triage-issue

name	triage-issue
description	Intelligently triage bug reports and error messages by searching for duplicates in Jira using jira-cli and offering to create new issues or add comments to existing ones. When an agent needs to: (1) Triage a bug report or error message, (2) Check if an issue is a duplicate, (3) Find similar past issues, (4) Create a new bug ticket with proper context, or (5) Add information to an existing ticket.

Triage Issue

Automatically triage bug reports and error messages by searching Jira for duplicates, identifying similar past issues, and helping create well-structured bug tickets or add context to existing issues using jira-cli.

Use this skill when: Users need to triage error messages, bug reports, or issues to determine if they're duplicates and take appropriate action.

All commands use --plain for clean output and --no-input to skip interactive prompts.

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Workflow

Follow this 6-step process:

Step 1: Extract Key Information

Analyze the bug report or error message to identify search terms.

Extract:

• Error signature: Error type, error code, specific error message text
• Context: Component or system affected, environment, user actions
• Symptoms: Observable behavior, impact

Example:

• Input: "Users getting 'Connection timeout' error when trying to login on mobile app"
• Extracted: Error="Connection timeout", Component="login, mobile app", Symptom="can't login"

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Step 2: Search for Duplicates

Execute multiple targeted searches to catch duplicates:

Error-Focused Search

jira issue list --jql 'project = PROJECT_KEY AND text ~ "error signature" AND type = Bug ORDER BY created DESC' --plain

Component-Focused Search

jira issue list --jql 'project = PROJECT_KEY AND text ~ "component keywords" AND type = Bug ORDER BY updated DESC' --plain

Symptom-Focused Search

jira issue list --jql 'project = PROJECT_KEY AND summary ~ "symptom keywords" AND type = Bug ORDER BY priority DESC, updated DESC' --plain

Search Tips

• Use key terms only, not full sentences
• Order by created DESC or updated DESC for recent issues first
• Include resolved issues to find fix history
• Don't over-filter — search across all statuses

For detailed issue inspection:

jira issue view <KEY> --plain --comments 20

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Step 3: Analyze Search Results

Duplicate Detection

High confidence duplicate (>90%):

• Exact same error message in summary or description
• Same component + same error type
• Recent issue (< 30 days) with identical symptoms
• Action: Recommend adding comment to existing issue

Likely duplicate (70-90%):

• Similar error with slight variations
• Same component but different context
• Action: Present as possible duplicate, let user decide

Possibly related (40-70%):

• Similar symptoms but different error
• Same component area but different specific error
• Action: Mention as potentially related

Likely new issue (<40%):

• No similar issues found
• Action: Recommend creating new issue

Check Fix History

If similar resolved issues are found, note:

• Who fixed it (assignee)
• When was it fixed
• Has it regressed (any reopened issues)

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Step 4: Present Findings to User

Present findings and wait for user decision before taking any action.

For Likely Duplicate

Triage Results: Likely Duplicate

I found a very similar issue already reported:

PROJ-456 - Connection timeout during mobile login
Status: Open | Priority: High | Created: 3 days ago
https://redhat.atlassian.net/browse/PROJ-456

Similarity:
- Same error: "Connection timeout"
- Same component: Mobile app login

Recommendation: Add your details as a comment to PROJ-456

Would you like me to:
1. Add a comment to PROJ-456 with your error details
2. Create a new issue anyway
3. Show more details about PROJ-456

For No Duplicates

Triage Results: No Duplicates Found

I searched Jira for:
- "Connection timeout" errors
- Mobile login issues

No similar open or recent issues found.

Recommendation: Create a new bug ticket

Would you like me to create a new bug ticket?

For Possible Regression

Triage Results: Possible Regression

This looks like it might be a regression of a previously fixed issue:

PROJ-567 - [Same issue description]
Status: Resolved (Fixed) | Fixed: 3 months ago
https://redhat.atlassian.net/browse/PROJ-567

Recommendation: Create a new issue and reference PROJ-567

Should I create a new issue with this context?

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Step 5: Execute User Decision

Option A: Add Comment to Existing Issue

jira issue comment add <KEY> $'## Additional Instance Reported\n\n**Error Details:**\n[error message or stack trace]\n\n**Context:**\n- Environment: [production, staging, etc.]\n- User Impact: [scope of impact]\n- Steps to Reproduce: [if provided]\n\n**Additional Notes:**\n[any unique aspects]'

Option B: Create New Issue

Ask which project and epic to use if not already known.

jira issue create -tBug \
  -s "[Component] Error Type - Brief Symptom" \
  -b $'**Description of the problem:**\n\n[1-2 sentence summary]\n\n**Error Details:**\n```\n[Error message or stack trace]\n```\n\n**How reproducible:**\n\n[Every time / Intermittent]\n\n**Steps to reproduce:**\n\n1. [Step 1]\n2. [Step 2]\n\n**Expected result:**\n\n[What should happen]\n\n**Actual result:**\n\n[What actually happens]\n\n**User Impact:**\n- Frequency: [how often]\n- Affected Users: [scope]\n\n**Related Issues:**\n- See also: PROJ-123 (similar but resolved)' \
  -P <EPIC-KEY> -l OSAC --no-input

Summary Format: Use the pattern: [Component] Error Type - Brief Symptom

• "Mobile Login: Connection timeout during authentication"
• "Payment API: NullPointerException in refund processing"
• NOT "Error in production" (too vague)

If a related resolved issue was found, link it:

jira issue link <NEW-KEY> <OLD-KEY> "is caused by"

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Step 6: Provide Summary

If Comment Added

Comment added to PROJ-456
https://redhat.atlassian.net/browse/PROJ-456

What I included:
- Your error details
- Environment context
- User impact information

Next Steps:
- The assignee will be notified
- Monitor PROJ-456 for updates

If New Issue Created

New Issue Created

PROJ-890 - Mobile Login: Connection timeout during authentication
https://redhat.atlassian.net/browse/PROJ-890

Type: Bug | Status: Open

What's Included:
- Complete error details
- Environment and reproduction steps
- References to related issues

Next Steps:
- Assign to appropriate team member
- Set priority based on user impact

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Tips for Effective Triage

For Search

• Use multiple search queries with different angles
• Include both open and resolved issues
• Search for error signatures and symptoms separately
• Look at recent issues first (last 30-90 days)

For Issue Creation

• Write clear, specific summaries with component names
• Include complete error messages in code blocks
• Add environment and impact details
• Reference related issues found during search

For Duplicate Assessment

• Exact same error + same component + recent = high confidence duplicate
• Different error signatures = likely different issues
• When unsure, lean toward creating new issue (can be closed as duplicate later)

When NOT to Use This Skill

Don't use for:

• Feature requests (use spec-to-backlog)
• General task creation (use jira-task-management)
• Status reports (use generate-status-report)

Use only when: A bug or error needs to be triaged against existing Jira issues.

Rules

• Always present triage findings and wait for user confirmation before creating issues or adding comments