name	debug-issue
description	Systematic Godot debugging decision trees for physics, signals, rendering, navigation, and input issues
argument-hint	[symptom description]

Debug Issue

Systematic debugging using domain-specific decision trees. Start by identifying the symptom category, then follow the corresponding tree.

Category Detection

Map user's symptom to the right tree:

Symptom keywords	Category
"pass through", "no collision", "overlap", "stuck", "slides off"	Physics
"signal not firing", "not connected", "callback not called"	Signals
"invisible", "not showing", "behind", "flickering", "wrong color"	Rendering
"not moving to target", "path wrong", "stuck on nav", "no path"	Navigation
"key not working", "input ignored", "wrong button", "double input"	Input

Physics Decision Tree

Check in this order -- each step is the most common cause at that point:

Collision layer/mask mismatch (most common):
- Check defined layer names: physics(action="layers")
- Check node properties:
```
nodes(action="get_property", scene_path="<scene>.tscn", name="<body>", property="collision_layer")
nodes(action="get_property", scene_path="<scene>.tscn", name="<body>", property="collision_mask")
```
- Rule: Object A detects Object B only if A's collision_mask has a bit that matches B's collision_layer. Both must be set correctly.
Missing CollisionShape2D/3D:
- Inspect the scene tree: scenes(action="info", scene_path="<scene>.tscn")
- Verify every physics body and Area has a CollisionShape child. A body without a shape = invisible to physics.
Wrong body type:
- StaticBody2D: immovable (walls, floors)
- CharacterBody2D: player/NPC movement via move_and_slide()
- RigidBody2D: physics-driven (projectiles, debris)
- Common mistake: using RigidBody2D for a player character, then fighting the physics engine
Script velocity issues:
- Read the script: scripts(action="read", script_path="res://scripts/<name>.gd")
- Check if velocity is being set before move_and_slide()
- Check if gravity is applied in _physics_process (not _process)
- Check if delta is used for frame-independent movement

Signals Decision Tree

Connection exists?
- List all connections: signals(action="list", scene_path="<scene>.tscn")
- Missing connection = signal silently does nothing
Signature match?
- Signal definition parameters must match handler function parameters
- signal health_changed(new_hp: int) requires handler func _on_health_changed(new_hp: int)
- Extra or missing parameters = Godot error at runtime
Signal emitted?
- Add print("signal emitted") before emit_signal() / signal.emit()
- If not printed, the emit call is never reached (logic bug)
Callable valid?
- If connected via code: target node must exist when connect() runs
- If target is freed, signal emits to invalid callable = error

Rendering Decision Tree

Visibility:
- visible property = false? Check node and ALL parents (parent invisible = children invisible)
- modulate.a = 0? (fully transparent)
Z-index:
- Lower z-index renders behind higher z-index
- z_as_relative = true means z_index is relative to parent
- Sprite behind a TileMapLayer? Check z_index values on both
Material/shader:
- CanvasItemMaterial or ShaderMaterial overriding appearance?
- Shader compilation errors make object invisible (check Output panel)
Viewport issues:
- SubViewport not updating? Check render_target_update_mode
- Camera2D not active? Only one Camera2D should have enabled = true per viewport

Navigation Decision Tree

NavigationRegion setup:
- NavigationRegion2D/3D must exist in scene
- Must have a NavigationPolygon/NavigationMesh resource assigned
Navigation mesh baked?
- Mesh must be baked (either in editor or via bake_navigation_mesh())
- Unbaked mesh = no paths available
NavigationAgent config:
- path_desired_distance: how close before moving to next path point
- target_desired_distance: how close to target before stopping
- Values too small = agent oscillates; too large = imprecise
Path calculation:
- Call NavigationAgent.set_target_position() then check get_next_path_position()
- If returns current position, no valid path exists (check mesh coverage)

Input Decision Tree

Input Map:
- List actions: input_map(action="list")
- Check project.godot for [input] section
Action name match:
- Input.is_action_pressed("jump") -- exact string match required
- Typo in action name = silently returns false (no error!)
Event processing:
- _input() vs _unhandled_input() -- if another node consumes the event, _unhandled_input never fires
- set_process_input(false) disables _input() on that node
Conflicts:
- Two actions on same key = both fire
- UI elements (Button, LineEdit) consume input events before game nodes

Diagnostic Steps

For any category:

Inspect the scene tree: scenes(action="info", scene_path="<scene>.tscn")
Read relevant scripts: scripts(action="read", script_path="res://scripts/<name>.gd")
Check properties: nodes(action="get_property", scene_path="<scene>.tscn", name="<node_path>", property="<name>")
Run the scene: project(action="run", scene_path="<scene>.tscn") and check output for errors
Report findings: present root cause and specific fix (property change, missing node, script edit)

When to Use

Any "it doesn't work" debugging scenario in Godot
Systematic elimination when the cause is not obvious
Verifying correct setup of physics, signals, rendering, navigation, or input

name	debug-issue
description	Systematic Godot debugging decision trees for physics, signals, rendering, navigation, and input issues
argument-hint	[symptom description]

Debug Issue

Systematic debugging using domain-specific decision trees. Start by identifying the symptom category, then follow the corresponding tree.

