Find 1.0.0

Pattern

Need → Clarify → Search → Validate → [Found? Deliver : Expand]

Keep searching until found or exhausted. Start narrow, expand progressively. Validate before delivering.

When to Use

• User needs to find something specific
• Location or source is unknown
• "Find me...", "Where can I get...", "I need to find..."

Not for: Things you already know, simple lookups, browsing.

Setup

Before searching, clarify:

If user is vague → ask ONE clarifying question, then start.

Search Expansion

Start narrow, expand if not found:

1. Obvious sources → Direct lookup, known locations
2. Specialized sources → Domain-specific databases, expert communities  
3. Alternative queries → Different words, related concepts
4. Indirect paths → Who would know? What links to this?
5. Ask human → More context, different angle

Each expansion: try multiple sources in parallel when possible.

Validation

Before delivering, verify:

• Is this actually what was asked for?
• Is the source reliable?
• Is it current/valid?
• Any caveats user should know?

If uncertain → say so. "Found X but not 100% sure it's what you need."

Delivery

FOUND: [what]
WHERE: [source]
CONFIDENCE: [high/medium/low]
CAVEATS: [if any]

If multiple results: summarize and let user choose.

Not Found

If exhausted all paths:

1. Report what was tried
2. Closest alternatives found
3. Suggest different approach or more context needed

Related: For iterating until success criteria are met, see loop. For multi-phase workflows, see cycle.