investigate

Identify software failure root causes through a structured four-phase process.

Updated Apr 18, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/algorithmbasics/gstack --skill investigate-algorithmbasics
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: investigate
Source: https://github.com/algorithmbasics/gstack/tree/main/investigate
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/algorithmbasics/gstack --skill investigate-algorithmbasics

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Systematic debugging with root cause investigation to identify the true cause of failures before patching.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Phase-driven investigation that gathers symptoms, reads code, and traces changes to pinpoint root causes.
  • Reproducible workflow with evidence collection, neutral evaluation, and hypothesis testing to avoid fixing symptoms.
  • Use case: when a bug surfaces (e.g., 500 error, crash, or unexpected behavior), run a structured root-cause analysis to guide a safe fix.

Quick Start

Describe the bug and run the investigate workflow to start root-cause analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions about investigate

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

FAQPage Schema
What is systematic root-cause debugging for software failures?

Root-cause debugging avoids fixing symptoms by gathering evidence, reading code, and tracing changes to pinpoint the true cause of failures using grep, read, write, and websearch to guide safe fixes.

How do I investigate a 500 error or unexpected crash in my codebase?

To investigate a crash, describe the bug to start a structured root-cause analysis that gathers symptoms, reads code, and traces changes to pinpoint the root cause and guide a safe fix.

Can I use this structured debugging workflow for any production-like environment?

Yes, this structured debugging workflow applies to errors, stack traces, and unexpected behavior across codebases, repositories, or production-like environments to identify software failure root causes.

What's the best way to find the root cause of a bug without fixing just the symptoms?

The best way to find a root cause without fixing symptoms is using reproducible workflows with evidence collection, neutral evaluation, and hypothesis testing to ensure the true failure cause is addressed.

How do I document reproducible test steps for a software failure investigation?

Document reproducible test steps by running the investigation workflow, which implements root-cause hypothesis generation and evidence gathering using grep, read, write, and websearch to record safe fix procedures.