| name | fixing-build-and-type-errors |
| description | Use when compiler or type errors are in play: pasted "cargo check"/clippy/tsc/pyright output, a failed build, or a planned type check. Trigger before running those in the shell — tracedecay maps diagnostics to the enclosing symbol with callers. Do NOT use for test failures. |
Fixing build & type errors
NO RAW `cargo check`/`tsc` IN THE SHELL WHEN A STRUCTURED PATH EXISTS,
AND NO FIX WITHOUT THE ENCLOSING SYMBOL AND ITS CALLERS IN VIEW.
Announce: "Using tracedecay:fixing-build-and-type-errors."
Choose the entry — this fork matters
| Situation | Call | Cost |
|---|
| Compiler output already on hand (pasted or captured) | tracedecay_diagnose (cargo_output, include_callers?) — parses text, maps each error to the smallest containing node with up to 5 callers. Rust/cargo only. | Free — no toolchain run |
| Need fresh diagnostics | tracedecay_diagnostics (scope: workspace | package+name | file+path) — multi-language (cargo/tsc/pyright), structured, node-mapped. | Heavy — first run on a fresh tree can take minutes (target dir /tmp/tracedecay-target/<project_id>/diagnostics); later runs sub-second |
Always prefer the free row. Respect the host's approval/run-mode before
running fresh toolchain checks.
Fix loop
- Map each error class to its cheapest anchoring tool with
references/error-class-to-tool.md
(undefined symbol → search+signature; arity mismatch → callers; missing
field → constructors; trait bound → implementations; etc.).
- Understand the failing code via the
tracedecay:exploring-code ladder;
widen with tracedecay_impact when the fix touches a hub.
- Apply the fix via
tracedecay:editing-safely.
- Re-check with the cheapest applicable path (paste new output into
diagnose, or diagnostics with scope: "file"), then verify behavior via
tracedecay:assessing-impact.
- The same error twice after a fix, or 3+ failed fixes → stop patching;
re-derive the root cause from callers and types before another attempt.
If tools are deferred or MCP fails
- Deferred: one ToolSearch call —
select:tracedecay_diagnose,tracedecay_diagnostics,tracedecay_search,tracedecay_signature,tracedecay_callers.
- MCP error:
tracedecay tool diagnose --cargo-output @/tmp/err.txt (the @
reads a file) / tracedecay tool diagnostics --scope file --path … (see
tracedecay:using-the-cli). Only if the CLI is also unavailable, run the
raw toolchain and paste its output back through diagnose when possible.
Deliverable
Do not end while errors remain unexplained: deliver the grouped diagnostics
with enclosing symbols and callers, the applied fix per error class, and a
clean re-check (or a precise statement of what still fails and why). Report
any tracedecay_metrics: line.
