Bug Fix Protocol

A bug fix is two fixes in one: fix the code, and fix the testing system that let the bug through. Skipping the second step means the same class of bug ships again.

The full protocol (philosophy, eight steps with examples, audit checklist, anti-patterns) lives in PROTOCOL.md. Read it before applying.

When to apply

Use this protocol whenever a defect reaches production, staging, or a customer environment. Do not use it for bugs caught locally during normal development — those are part of the writing process, not testing-system failures.

The eight steps (summary)