Super Aidlc:debug

Debug

The user reports: $ARGUMENTS

The Iron Law

No fixes without root-cause investigation first.

Four Phases

1. Investigate (gather symptoms)

• Reproduce the failure. If you cannot reproduce it, you cannot fix it.
• Read the error message, stack trace, or unexpected output.
• Check recent changes: git log --oneline -10, git diff.
• Check logs, test output, build output.

2. Analyze (trace the cause)

• Start from the symptom, trace backward through code.
• Read the actual code at the error location (not just the error message).
• Check: What data flows into this point? What state is expected vs actual?
• Identify the gap between expected and actual behavior.

3. Hypothesize (test ONE thing)

• Form a single, testable hypothesis: "The bug is caused by X because Y."
• Design a test that would prove or disprove this hypothesis.
• Run the test. If disproved, return to Analyze with new information.
• 3-strike rule: After 3 failed hypotheses, step back and question your assumptions about the system.

4. Implement (fix + prove)

• Write a regression test that fails with the bug present.
• Apply the minimal fix.
• Verify the regression test passes.
• Run the full test suite to check for side effects.

Output

## Debug Report

### Symptom
{What was observed}

### Root Cause
{What actually caused it, with evidence}

### Fix Applied
{What was changed, file:line references}

### Regression Test
{Test that prevents recurrence}

### Investigation Log
{What was tried, including dead ends}

After Debug

Consider running /super-aidlc:compound if the bug was non-trivial -- document the root cause and solution for future reference.

Rules

• No shotgun fixes. Do not change random things hoping it works.
• Evidence before claims. "I think it's fixed" is not acceptable. Run the test.
• Minimal fix. Fix the bug, not the surrounding code. Refactoring is a separate task.

Source & license

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

• Author: warren830
• Source: warren830/super-aidlc
• License: MIT

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