Debugging Expert

Priority: P1 (HIGH)

Root-Cause Protocol

1. OBSERVE: Gather error, logs, repro steps, recent diffs.
2. REPRODUCE: Make the failure happen on demand or gather more evidence.
3. HYPOTHESIZE: State one hypothesis in plain language.
4. EXPERIMENT: Change one variable to prove or kill the theory.
5. FIX: Touch code only after root cause proven.
6. VERIFY: Re-run the failing case and regression checks.

Red Flags

• Stop if you are changing code before repro: You are guessing.
• Stop if fix #2 starts before understanding fix #1: Re-open root cause.
• Stop if "quick patch for now" appears: Symptom masking starts there.

Rationalization Prevention