---

name: perplexity description: > Perplexity AI research assistant with real-time web search, source citations, and optimized UK-centric prompts. Access live web data, current events, market research, and comprehensive analysis backed by verified sources. version: 2.0.0 author: turbo-flow-claude mcp_server: true protocol: mcp-sdk entry_point: mcp-server/server.js dependencies:

• perplexity-sdk

---

Perplexity AI Research Skill

Access Perplexity's powerful real-time web search and research capabilities directly from Claude Code and claude-flow.

Overview

This skill provides:

• Real-time web search via Perplexity's Sonar API
• Source citations with every response
• Prompt optimization for maximum research quality
• UK-centric focus with European context
• Multiple research modes (quick, balanced, deep)

MCP Server

The skill includes an MCP server that exposes Perplexity research tools:

Tools

1. perplexity_search - Quick factual search

   • Fast, cited answers to direct questions
   • Current data and live web access

2. perplexity_research - Deep research analysis

   • Multi-source synthesis
   • Comprehensive reports with citations
   • Structured output formats

3. perplexity_generate_prompt - Prompt optimization

   • Transform vague queries into effective prompts
   • Apply best practices for Perplexity
   • UK/European context integration

Usage from Claude Code

# Quick search
perplexity_search "current UK mortgage rates major banks"

# Deep research
perplexity_research --topic "AI trends UK enterprise 2025" \
  --format "executive summary" \
  --sources 10

# Generate optimized prompt
perplexity_generate_prompt --goal "market research for renewable energy ETFs" \
  --context "UK retail investor £10K budget"

Configuration

API key configured via environment variable:

PERPLEXITY_API_KEY=pplx-xxxxx

Set in .env file or docker-compose environment.

Models Available

• sonar - Fast, balanced (default)
• sonar-pro - Deep research, more sources
• sonar-reasoning - Complex analysis

Features

Prompt Optimization

Automatically structures queries using five-element framework:

1. Instruction - Clear goal
2. Context - Background framing
3. Input - Specific constraints
4. Keywords - Focus terms
5. Output format - Structured results

UK-Centric Research

• British English spelling/terminology
• UK laws and regulations
• European context priority
• .gov.uk and UK source preference

Citation Management

Every response includes:

• Source URLs
• Publication dates
• Credibility indicators
• Verification links

Integration with Claude Flow

Swarm Mode

cf-swarm "research UK fintech regulations using perplexity skill"

Hive Mind

cf-hive "comprehensive market analysis UK renewable energy sector" \
  --tools perplexity \
  --agents 5

Hooks Integration

// Pre-task hook: Generate optimized prompt
hooks.preTask((task) => {
  if (task.requiresResearch) {
    return perplexity.generatePrompt(task.description);
  }
});

Examples

Market Research

{
  "tool": "perplexity_research",
  "params": {
    "topic": "Top 10 UK SaaS companies by ARR 2025",
    "context": "B2B software market analysis",
    "format": "table",
    "timeframe": "last 90 days",
    "sources": 15
  }
}

Regulatory Compliance

{
  "tool": "perplexity_search",
  "params": {
    "query": "UK GDPR requirements for e-commerce 2025",
    "domain_filter": [".gov.uk", ".ico.org.uk"],
    "uk_focus": true
  }
}

Competitive Analysis

{
  "tool": "perplexity_research",
  "params": {
    "topic": "Compare Stripe vs GoCardless UK market share payment processing",
    "format": "comparison table",
    "include_pricing": true,
    "uk_focus": true
  }
}

Advanced Features

Search Options

• domain_filter: Limit to specific domains
• timeframe: Recency constraint (24h, 7d, 30d, 90d)
• uk_focus: Prioritize UK/EU sources
• citation_style: APA, MLA, Chicago, IEEE
• temperature: Creativity vs precision (0.0-1.0)

Output Formats

• prose: Natural language summary
• table: Structured comparison
• bullet: Concise bullet points
• executive: Executive summary with TL;DR
• report: Full research report

Rate Limiting

• 50 requests/minute (default tier)
• 500 requests/hour
• Automatic retry with backoff
• Queue management for burst requests

Troubleshooting

API Key Issues

# Test API key
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $PERPLEXITY_API_KEY" \
  https://api.perplexity.ai/chat/completions

MCP Server Not Responding

# Check supervisord status
supervisorctl status perplexity-mcp

# View logs
tail -f /var/log/perplexity-mcp.log

Rate Limit Errors

• Reduce concurrent requests
• Increase delay between calls
• Upgrade Perplexity tier

Performance

• Quick search: 2-5 seconds
• Deep research: 10-30 seconds
• Source count: 5-20 citations typical
• Memory usage: ~50MB per MCP server

Best Practices

1. Be specific - Narrow scope, clear constraints
2. Request citations - Always verify sources
3. Use UK context - Specify regional needs
4. Optimize prompts - Use generate_prompt tool first
5. Check recency - Set timeframe for time-sensitive queries
6. Verify sources - Review citation quality

Security

• API keys stored in environment variables only
• No credential logging
• User-specific isolation (zai-user can't access devuser keys)
• TLS for all API communication

Resources

• Perplexity API Docs
• Research Templates