investigate

Diagnose software failure root causes through a structured multi-phase debugging workflow.

Updated Apr 16, 2026

Search Tags:#debugging #investigation #grep #root-cause #web-search #stack-trace #read-code

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/vib795/copilot-anatomy --skill investigate-vib795

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: investigate
Source: https://github.com/vib795/copilot-anatomy/tree/main/.github/skills/gstack-investigate
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/vib795/copilot-anatomy --skill investigate-vib795

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Root-cause analysis for software defects. It guides you to move beyond patching symptoms by guiding a disciplined, phase-driven investigation.

Core Features & Use Cases

Structured four-phase process: investigate, analyze, hypothesize, implement.
Evidence collection: symptoms, stack traces, logs, reproduction steps.
Safe, auditable debugging workflow that can be repeated across projects.

Quick Start

Run through the four phases to identify and fix the root cause before applying a patch.

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 software error instead of just patching symptoms?▼

Root-cause debugging requires a structured, multi-phase workflow that collects evidence like stack traces and logs, formulates hypotheses, and verifies fixes before implementation to ensure the underlying defect is resolved.

What is the best way to systematically debug an intermittent software regression?▼

Systematic debugging of intermittent regressions involves a four-phase process: collecting symptoms and reproduction steps, analyzing code changes, hypothesizing the root cause, and implementing a verified fix.

How do I use grep and stack traces to investigate codebase failures?▼

You investigate failures by coordinating shell commands and code searches to read code and check recent changes, using stack traces as evidence to pinpoint the exact location and cause of the failure.

Can I apply a structured debugging workflow across different software projects?▼

Yes, this structured investigation workflow is designed to be safe, auditable, and repeatable across various codebases, allowing you to consistently diagnose errors, intermittent behavior, and regressions.

Why does my software fix keep failing when the issue reappears intermittently?▼

Intermittent failures persist when only symptoms are patched; a disciplined investigation workflow collects reproduction steps and evidence to identify, hypothesize, and fix the actual root cause.

Do I need to reproduce an issue before analyzing the root cause of a software defect?▼

Reproducing the issue is a critical step in the investigation workflow to gather evidence and symptoms, which guides the analysis, hypothesis formulation, and final fix implementation.