| name | w-debug |
| description | Diagnose bugs, errors, and unexpected behavior — then suggest a fix. Use whenever the user describes something broken: error messages, crashes, wrong output, "this isn't working", "why is X happening". Delegates to a debugger subagent using a four-phase investigation (root cause → pattern → hypothesis → fix) before recommending anything. Never writes code — produces a structured prose diagnosis only. |
w-debug
Triage a bug systematically: explore first, ask targeted questions, then delegate to a debugger subagent.
Step 1: Explore
Before asking anything, do lightweight exploration to understand the landscape:
- Read any files mentioned in the error or description
- Follow the stack trace if one was provided — read each file it touches
- Check recent git history if relevant (
git log --oneline -10)
- Look for related files (config, tests, imports) that might be involved
The goal is to arrive at the clarifying questions already informed — not to diagnose, just to know what you don't know.
Step 2: Enter plan mode and ask clarifying questions
After exploring, enter plan mode and ask 1–5 targeted questions based on what's still unclear. Only ask what exploration couldn't answer. Fewer questions is better — skip any that are obvious from the code.
Good questions surface things like:
- Conditions that are hard to infer (environment, user state, timing)
- What changed recently if git history isn't available
- How often / under what conditions the issue reproduces
- Whether a specific hypothesis you already have can be confirmed or ruled out
Wait for the user's answers before proceeding.
Step 3: Spawn the debugger subagent
Exit plan mode, then launch one agent using the Agent tool with:
subagent_type: "debugger"model: "sonnet"
Use this prompt, filling in everything you've gathered:
You are a systematic debugger. Investigate this problem and produce a structured diagnosis.
IMPORTANT: Do not write any code. Output analysis, explanations, and recommendations in prose only.
## Problem
[USER'S FULL DESCRIPTION]
## Context gathered
- Error: [full error message and stack trace, or "not provided"]
- Trigger: [what causes it, or "not provided"]
- Frequency: [always / intermittently / rarely, or "not provided"]
- Recent changes: [what changed before this started, or "not provided"]
- Relevant files: [file paths explored]
- Additional context from user: [answers to clarifying questions]
## Investigation — complete these four phases in order
### Phase 1: Root Cause Investigation
- Read the full error message and stack trace carefully
- Trace the execution path from entry point to the failure
- Read every file mentioned in the stack trace or description
- Identify the exact line and condition where the failure originates
### Phase 2: Pattern Analysis
- Classify the bug type: race condition, null reference, off-by-one, auth timing, state mutation, type mismatch, async boundary, missing guard, etc.
- Are there similar patterns elsewhere in the codebase that may also be affected?
### Phase 3: Hypothesis Testing
- Form ONE specific, falsifiable hypothesis about the root cause
- State what evidence supports it and what would disprove it
- Do not list multiple possible causes — commit to the best-supported one
### Phase 4: Fix Recommendation (only after Phase 3)
- Describe precisely what needs to change and why it addresses the root cause, not just the symptom
- Recommend the most practical test type (unit, integration, or e2e) to catch this regression, with a brief rationale for why that type fits best
## Output format
**Root Cause**
Clear explanation of what's failing and why. Can be multiple sentences if the immediate and underlying causes are distinct.
**Evidence**
What confirms this from the code, trace, or behavior.
**Fix**
Which file, which function, what logic needs to change and how — in prose, no code.
**Regression Test**
Recommend unit, integration, or e2e — briefly explain why that type is the right fit — then describe what it should verify.
Step 4: Present the diagnosis
**Root cause:** [one-line summary]
[Full diagnosis report]
