ProductivityVerified

systematic-debugging

by obra

Find root causes before attempting fixes using a four-phase investigation methodology.

debuggingroot-cause-analysistroubleshootingproblem-solvingmethodology

Read exactly what Claude will be told

SKILL.md

---
name: systematic-debugging
description: Use when encountering any bug, test failure, or unexpected behavior, before proposing fixes
---

# Systematic Debugging

## Overview

Random fixes waste time and create new bugs. Quick patches mask underlying issues.

**Core principle:** ALWAYS find root cause before attempting fixes. Symptom fixes are failure.

**Violating the letter of this process is violating the spirit of debugging.**

## The Iron Law

```
NO FIXES WITHOUT ROOT CAUSE INVESTIGATION FIRST
```

If you haven't completed Phase 1, you cannot propose fixes.

## When to Use
… load the full skill through Skill Me