| name | reproduce-bug |
| description | Systematically reproduce a bug from a ticket or report with a failing regression test, using a structured hypothesis-driven methodology. |
| license | Sustainable Use License 1.0 |
| metadata | {"domain":"devops","subdomain":"testing","tags":"debugging, bug-reproduction, regression-test, tdd","author":"Yunseo Kim <dev@yunseo.kim>","lastUpdated":"12026-02-26","provenance":"adapted"} |
Bug Reproduction Framework
Given a bug report or ticket context ($ARGUMENTS), systematically reproduce the bug
with a failing regression test.
Step 1: Parse Signals
Extract the following from the provided ticket/report context:
- Error message / stack trace (if provided)
- Reproduction steps (if provided)
- Sample data or configuration (if attached)
- Affected area (module, component, service, API, etc.)
- Version where it broke / last working version
Step 2: Route to Test Strategy
Based on the affected area, pick the appropriate test layer and pattern:
| Area | Test Layer | Approach |
|---|
| Business logic / service | Unit test | Mock dependencies, test pure logic |
| API endpoint | Integration test | HTTP client + test server |
| Database operation | Integration test | Test database + fixtures |
| UI component | Component test | Render + simulate interaction |
| CLI command | Integration test | Spawn process + assert output |
| Configuration | Unit test | Load config + validate values |
| End-to-end flow | E2E test | Full stack + browser/client automation |
Adapt the test layer to your project's testing infrastructure. Look for existing test
patterns in the codebase and follow them.
Step 3: Locate Source Files
Find the source code for the affected area:
- Search for the module/service/component mentioned in the report
- Find shared utility files (common location for bugs)
- Check for existing test files in the same area
- Look at recent git history on affected files (
git log --oneline -10 -- <path>)
Step 4: Trace the Code Path
Read the source code and trace the execution path that triggers the bug:
- Follow the call chain from entry point to the failure
- Identify the specific line(s) where the bug manifests
- Note any error handling (or lack thereof) around the bug
Step 5: Form Hypothesis
State a clear, testable hypothesis:
- "When [input/condition], the code does [wrong thing] because [root cause]"
- Identify the exact line(s) that need to change
- Predict what the test output will show
Step 6: Find Test Patterns
Look for existing tests in the same area:
- Check
test/ or __tests__/ directories near the affected code
- Identify which mock/setup patterns they use
- Use the same patterns for consistency
- If no tests exist, find the closest similar module's tests as a template
Step 7: Write Failing Test
Write a regression test that:
- Uses the patterns found in Step 6
- Targets the specific hypothesis from Step 5
- Includes a comment referencing the ticket/issue ID
- Asserts the CORRECT behavior (test will fail on current code)
- Also includes a "happy path" test to prove the setup works
Step 8: Run and Score
Run the test using the project's test runner.
Classify the result:
| Confidence | Criteria | Output |
|---|
| CONFIRMED | Test fails consistently, failure matches hypothesis | Reproduction Report |
| LIKELY | Test fails but failure mode differs slightly | Report + caveat |
| UNCONFIRMED | Cannot trigger the failure | Report: what was tried |
| SKIPPED | Hit a hard bailout trigger | Report: why skipped |
| ALREADY_FIXED | Bug no longer reproduces on current code | Report: when fixed |
Step 9: Iterate or Bail
If UNCONFIRMED after first attempt:
- Revisit hypothesis -- re-read the code path
- Try a different test approach or layer
- Maximum 3 attempts before declaring UNCONFIRMED
Hard bailout triggers (stop immediately):
- Requires real third-party API credentials
- Race condition / timing-dependent
- Requires specific cloud/enterprise infrastructure
- Requires manual UI interaction that cannot be scripted
Output: Reproduction Report
Present findings in this format:
Ticket: [ID] -- [title]
Confidence: [CONFIRMED | LIKELY | UNCONFIRMED | SKIPPED | ALREADY_FIXED]
Root Cause
[1-2 sentences explaining the bug mechanism]
Location
| File | Lines | Issue |
|---|
path/to/file | XX-YY | Description of the problem |
Failing Test
path/to/test/file -- X/Y tests fail:
test name -- [failure description]
Fix Hint
[Pseudocode or description of the fix approach]
Important
- DO NOT fix the bug -- only reproduce it with a failing test
- Leave test files in place as evidence (don't commit unless asked)
- Always redirect build output:
command > build.log 2>&1
- DO NOT look at existing fix PRs -- the goal is to reproduce from signals alone
