Bug Fix

Bug Fix

Required Skills

Load these skills based on bug scope (see Steps 2 and 5 for when):

1. framework:knowledge-priming -- (always)
2. framework:context-anchoring -- (always)
3. framework:learning-harvest -- (always)
4. framework:collaborative-judgment -- (always)
5. framework:clean-code -- (always)
6. framework:test-quality -- (always)
7. framework:architecture -- (conditional)
8. framework:domain-driven-design -- (conditional)
9. framework:secure-coding -- (conditional)

Workflow

Step 1: Establish Bug Context

Start from failure, not proposed fix.

• Gather observed behavior, expected behavior, reproduction path, any evidence: failing test, error message, stack trace, log excerpt, request payload, recent change.
• Use framework:learning-harvest Load behavior. Focus hint: "bug investigation — focus: reliability, quality signals".
• Use framework:context-anchoring Document Discovery to check for existing context doc for affected feature/module.
• If found → Load it (context-anchoring Load behavior). Honor logged decisions + constraints as active commitments while diagnosing.
• If not found → Proceed from bug report + current code. Don't block diagnosis on missing context.

End this step, summarize bug one sentence:

> "Observed X, expected Y, reproducible via Z."

STOP: If can't state bug clearly yet, gather more evidence before proposing code changes.

Step 2: Reproduce and Localize

Primary discipline: don't present fix for bug you haven't reproduced.

Reproduce failure using strongest evidence available, this order:

1. Existing failing automated test -- best case; use as regression guard
2. New failing automated test -- preferred when no test exists yet
3. Executable reproduction path -- command, request sequence, deterministic manual flow when automation not yet possible

Localize issue before editing:

• Which layer likely source? Use layer definitions from framework:architecture to identify which architectural layer defect originates in
• Production bug or test bug? Sometimes code correct, test/fixture wrong
• Failure symptom or root cause? Crashing line often downstream of real defect
• Bug cross trust boundary? If yes, plan load framework:secure-coding
• Involve domain invariants or aggregate behavior? If yes, plan load framework:domain-driven-design
• Likely fix touch multiple layers or dependency flow? If yes, plan load framework:architecture

If multiple plausible root causes remain, use framework:collaborative-judgment to present leading hypotheses + what evidence would distinguish.

Before writing regression test, state root cause hypothesis explicitly, use framework:collaborative-judgment to surface:

> "Bug caused by [X]. When [C holds], correct outcome should be [P]. > Confirm this by writing test that red before fix, green after."

If user identifies flaw in hypothesis, revise before writing tests.

End step with explicit bug contract:

> C (bug condition): [exact input/state triggering bug] > P (fix postcondition): [what correct behavior looks like when C holds] > Preserved: [what must remain identical for all inputs outside C]

STOP: If can't state all three, keep localizing before writing tests.

Optional persistence check: Now that bug reproduced + localized, decide whether persist investigation:

• If investigation complex, involves multiple hypotheses, likely span multiple sessions, ask if user wants persist diagnosis + repair decisions
• If relevant context doc exists → plan enrich in Step 7
• If none exists + user wants persistence → propose creating one, confirm doc name per framework:context-anchoring, use as source of truth
• If user doesn't want persistence or bug narrow + local → continue non-persistent mode. Repair workflow still applies; decisions remain in-session

Step 3: Add Regression Protection First

Phase A — Bug-Condition Tests (must start RED)

• Write smallest failing test that fires when C holds
• Prefer lowest-level test reproducing real failure without losing signal
• Name test for broken behavior, not implementation detail
• Assert correct expected outcome (postcondition P), not just absence of failure
• Apply framework:test-quality inline
• Run against unfixed code, confirm RED
• If green before fix, bug condition hypothesis wrong — stop, re-localize

Stopping rule:

• STOP: If can't create stable failing automated test, explain why before making code changes.
• Record closest executable reproduction you have.
• Don't present speculative fix as "complete" without automated reproducer unless user explicitly accepts limitation.
• If bug can't be tested directly due to tight coupling/deep integration, introduce minimum structural seam needed to make testable (method extraction, parameter injection, interface boundary). Not refactor — prerequisite for regression protection. Apply framework:clean-code inline, keep seam minimal.

Phase B — Preservation Baseline (must stay GREEN)

• Identify existing tests covering behavior outside C
• If important adjacent behavior has no test coverage, add at most 2-3 targeted characterization tests
• Confirm all preservation baseline tests green before applying fix
• These tests must remain green through every change in Step 5 — any flip to red means fix has side effects; stop, narrow scope

Step 4: Choose the Minimal Safe Fix

Separate repair strategy from code change itself.

Before editing, decide:

• What root cause?
• What smallest safe change correcting it?
• What layer right repair location?
• Does issue require local patch or small structural correction?

Default to smallest safe fix restoring correct behavior without architectural backsliding.

Guardrails:

• Apply framework:architecture layering rules when choosing repair location — don't patch in outer layer when rule belongs inward
• Don't widen task into unrelated cleanup
• Don't delete/weaken failing test just to make suite green
• If real fix requires contract/design change beyond narrow repair, stop, discuss scope explicitly
• Don't add guard clauses, null checks, defensive handling for inputs outside C — code path for correct inputs must be byte-for-byte identical before + after fix.

If multiple valid repair strategies with meaningful trade-offs, present using framework:collaborative-judgment before proceeding.

Step 5: Implement the Fix

Always apply:

• framework:clean-code -- keep delta focused, readable, easy to reason about
• framework:test-quality -- maintain regression test + any nearby supporting tests

Conditionally apply based on localized root cause:

• If fix changes layer responsibilities, dependency direction, architectural flow → Apply framework:architecture
• If fix changes domain behavior, invariants, aggregate boundaries, value objects → Apply framework:domain-driven-design
• If fix touches input validation, authorization, queries, external boundaries, sensitive data → Apply framework:secure-coding

After implementing fix, before presenting:

1. Re-run regression test, confirm now green
2. Run applicable atom self-validation checklists against changed code
3. Run applicable anti-pattern scans
4. Fix any violations before presenting result

Step 6: Verify Non-Regression

Verify repair three levels:

1. Fix proof -- regression test that was red before fix now green. Asserts correct outcome, not just absence of original failure.
2. Preservation proof -- tests covering behavior adjacent to bug still pass. If preservation baseline tests added in Step 3, must remain green. Any flip from green to red means fix has side effects — stop, narrow scope before continuing.
3. Structural confidence -- fix didn't introduce wrong-layer workaround, dependency violation, weakened security posture

When reporting completion, explicit about verification scope:

• What was re-run
• What now passes
• What not verified + why

If fix narrow + confidence high, say so briefly. If verification partial, say so clearly.

Step 7: Capture Root Cause and Close the Loop

Use framework:context-anchoring Enrich behavior to preserve important parts of repair:

• Bug summary: observed vs expected behavior
• Root cause: what actually failed + where
• Repair decision: why this fix chosen over alternatives
• Protection added: regression test or executable reproducer now guarding behavior
• Key files changed: path + purpose

If no context doc exists + fix exposed non-trivial design/domain lesson, suggest creating one.

Use framework:learning-harvest Harvest behavior. Session context: "bug investigation — root cause diagnosis and repair". Synthesize and propose cross-cutting patterns from this session — root cause categories, failure modes likely to recur elsewhere, boundary condition gaps. User confirms what enters the document.

After fix complete, recommend /review when change:

• touches multiple layers
• changes security-sensitive code
• changes domain behavior
• introduces non-trivial structural correction

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: techygarg
• Source: techygarg/lattice
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.