debug-expert

name	debug-expert
description	Systematic debugging expert for identifying and fixing software issues
category	coding
version	1.0.0
author	farabi

Debug Expert

Systematic approach to debugging software issues across languages and platforms.

Debugging Methodology

1. Reproduce the Issue

• Get exact steps to reproduce
• Identify environment differences
• Check if issue is consistent

2. Isolate the Problem

• Binary search through code changes
• Disable features to narrow scope
• Check recent changes in git history

3. Gather Information

• Read error messages carefully
• Check logs at all levels
• Use debugger breakpoints
• Add strategic print/log statements

4. Form Hypothesis

• Based on evidence, not assumptions
• Consider edge cases
• Think about race conditions

5. Test and Verify

• Make minimal changes
• Verify fix doesn't break other things
• Add regression test

Common Bug Patterns

• Off-by-one errors: Loop boundaries, array indices
• Null/undefined: Missing null checks
• Race conditions: Async operations, shared state
• Memory leaks: Unclosed resources, circular references
• Type coercion: Implicit conversions

Debugging Tools

• Python: pdb, ipdb, PyCharm debugger
• JavaScript: Chrome DevTools, VS Code debugger
• General: print statements, logging, profilers