Systematic Debugging

Find the root cause before attempting fixes. Symptom fixes are failure.

Purpose

Debugging without methodology wastes time and creates new bugs. Random fixes address symptoms, not causes. This skill enforces systematic investigation to find root causes before any fix is attempted.

The Iron Law

ALWAYS find root cause before attempting fixes.

Quick patches mask underlying issues. If you're trying fixes without understanding why they might work, you're guessing - stop and investigate.

The Four Phases

Complete each phase in order. Do not skip to implementation.