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systematic-debugging

Diagnose bugs and regressions through evidence-based hypothesis testing before editing code.

1|Updated Jul 27, 2023

Search Tags:#debugging #troubleshooting #root cause analysis #hypothesis testing #regression #failing tests

One-click install

npx skills add https://github.com/AlexTheGuitarGuy/.dotfiles --skill systematic-debugging-alextheguitarguy

Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: systematic-debugging
Source: https://github.com/AlexTheGuitarGuy/.dotfiles/tree/main/claude/.claude/skills/systematic-debugging
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/AlexTheGuitarGuy/.dotfiles --skill systematic-debugging-alextheguitarguy

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Debugging often devolves into guessing and random code edits that waste time and introduce new bugs. This Skill enforces a disciplined evidence loop that separates observations from hypotheses, so fixes target verified root causes instead of symptoms. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Structured Evidence Loop: Guides you through stating observed versus expected behavior, listing at most three plausible causes, and running the cheapest discriminating check. - Hypothesis Tracking: Records each check result and updates the leading hypothesis before any code change is made. - Fix Verification: Confirms the original failure is resolved and nearby behavior still works after a fix. - Use Case: A previously passing test suite now fails after a refactor. Instead of reverting blindly, use this Skill to isolate which change caused the regression by testing hypotheses one at a time. ## Quick Start Use the systematic-debugging skill to investigate why my login endpoint returns a 500 error only for users with expired sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions about systematic-debugging

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

FAQPage Schema

How many hypotheses should I consider when debugging?▼

Limit yourself to at most three plausible causes at a time. This keeps the investigation focused and ensures each check meaningfully discriminates between competing explanations.