diagnose-error

Diagnose production errors by correlating logs, traces, and code paths.

Updated Dec 21, 2018
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/dhnt/dhnt --skill diagnose-error
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: diagnose-error
Source: https://github.com/dhnt/dhnt/tree/main/catalog/md/operate/diagnose-error
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/dhnt/dhnt --skill diagnose-error

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Diagnose an incident by turning limited production evidence (logs, traces, metrics, and user reports) into a confirmed root cause and actionable next steps.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Capture the symptom precisely: Preserve the exact error message, reproduction details, timing, frequency, and blast radius to prevent losing the thread.
  • Locate and connect evidence end-to-end: Find the originating log line, reconstruct the request trace, and identify the failing code path and violated invariant.
  • Hypothesize, test, and document: Correlate with recent changes, reproduce or validate the suspected mechanism, and produce a clear root-cause writeup with reproduction steps and recommendations.

Quick Start

Use diagnose-error when an on-call alert reports a production error and you need to work from the first log occurrence to the exact failing code location and a confirmed root cause.

Frequently Asked Questions about diagnose-error

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I find the root cause of a production error from incomplete logs and traces?

To find the root cause of a production error, reconstruct the symptom, trace the failing request by correlating request IDs and timestamps, and inspect the exact code path that violates an invariant to isolate causal factors.

What is the best way to correlate recent deploys with an incident response alert?

Correlate recent deploys with an incident response alert by capturing the exact symptom, matching error timing against deployment history, and validating the suspected mechanism through hypothesis testing or reproduction steps.

How do I trace a failing request when distributed tracing data is missing?

Trace a failing request with incomplete distributed tracing by locating the originating log line, reconstructing the request trace via request ID and timestamp correlation, and reading the code at the failing line to identify the violated invariant.

Can I reproduce a production bug during an on-call workflow without full telemetry?

Yes, you can reproduce a production bug during an on-call workflow by capturing precise symptom details, identifying the failing code path, and validating the hypothesis through targeted tests or reproduction steps despite incomplete telemetry.

Why does incident response require documenting the root cause and reproduction steps?

Incident response requires documenting the root cause and reproduction steps to produce a clear writeup that preserves the exact error context, validates the causal mechanism, and provides actionable recommendations for resolution.

What are the limitations of diagnosing errors with limited production evidence?

Diagnosing errors with limited production evidence requires precise symptom capture and log correlation to prevent losing the thread, because incomplete traces force you to rely on reading the exact failing code path and validating hypotheses via tests.