web

Web Command¶

The web command performs intelligent web research using Perplexity AI, providing curated, up-to-date information from across the internet without requiring you to leave the terminal.

Syntax¶

cursor-utils web [OPTIONS] QUERY

Arguments¶

Argument	Description	Required	Example
`QUERY`	The search query to research	Yes	"How to implement JWT authentication in Express"

Options¶

Option	Description	Default	Example
`--model`	The Perplexity model to use	`sonar`	`--model sonar-reasoning`
`--format`	Output format (plain, markdown, json, rich)	`rich`	`--format markdown`
`--help`	Show command help	-	`--help`

Available Models¶

Model	Description	Best For
`sonar`	Standard search model	General queries, basic information
`sonar-pro`	Enhanced search model	More comprehensive results
`sonar-reasoning`	Model with reasoning capabilities	Technical queries requiring analysis
`sonar-reasoning-pro`	Advanced reasoning model	Complex technical questions, in-depth analysis

Configuration¶

Before using the web command, you need to set up your Perplexity API key:

cursor-utils config set perplexity_api_key YOUR_PERPLEXITY_API_KEY

You can obtain an API key from Perplexity API documentation.

Examples¶

Basic Usage¶

Simple web search:

cursor-utils web "What is Docker containerization?"

Using Different Models¶

Use a specific model for more technical queries:

cursor-utils web --model sonar-reasoning "Compare microservices vs. monolithic architecture"

For complex topics requiring in-depth analysis:

cursor-utils web --model sonar-reasoning-pro "Explain OAuth 2.0 security considerations"

Different Output Formats¶

Output in markdown format for documentation:

cursor-utils web --format markdown "Best practices for React state management"

Output in JSON format for programmatic use:

cursor-utils web --format json "List HTTP status codes and meanings"

Use Cases¶

Technical Research¶

Researching programming concepts:

cursor-utils web "How does Redux middleware work?"

Finding best practices:

cursor-utils web --model sonar-reasoning "Best practices for securing Node.js applications"

Comparing technologies:

cursor-utils web "Compare PostgreSQL vs. MongoDB for web applications"

Problem Solving¶

Debugging errors:

cursor-utils web "Fix React useEffect infinite loop"

Finding solutions to common issues:

cursor-utils web "Resolve Docker networking between containers"

Learning¶

Understanding new technologies:

cursor-utils web --model sonar-reasoning "Explain WebAssembly and its use cases"

Following development trends:

cursor-utils web "Latest developments in frontend frameworks 2023"

Documentation and Examples¶

Finding code examples:

cursor-utils web "Example of using React context API with TypeScript"

Looking up API documentation:

cursor-utils web "How to use fetch API with async/await"

Advanced Techniques¶

Focused Queries¶

For more precise results, craft specific queries:

# Less effective
cursor-utils web "React"

# More effective
cursor-utils web "React custom hooks for form validation best practices"

Combining with Other Tools¶

Pipe results to other commands for further processing:

# Extract code examples from the results
cursor-utils web --format plain "Python pandas dataframe filtering examples" | grep -A 20 "```python" | grep -B 20 "```"

Save results to a file for later reference:

cursor-utils web --format markdown "GraphQL schema design best practices" > graphql-best-practices.md

Iterative Research¶

Build on previous research with follow-up queries:

# Start with a general topic
cursor-utils web "What is WebRTC?"

# Follow up with more specific questions
cursor-utils web "WebRTC NAT traversal techniques"
cursor-utils web "Implementing WebRTC signaling server in Node.js"

Best Practices¶

Be Specific: Frame your query with specific details for better results

# Less effective
cursor-utils web "JavaScript testing"

# More effective
cursor-utils web "Unit testing React components with Jest and React Testing Library"

Choose the Right Model: Select the appropriate model for your query type
Use sonar for general information
Use sonar-reasoning or sonar-reasoning-pro for technical topics requiring analysis
Consider Output Format: Choose the format that best suits your needs
Use markdown for documentation
Use rich for interactive terminal viewing
Use json for programmatic processing

Check Information Freshness: Web information can become outdated

cursor-utils web "Latest version of Node.js and its features"

Verify Technical Solutions: Always validate solutions in your specific context
```
cursor-utils web "How to fix memory leaks in React applications"
```

Troubleshooting¶

API Key Issues¶

If you receive authentication errors:

Error: Invalid API key

Verify your API key is correctly set:

cursor-utils config get perplexity_api_key

If it's missing or incorrect, set it:

cursor-utils config set perplexity_api_key YOUR_PERPLEXITY_API_KEY

Model Availability¶

If you receive an error about model availability:

Error: Model [model_name] is not available

Try using a different model:

cursor-utils web --model sonar "Your query"

Rate Limiting¶

If you encounter rate limiting:

Error: Rate limit exceeded

Wait a few minutes and try again, or check your API usage limits.

No Results Found¶

If your query returns limited or no results:

No relevant information found for your query

Try reformulating your query to be more specific or using different keywords.