| name | diagnose-a-red-run |
| description | Test is red, typecheck failed, CI job failed, flaky, timed out, was this already broken. Use to classify any failing check before changing code or calling it pre-existing. |
Skill: Diagnose a Red Run
Capture the branch failure
- Record the exact command, commit SHA, exit code, and passed/failed/skipped
counts. Quote the first actionable failure; do not summarize it away.
- Classify the check: testkit spec, unit suite, typecheck, build, lint, or CI job.
Run a clean control
Never call a failure pre-existing from memory or from a modified checkout.
git fetch origin dev
git worktree add /tmp/openwork-dev-control --detach origin/dev
git worktree remove /tmp/openwork-dev-control
- Keep tool versions, environment, services, flags, and secrets equivalent.
- Quote the control command,
origin/dev SHA, exit code, counts, and matching
failure text.
- Classify as pre-existing only when the clean control demonstrates the same
failure. Otherwise classify it as introduced, environment-specific, or
unresolved. A non-reproducing control is not proof of flakiness; repeat both
sides before using that label.
Classify by signature
- Unit/type/CI-only failure: inspect the first failing job and run its exact
command locally before broadening scope.
- Vision disagreement on identical pixels: claim wording or product ambiguity.
Make the product unambiguous or make the claim factual.
- Timeout with an On-screen dump: read it. It names the state; for example,
/session can expose a steer-back race.
- Auth
403 INVALID_ORIGIN: inspect Den trusted origins.
- Authorize URL points at the real provider: Den booted without mock env.
- Teardown
403 fresh_auth_required: the session aged; a freshSession retry
exists.
Environment forensics
- Kill by port, not process name.
tsx watch can orphan its Node child, which
keeps the port while /health lies.
EADDRINUSE in logs while health returns 200 means a zombie survived.- Electron zombies can respawn from a root process; kill the process group.
- Leaked state pollutes organizations; delete leftover connectors between runs.
For a testkit failure, read the tape's last unclaimed takes before touching
code. Publish a useful red tape with publish-evidence; it remains human audit,
not a passing verdict.
