fix: ensure web search is performed for research plans to fix #535 (#640)

* fix: ensure web search is performed for research plans to fix #535

          When using certain models (DeepSeek-V3, Qwen3, or local deployments), the
          agent framework failed to trigger web search tools, resulting in hallucinated
          data. This fix implements multiple safeguards:

          1. Add enforce_web_search configuration flag:
             - New config option to mandate web search in research plans
             - Defaults to False for backward compatibility

          2. Add plan validation function validate_and_fix_plan():
             - Validates that plans include at least one research step with web search
             - Enforces web search requirement when enabled
             - Adds default research step if plan has no steps

          3. Enhance coordinator_node fallback logic:
             - When model fails to call tools, fallback to planner instead of __end__
             - Ensures workflow continues even when tool calling fails
             - Logs detailed diagnostic info for debugging

          4. Update prompts for stricter requirements:
             - planner.md: Add MANDATORY web search requirement and clear warnings
             - coordinator.md: Add CRITICAL tool calling requirement
             - Emphasize consequences of missing web search (hallucinated data)

          5. Update tests to reflect new behavior:
             - test_coordinator_node_no_tool_calls: Expect planner instead of __end__
             - test_coordinator_empty_llm_response_corner_case: Same expectation

          Fixes #535 by ensuring:
          - Web search is always performed for research tasks
          - Workflow doesn't terminate on tool calling failures
          - Models with poor tool calling support can still proceed
          - No hallucinated data without real information gathering

* Update src/graph/nodes.py

Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

* Update src/graph/nodes.py

Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

* accept the review suggestion of getting configuration

---------

Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

src/config/configuration.py

@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ class Configuration:
     mcp_settings: dict = None  # MCP settings, including dynamic loaded tools
     report_style: str = ReportStyle.ACADEMIC.value  # Report style
     enable_deep_thinking: bool = False  # Whether to enable deep thinking
+    enforce_web_search: bool = False  # Enforce at least one web search step in every plan
 
     @classmethod
     def from_runnable_config(

src/graph/nodes.py

@@ -75,6 +75,54 @@ def needs_clarification(state: dict) -> bool:
     )
 
 
+def validate_and_fix_plan(plan: dict, enforce_web_search: bool = False) -> dict:
+    """
+    Validate and fix a plan to ensure it meets requirements.
+    
+    Args:
+        plan: The plan dict to validate
+        enforce_web_search: If True, ensure at least one step has need_search=true
+        
+    Returns:
+        The validated/fixed plan dict
+    """
+    if not isinstance(plan, dict):
+        return plan
+        
+    steps = plan.get("steps", [])
+    
+    if enforce_web_search:
+        # Check if any step has need_search=true
+        has_search_step = any(step.get("need_search", False) for step in steps)
+        
+        if not has_search_step and steps:
+            # Ensure first research step has web search enabled
+            for idx, step in enumerate(steps):
+                if step.get("step_type") == "research":
+                    step["need_search"] = True
+                    logger.info(f"Enforced web search on research step at index {idx}")
+                    break
+            else:
+                # Fallback: If no research step exists, convert the first step to a research step with web search enabled.
+                # This ensures that at least one step will perform a web search as required.
+                steps[0]["step_type"] = "research"
+                steps[0]["need_search"] = True
+                logger.info("Converted first step to research with web search enforcement")
+        elif not has_search_step and not steps:
+            # Add a default research step if no steps exist
+            logger.warning("Plan has no steps. Adding default research step.")
+            plan["steps"] = [
+                {
+                    "need_search": True,
+                    "title": "Initial Research",
+                    "description": "Gather information about the topic",
+                    "step_type": "research",
+                }
+            ]
+    
+    return plan
+
+
 def background_investigation_node(state: State, config: RunnableConfig):
     logger.info("background investigation node is running.")
     configurable = Configuration.from_runnable_config(config)
@@ -182,6 +230,11 @@ def planner_node(
             return Command(goto="reporter")
         else:
             return Command(goto="__end__")
+    
+    # Validate and fix plan to ensure web search requirements are met
+    if isinstance(curr_plan, dict):
+        curr_plan = validate_and_fix_plan(curr_plan, configurable.enforce_web_search)
+    
     if isinstance(curr_plan, dict) and curr_plan.get("has_enough_context"):
         logger.info("Planner response has enough context.")
         new_plan = Plan.model_validate(curr_plan)
@@ -234,6 +287,9 @@ def human_feedback_node(
         plan_iterations += 1
         # parse the plan
         new_plan = json.loads(current_plan)
+        # Validate and fix plan to ensure web search requirements are met
+        configurable = Configuration.from_runnable_config(config)
+        new_plan = validate_and_fix_plan(new_plan, configurable.enforce_web_search)
     except json.JSONDecodeError:
         logger.warning("Planner response is not a valid JSON")
         if plan_iterations > 1:  # the plan_iterations is increased before this check
@@ -508,9 +564,16 @@ def coordinator_node(
             logger.error(f"Error processing tool calls: {e}")
             goto = "planner"
     else:
-        # No tool calls - both modes should goto __end__
+        # No tool calls detected - fallback to planner instead of ending
-        logger.warning("LLM didn't call any tools. Staying at __end__.")
+        logger.warning(
-        goto = "__end__"
+            "LLM didn't call any tools. This may indicate tool calling issues with the model. "
+            "Falling back to planner to ensure research proceeds."
+        )
+        # Log full response for debugging
+        logger.debug(f"Coordinator response content: {response.content}")
+        logger.debug(f"Coordinator response object: {response}")
+        # Fallback to planner to ensure workflow continues
+        goto = "planner"
 
