diagnose

Diagnoses software root causes via structured 4-phase debugging methodology.

Updated May 18, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/afovea/game-dev-skills --skill diagnose-afovea
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: diagnose
Source: https://github.com/afovea/game-dev-skills/tree/main/plugins/game-team/skills/diagnose
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/afovea/game-dev-skills --skill diagnose-afovea

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This skill prevents symptom-only patching and guesswork by enforcing a rigorous, evidence-based debugging methodology that ensures fixes address the actual root cause of a failure.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Root Cause Investigation: Provides a structured framework to trace errors from stack traces to the underlying data source.
  • Hypothesis Testing: Guides the user through designing minimal tests to prove or refute a diagnosis before applying any code changes.
  • Use Case: When a game engine experiences intermittent animation freezes, use this skill to systematically isolate the delta-time calculation error rather than applying a temporary delay patch.

Quick Start

Invoke the diagnose skill to begin a root cause investigation for the current rendering error in the project.

Frequently Asked Questions about diagnose

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I systematically debug intermittent software bugs like race conditions?

Systematic debugging of intermittent software bugs requires a structured 4-phase methodology that enforces evidence-based hypothesis testing to isolate root causes before applying code changes, preventing symptom-only patching and guesswork.

What is the best way to find the root cause of a state mutation error?

Finding the root cause of a state mutation error involves tracing failures from stack traces down to the underlying data source using a rigorous, evidence-based debugging methodology rather than applying temporary patches.

How do I design minimal tests to prove a debugging hypothesis?

Designing minimal tests to prove a debugging hypothesis is the core of evidence-based troubleshooting, requiring you to validate or refute your root-cause diagnosis through targeted testing before implementing any actual code fixes.

Why does my debugging process end up patching symptoms instead of fixing the actual failure?

Debugging processes often patch symptoms instead of fixing the actual failure because they lack an evidence-based methodology, bypassing the Iron Law of debugging which mandates proving a root cause before applying code changes.

Can I use a systematic troubleshooting methodology for complex game engine errors?

You can use a systematic troubleshooting methodology for complex game engine errors by applying structured root cause investigation to isolate calculation issues, such as delta-time errors causing intermittent animation freezes, without temporary delays.