Category Detection

Map user's symptom to the right tree:

Symptom keywords	Category
"pass through", "no collision", "overlap", "stuck", "slides off"	Physics
"signal not firing", "not connected", "callback not called"	Signals
"invisible", "not showing", "behind", "flickering", "wrong color"	Rendering
"not moving to target", "path wrong", "stuck on nav", "no path"	Navigation
"key not working", "input ignored", "wrong button", "double input"	Input

Physics Decision Tree

Check in this order -- each step is the most common cause at that point:

Collision layer/mask mismatch (most common):
- Check defined layer names: physics(action="layers")
- Check node properties:
```
nodes(action="get_property", scene_path="<scene>.tscn", name="<body>", property="collision_layer")
nodes(action="get_property", scene_path="<scene>.tscn", name="<body>", property="collision_mask")
```
- Rule: Object A detects Object B only if A's collision_mask has a bit that matches B's collision_layer. Both must be set correctly.
Missing CollisionShape2D/3D:
- Inspect the scene tree: scenes(action="info", scene_path="<scene>.tscn")
- Verify every physics body and Area has a CollisionShape child. A body without a shape = invisible to physics.
Wrong body type:
- StaticBody2D: immovable (walls, floors)
- CharacterBody2D: player/NPC movement via move_and_slide()
- RigidBody2D: physics-driven (projectiles, debris)
- Common mistake: using RigidBody2D for a player character, then fighting the physics engine
Script velocity issues:
- Read the script: scripts(action="read", script_path="res://scripts/<name>.gd")
- Check if velocity is being set before move_and_slide()
- Check if gravity is applied in _physics_process (not _process)
- Check if delta is used for frame-independent movement

Signals Decision Tree

Connection exists?
- List all connections: signals(action="list", scene_path="<scene>.tscn")
- Missing connection = signal silently does nothing
Signature match?
- Signal definition parameters must match handler function parameters
- signal health_changed(new_hp: int) requires handler func _on_health_changed(new_hp: int)
- Extra or missing parameters = Godot error at runtime
Signal emitted?
- Add print("signal emitted") before emit_signal() / signal.emit()
- If not printed, the emit call is never reached (logic bug)
Callable valid?
- If connected via code: target node must exist when connect() runs
- If target is freed, signal emits to invalid callable = error

Rendering Decision Tree

Visibility:
- visible property = false? Check node and ALL parents (parent invisible = children invisible)
- modulate.a = 0? (fully transparent)
Z-index:
- Lower z-index renders behind higher z-index
- z_as_relative = true means z_index is relative to parent
- Sprite behind a TileMapLayer? Check z_index values on both
Material/shader:
- CanvasItemMaterial or ShaderMaterial overriding appearance?
- Shader compilation errors make object invisible (check Output panel)
Viewport issues:
- SubViewport not updating? Check render_target_update_mode
- Camera2D not active? Only one Camera2D should have enabled = true per viewport

Navigation Decision Tree

NavigationRegion setup:
- NavigationRegion2D/3D must exist in scene
- Must have a NavigationPolygon/NavigationMesh resource assigned
Navigation mesh baked?
- Mesh must be baked (either in editor or via bake_navigation_mesh())
- Unbaked mesh = no paths available
NavigationAgent config:
- path_desired_distance: how close before moving to next path point
- target_desired_distance: how close to target before stopping
- Values too small = agent oscillates; too large = imprecise
Path calculation:
- Call NavigationAgent.set_target_position() then check get_next_path_position()
- If returns current position, no valid path exists (check mesh coverage)

Input Decision Tree

Input Map:
- List actions: input_map(action="list")
- Check project.godot for [input] section
Action name match:
- Input.is_action_pressed("jump") -- exact string match required
- Typo in action name = silently returns false (no error!)
Event processing:
- _input() vs _unhandled_input() -- if another node consumes the event, _unhandled_input never fires
- set_process_input(false) disables _input() on that node
Conflicts:
- Two actions on same key = both fire
- UI elements (Button, LineEdit) consume input events before game nodes

Diagnostic Steps

For any category:

Inspect the scene tree: scenes(action="info", scene_path="<scene>.tscn")
Read relevant scripts: scripts(action="read", script_path="res://scripts/<name>.gd")
Check properties: nodes(action="get_property", scene_path="<scene>.tscn", name="<node_path>", property="<name>")
Run the scene: project(action="run", scene_path="<scene>.tscn") and check output for errors
Report findings: present root cause and specific fix (property change, missing node, script edit)

When to Use

Any "it doesn't work" debugging scenario in Godot
Systematic elimination when the cause is not obvious
Verifying correct setup of physics, signals, rendering, navigation, or input

debug-issue

Debug Issue

Category Detection

Physics Decision Tree

Signals Decision Tree

Rendering Decision Tree

Navigation Decision Tree

Input Decision Tree

Diagnostic Steps

When to Use

More from this repository

More from this repository

Debug Issue

Category Detection

Physics Decision Tree

Signals Decision Tree

Rendering Decision Tree

Navigation Decision Tree

Input Decision Tree

Diagnostic Steps

When to Use