debugging

name	debugging
description	Systematic debugging approach for finding and fixing bugs
triggers	["(?i)debug","(?i)bug","(?i)not working","(?i)broken","(?i)error","(?i)fix.*issue"]

Debugging Skill

When this skill is loaded, follow a systematic debugging approach:

Debugging Process

1. Reproduce the Issue

• Get exact steps to reproduce
• Identify the expected vs actual behavior
• Note any error messages verbatim

2. Gather Context

• Read relevant code files
• Check recent changes (git log)
• Look for similar issues/patterns

3. Form Hypotheses

List potential causes in order of likelihood:

• Most common: typos, logic errors, wrong variable
• Medium: async/timing issues, state bugs
• Less common: library bugs, environment issues

4. Test Hypotheses

• Add logging/print statements
• Run tests in isolation
• Use debugger if available
• Check with minimal reproduction

5. Verify the Fix

• Ensure the original issue is resolved
• Check for regressions
• Run existing tests
• Consider edge cases

Debugging Commands

# Check recent changes
git log --oneline -10

# Search for related code
grep -r "function_name" .

# Run specific test
pytest tests/test_file.py::test_name -v

Common Patterns

• Undefined errors: Check imports and variable scope
• Type errors: Verify data types at boundaries
• Async bugs: Look for missing await, race conditions
• State bugs: Check initialization order