# Debugging

> Guide for debugging with targeted log injection and runtime analysis

- Skill: `adeonir/debugging` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add adeonir/debugging`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/adeonir/debugging/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: adeonir (https://skillmd.com/u/adeonir)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/adeonir/debugging

---


# Debugging Skill

Guide for debugging with targeted log injection and runtime analysis.

## When to Activate

Suggest `/debug-tools:debug` when users describe:

- "X is not working"
- "Getting error Y when doing Z"
- "Something broke after [change]"
- Silent failures or unexpected behavior

## Log Format

```javascript
console.log("[DEBUG] [file:line] description", { values })
```

- `[DEBUG]` - Prefix for grep and cleanup
- `[file:line]` - Location for navigation
- `description` - What this log checks
- `{ values }` - Relevant data (no sensitive info)

## Log Patterns

### React/Next.js

```javascript
// Lifecycle
console.log("[DEBUG] [Component.tsx:10] mount", { props })

// Effect
useEffect(() => {
  console.log("[DEBUG] [Component.tsx:15] effect run", { deps })
  return () => console.log("[DEBUG] [Component.tsx:17] cleanup")
}, [deps])

// State
console.log("[DEBUG] [Component.tsx:25] before setState", { current: state })
```

### Node.js/Express

```javascript
// Request
console.log("[DEBUG] [route.ts:10] request", { method: req.method, path: req.path })

// Error
console.log("[DEBUG] [service.ts:30] caught error", { name: err.name, message: err.message })
```

### API Calls

```javascript
console.log("[DEBUG] [api.ts:10] fetch start", { url, method })
console.log("[DEBUG] [api.ts:15] fetch done", { status: res.status, ok: res.ok })
```

## Common Bug Patterns

| Pattern        | Symptom                               | Check                                   |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Null access    | "Cannot read property X of undefined" | Optional chaining, defaults             |
| Race condition | Works sometimes, fails randomly       | Async ordering, state timing            |
| Stale closure  | Using old values in callbacks         | useCallback deps, event bindings        |
| API mismatch   | Data not displaying                   | Response shape, null handling           |
| Silent error   | Nothing happens                       | Empty catch blocks, missing error state |

## Confidence Scoring

| Score | Meaning               | Action                   |
| ----- | --------------------- | ------------------------ |
| >= 70 | High - clear evidence | Report as probable cause |
| 50-69 | Medium - possible     | Suggest logs to confirm  |
| < 50  | Low - speculation     | Do not report            |

## Cleanup

After debugging, all `[DEBUG]` logs are removed automatically.

Manual check:

```bash
grep -rn '\[DEBUG\]' . --include='*.ts' --include='*.tsx' --include='*.js' --include='*.jsx'
```

## MCP Integration

| MCP             | Provides                                       |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Console Ninja   | Runtime values, test status, coverage          |
| Chrome DevTools | Network inspection, browser console, DOM state |