     # Apply background_investigation routing if enabled (unified logic)
     if goto == "planner" and state.get("enable_background_investigation"):

src/prompts/coordinator.md

@@ -51,6 +51,15 @@ Your primary responsibilities are:
 - For all other inputs (category 3 - which includes most questions):
   - call `handoff_to_planner()` tool to handoff to planner for research without ANY thoughts.
 
+# Tool Calling Requirements
+
+**CRITICAL**: You MUST call one of the available tools for research requests. This is mandatory:
+- Do NOT respond to research questions without calling a tool
+- For research questions, ALWAYS use either `handoff_to_planner()` or `handoff_after_clarification()`
+- Tool calling is required to ensure the workflow proceeds correctly
+- Never skip tool calling even if you think you can answer the question directly
+- Responding with text alone for research requests will cause the workflow to fail
+
 # Clarification Process (When Enabled)
 
 Goal: Get 2+ dimensions before handing off to planner.

src/prompts/planner.md

@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ Different types of steps have different web search requirements:
    - Collecting competitor analysis
    - Researching current events or news
    - Finding statistical data or reports
+   - **CRITICAL**: Research plans MUST include at least one step with `need_search: true` to gather real information
+   - Without web search, the report will contain hallucinated/fabricated data
 
 2. **Data Processing Steps** (`need_search: false`):
    - API calls and data extraction
@@ -71,6 +73,15 @@ Different types of steps have different web search requirements:
    - Raw data collection from existing sources
    - Mathematical calculations and analysis
    - Statistical computations and data processing
+   - **NOTE**: Processing steps alone are insufficient - you must include research steps with web search
+
+## Web Search Requirement
+
+**MANDATORY**: Every research plan MUST include at least one step with `need_search: true`. This is critical because:
+- Without web search, models generate hallucinated data
+- Research steps must gather real information from external sources
+- Pure processing steps cannot generate credible information for the final report
+- At least one research step must search the web for factual data
 
 ## Exclusions
 
@@ -143,6 +154,7 @@ When planning information gathering, consider these key aspects and ensure COMPR
   - Create NO MORE THAN {{ max_step_num }} focused and comprehensive steps that cover the most essential aspects
   - Ensure each step is substantial and covers related information categories
   - Prioritize breadth and depth within the {{ max_step_num }}-step constraint
+  - **MANDATORY**: Include at least ONE research step with `need_search: true` to avoid hallucinated data
   - For each step, carefully assess if web search is needed:
     - Research and external data gathering: Set `need_search: true`
     - Internal data processing: Set `need_search: false`
@@ -150,6 +162,7 @@ When planning information gathering, consider these key aspects and ensure COMPR
 - Prioritize depth and volume of relevant information - limited information is not acceptable.
 - Use the same language as the user to generate the plan.
 - Do not include steps for summarizing or consolidating the gathered information.
+- **CRITICAL**: Verify that your plan includes at least one step with `need_search: true` before finalizing
 
 # Output Format
 

tests/integration/test_nodes.py

@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ def test_coordinator_node_no_tool_calls(
     patch_handoff_to_planner,
     patch_logger,
 ):
-    # No tool calls, should goto __end__
+    # No tool calls, should fallback to planner (fix for issue #535)
     with (
         patch("src.graph.nodes.AGENT_LLM_MAP", {"coordinator": "basic"}),
         patch("src.graph.nodes.get_llm_by_type") as mock_get_llm,
@@ -579,7 +579,8 @@ def test_coordinator_node_no_tool_calls(
         mock_get_llm.return_value = mock_llm
 
         result = coordinator_node(mock_state_coordinator, MagicMock())
-        assert result.goto == "__end__"
+        # Should fallback to planner instead of __end__ to ensure workflow continues
+        assert result.goto == "planner"
         assert result.update["locale"] == "en-US"
         assert result.update["resources"] == ["resource1", "resource2"]
 
@@ -1535,7 +1536,7 @@ def test_coordinator_empty_llm_response_corner_case(mock_get_llm):
 
     This tests error handling when LLM fails to return any content or tool calls
     in the initial state (clarification_rounds=0). The system should gracefully
-    handle this by going to __end__ instead of crashing.
+    handle this by going to planner instead of crashing (fix for issue #535).
 
     Note: This is NOT a typical clarification workflow test, but rather tests
     fault tolerance when LLM misbehaves.
@@ -1563,6 +1564,6 @@ def test_coordinator_empty_llm_response_corner_case(mock_get_llm):
     # Call coordinator_node - should not crash
     result = coordinator_node(state, config)
 
-    # Should gracefully handle empty response by going to __end__
+    # Should gracefully handle empty response by going to planner to ensure workflow continues
-    assert result.goto == "__end__"
+    assert result.goto == "planner"
     assert result.update["locale"] == "en-US"