debugging

Root-cause debugging systematically traces back through error logs, call stacks, and reproduction steps to identify the underlying issue rather than surface symptoms. This Skill enforces a four-phase workflow: collect and reproduce errors, analyze patterns, test hypotheses, then verify the fix before completion.

Systematic debugging applies defense-in-depth validation across entry points, business logic, environment guards, and instrumentation to isolate where failures originate. The four-phase process guides pattern analysis and hypothesis testing to confirm the actual cause.

Performance and integration debugging starts with reliable reproduction and error collection, then traces backward through call stacks to identify bottlenecks or incompatibilities. Pattern analysis and verification ensure fixes address root causes, not symptoms.

Defense-in-depth validation checks multiple layers—entry points, business logic, environment configuration, and debug instrumentation—to confirm where a problem actually occurs. This prevents misdiagnosis and ensures fixes target the true root cause.

Verification confirms that the fix resolves the root cause and doesn't introduce new issues. This Skill mandates verification as the final phase, ensuring solutions are complete and the underlying problem is genuinely addressed.