debugging-methodology
Installation
SKILL.md
Debugging Methodology
Systematic approach to finding and fixing bugs.
When to Use This Skill
| Use this skill when... | Use something else instead when... |
|---|---|
| Diagnosing a live bug, memory leak, race, or perf regression | Bug is hidden by a swallowed error → code-error-swallowing |
| Reasoning about reproduction, isolation, and root cause | Bug is hidden by silent success-on-empty → code-silent-degradation |
| Choosing strace/eBPF/perf for system-level investigation | Reviewing surrounding code quality once root cause is known → code-review |
| Documenting hypotheses and binary-searching the failure | Refactoring the buggy module after the fix → code-refactor |
Core Principles
- Occam's Razor - Start with the simplest explanation
- Binary Search - Isolate the problem area systematically
- Preserve Evidence - Understand state before making changes
- Document Hypotheses - Track what was tried and didn't work