investigate

Root-cause debugging works by collecting symptoms, reading the code, and forming hypotheses. You then reproduce the issue, test each hypothesis systematically, and verify the fix with regression checks to expose the real cause.

Debugging 500 errors and stack traces requires a structured investigation workflow. You gather symptoms from the error, read the relevant code paths, hypothesize the failure point, reproduce it, and apply targeted fixes verified by regression testing.

Reproducing flaky tests and performance regressions involves following a repeatable plan to trigger the issue consistently. Once reproduced, you form hypotheses about the root cause and test each one until you verify the targeted fix.

Yes, this systematic debugging workflow applies across projects for various failures, including 500 errors, stack traces, and flaky tests. It requires no specific dependencies and uses an Iron Law workflow to gather symptoms and read code.

Without regression testing, fixes often address symptoms rather than the root cause. Systematic debugging requires verifying the fix with regression checks to ensure the unexpected behavior is resolved and prevent future recurrence.

During a root-cause investigation, you transition to forming hypotheses after gathering symptoms and reading the relevant code. This structured approach ensures your hypotheses are grounded in the actual codebase before you reproduce and test them.