# {{PRODUCT_CATEGORY}} — Comparison Report

**Researched:** {{date}}
**Context:** {{what the platform needs — portal, workflow, compliance, constraints}}

---

## Comparison Matrix

When evaluating 5-10 candidates, use this matrix as the first-pass eliminator:

| Tool | Self-Hosted | License/Cost | REST API | Raw SQL | {{DB1}} | {{DB2}} | {{DB3}} | MCP | Setup Time | Verdict |
|------|:-----------:|:-----------:|:--------:|:-------:|:-------:|:-------:|:-------:|:---:|:----------:|:-------:|
| {{Tool A}} | ✅ | ✅ MIT | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ Native | <1 min | 🏆 Win |
| {{Tool B}} | ✅ | ❌ paid | ✅ | 🔶 limited | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ~30 min | ❌ Ruled out |

**Required criteria:** {{list must-haves — e.g. MySQL+SQLite+Postgres support, raw SQL API, free self-hosted}}
**Nice-to-haves:** {{MCP support, single-binary, low resource requirements}}

---

## Winner: {{TOOL NAME}}

- **License:** {{MIT/Apache/AGPL}} — free forever or has gating
- **Summary:** {{why it won — concisely}}
- **Why not the others:** {{specific disqualifiers for top alternatives}}

### Hermes Integration

**MCP Server Config (`~/.hermes/config.yaml`):**
```yaml
mcp_servers:
  {{tool}}:
    command: {{...}}
    args: [{{...}}]
```

**Direct REST/CLI usage:**
```bash
{{setup and first query commands}}
```

### Key Features
- {{feature 1}}
- {{feature 2}}
- {{feature 3}}

### Caveats
- {{gotchas, pitfalls, missing features}}

---

## Runners-Up

### {{Tool 2}}
- **What's good:** {{}}
- **Why not #1:** {{}}

### {{Tool 3}}
- **What's good:** {{}}
- **Why not #1:** {{}}

---

## Eliminated Candidates

| Tool | Disqualifier |
|------|:-------------|
| {{Tool A}} | {{e.g. PostgreSQL only, no MySQL}} |
| {{Tool B}} | {{e.g. API is enterprise-only, free edition has no API}} |
| {{Tool C}} | {{e.g. Unmaintained, last release 2014}} |
| {{Tool D}} | {{e.g. GUI only, no programmatic API}} |

---

## Research Methodology

1. **Find candidates** via web search (category keyword + alternatives)
2. **First-pass batch** — visit GitHub, pricing page, docs in parallel for each
3. **Build matrix** — use the comparison table to eliminate obvious rejects
4. **Deep-dive** remaining 2-3 — exact setup, API endpoints, MCP config
5. **Verify claims** — some advertise "API" but it's enterprise-only or docs-gated. Read the actual docs, not the marketing site
6. **Save reference** — write findings to a `references/` file under the applicable skill

## Data Sources

- GitHub API: `/repos/{owner}/{repo}` — stars, forks, open issues, license
- Docker Hub API: `/v2/repositories/{owner}/{image}/` — pull count, size
- Pricing pages: web_extract + grep for `$` amounts / plan keywords
- Documentation: check actual docs URL, not marketing page claims
