compound-v-debug

name	compound-v-debug
description	Systematic debugging — reproduce, isolate, form hypotheses, instrument, fix, and add regression tests. Use when troubleshooting errors, failing tests, or unexpected behavior.

Debug Skill

Announce at start: "Debugging: [symptom]. Following systematic debug workflow."

When to use this skill

• runtime errors, flaky tests, wrong outputs
• "it used to work" regressions
• performance or timeout problems (initial triage)

Debug workflow (do not skip steps)

1. Reproduce
   • Capture exact error, inputs, environment, command.
2. Research (parallel — invoke multiple tool calls in the same response)
   • Search the web for the exact error message or symptom.
   • Search the web for known issues in the relevant library/framework version (use stack.md versions).
   • Read related source files in parallel.
3. Minimize
   • Reduce to smallest repro (one file, one function, smallest dataset).
4. Hypotheses (2–5)
   • Rank by likelihood.
   • Investigate independent hypotheses in parallel where possible (e.g., check config + check logs + check deps simultaneously).
5. Instrument
   • Add temporary logging/assertions or use existing diagnostics.
6. Fix
   • Smallest change that removes root cause.
7. Prevent
   • Add regression test or permanent guard/validation.
8. Verify
   • Run the failing case + relevant suites.

Reporting format

• Symptom
• Repro steps
• Root cause
• Fix
• Regression protection
• Verification