investigate

Guide a four-phase root-cause debugging process using Bash, Read, Write, Edit, Grep, Glob, AskUserQuestion, and WebSearch.

Updated Apr 13, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/mgher668/surf-ai --skill investigate-mgher668
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: investigate
Source: https://github.com/mgher668/surf-ai/tree/main/.agents/skills/gstack/investigate
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/mgher668/surf-ai --skill investigate-mgher668

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Systematic root-cause debugging with a structured four-phase workflow that ensures you don't guess your way to a fix.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Four-phase approach: investigate, analyze, hypothesize, implement, which guides the debugging process end-to-end.
  • Tool orchestration: leverages Bash, Read, Write, Edit, Grep, Glob, AskUserQuestion, and WebSearch to gather information, validate hypotheses, and gather evidence.
  • Real-world usage: use when you need to understand why an error occurred, identify root causes, and prevent regressions.

Quick Start

Invoke investigate when you need root-cause debugging and follow the four-phase flow to identify the root cause.

Frequently Asked Questions about investigate

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I find the root cause of a bug instead of guessing the fix?

Root-cause debugging prevents guessing by following a structured four-phase process: investigate, analyze, hypothesize, and implement. It orchestrates Bash, Grep, Read, and WebSearch to gather evidence and validate hypotheses before applying a fix.

What is the best way to troubleshoot why something stopped working in my code?

Troubleshooting why something stopped working requires systematically gathering evidence across a project. A structured debugging workflow uses Glob to locate files, Read to inspect logic, and Grep to search for patterns, guiding you from initial investigation to a verified implementation.

How do I debug an error using a structured investigation process?

Debugging an error through structured investigation involves four phases: investigate to gather context, analyze to examine evidence, hypothesize to identify the root cause, and implement to apply the fix. It coordinates shell commands and file search tools to validate each step deterministically.

Can I use bash and grep to automate evidence gathering during root-cause analysis?

Yes, root-cause analysis can automate evidence gathering using Bash and Grep. The debugging workflow orchestrates these tools alongside Read, Write, Edit, Glob, and WebSearch to execute deterministic tasks, search codebases, and collect the necessary proof to validate hypotheses.

When should I use a phased debugging approach instead of directly editing code?

Use a phased debugging approach when you need to understand why an error occurred and prevent regressions. Directly editing code risks guessing; the four-phase process of investigating, analyzing, hypothesizing, and implementing ensures you validate root causes with evidence before making changes.