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name: common-debugging description: Troubleshoot systematically using the Scientific Method. Use when debugging crashes, tracing errors, diagnosing unexpected behavior, or investigating exceptions. metadata: triggers: keywords: - debug - fix bug - crash - error - exception - troubleshooting

Debugging Expert

Priority: P1 (HIGH)

Root-Cause Protocol

1. OBSERVE: Gather error, logs, repro steps, recent diffs.
2. REPRODUCE: Make the failure happen on demand or gather more evidence.
3. HYPOTHESIZE: State one hypothesis in plain language.
4. EXPERIMENT: Change one variable to prove or kill the theory.
5. FIX: Touch code only after root cause proven.
6. VERIFY: Re-run the failing case and regression checks.

Red Flags

• Stop if you are changing code before repro: You are guessing.
• Stop if fix #2 starts before understanding fix #1: Re-open root cause.
• Stop if "quick patch for now" appears: Symptom masking starts there.

Rationalization Prevention

• "The bug is obvious": Obvious bugs still need evidence.
• "I already tried a few things": That means you need structure.
• "It only fails in prod": Gather prod evidence, do not invent local myths.
• Minimal repro first: A minimal reproduction beats more random fixes.

Anti-Patterns

• No shotgun debugging: Prove root cause before changing code.
• No debug prints in production: Remove all print/console.log before commit.
• No symptom masking: Fix root cause; never swallow errors without handling.

References

• Bug Report Template

Incident pressure checklist

• For production incidents, reproduce with a production-like replay and state one hypothesis before changing code; stop symptom patches until the root cause is proven.

Canonical response anchors

When this skill applies, preserve the following domain terminology or equivalent concrete examples in the answer when relevant:

• hypothesis

• one hypothesis

• stop

• Additional task-grounded exact anchors: minimal