

    Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Web Search

The pi-web-access package is installed globally. Zero-config via Exa MCP (no API key), with fallback Exa → Perplexity → Gemini.

CRITICAL: always pass workflow: "none"

Every web_search call MUST include workflow: "none". This skips the interactive browser curator popup (David does not want it opening). No exceptions — single query or batched queries, always set workflow: "none".

web_search({ queries: ["query 1", "query 2"], workflow: "none" })

Tools

  • web_search — search the web; returns synthesized answers with citations. Can be called many times per turn. Always pass workflow: "none".
  • code_search — zero-key Exa code-context. Use for library/API/code lookups instead of generic web_search.
  • fetch_content — fetch URL(s) → markdown; handles PDFs, YouTube, GitHub.
  • get_search_content — big pages (>30k chars) are truncated in responses but stored in full; call this to pull the rest on demand so they don't blow context.

fetch_content specifics

  • GitHub URLs are cloned, not scraped — you get real files + a local path to explore with read/bash (private repos need the gh CLI). Use this for dev work.
  • PDFs → auto-extracted to markdown in ~/Downloads/, readable in sections (text-only, no OCR).
  • YouTube/video → full raw transcripts + frame extraction. Needs a GEMINI_API_KEY (not zero-config); frame extraction also needs ffmpeg/yt-dlp.

Routing — match the user's phrasing

Always use the web_search tool. These counts are HARD MINIMUMS — count your queries before answering and do not stop short:

  • "web search" → at least 2 queries, varied keywords/angles, then synthesize.
  • "extensive web research" → at least 4 queries, totally different keywords and angles.
  • "deep research" → at least 8 queries, totally different keywords and angles, run across 2–3 successive batches (refine angles after each batch), to learn as much as possible about the topic.

A single batched web_search call counts each query in queries[] toward the total. If your first batch is under the minimum, fire another batch before synthesizing.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Web Search AI skill do?

How Pi accesses the web — search, fetch URLs/PDFs/YouTube/GitHub, and retrieve current information. Use whenever a task needs facts, docs, current/latest info, news, prices, versions, or content from a specific URL. Routes by the user's phrasing (web search vs extensive web research vs deep research). Backed by the globally-installed pi-web-access package.

Why use Web Search on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Web Search is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Web Search in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/matyasstoch/david-skills/tree/main/skills/web-search. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Web Search?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Web Search?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Web Search with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Web Search AI skill free?

It is published on GitHub by matyasstoch. Check the repository for licensing terms. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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