Debugging Strategies Skill
Apply systematic debugging methodologies to diagnose and resolve software issues. Includes the obra/superpowers systematic debugging methodology with root cause analysis, red flag detection, defense in depth validation, and session tracking.
Usage
/debugging-strategies [mode] [error description or file path]
Modes
Core Modes
- diagnose (default) - Systematic diagnosis with checklist
- bisect - Binary search to isolate the problem
- trace - Execution trace analysis
- hypothesis - Hypothesis-driven debugging
- rubber-duck - Explain-to-debug methodology
Advanced Modes
- root-cause - 4-phase systematic root cause analysis (Investigation, Pattern Analysis, Hypothesis Testing, Implementation) with 3-fix threshold rule
- red-flags - Detect anti-patterns in your debugging approach and rate quality (good/warning/danger)
- defense - Multi-layer validation strategy (input, business logic, data access, output) with code templates
- session - Track debugging sessions with timeline, hypotheses, and summaries
Examples
/debugging-strategies diagnose TypeError: Cannot read property 'map' of undefined
/debugging-strategies bisect Feature broke between v1.2 and v1.5
/debugging-strategies trace src/main/database.js
/debugging-strategies hypothesis Memory leak in long-running process
/debugging-strategies rubber-duck Why does the login fail intermittently?
/debugging-strategies root-cause SQLITE_BUSY error during concurrent writes
/debugging-strategies red-flags I'll just try a quick fix for now, might work
/debugging-strategies defense TypeError in user registration endpoint
/debugging-strategies session start Login page crashes on submit
/debugging-strategies session log Added console.log to auth handler
/debugging-strategies session hypothesis Token refresh is racing with the login request
/debugging-strategies session summary
Error Categories
The skill classifies errors into the following categories with targeted suggestions:
- Type Error - null/undefined, type mismatches, function signatures
- Reference Error - spelling, scope, imports, declaration order
- Syntax Error - brackets, quotes, missing punctuation
- Range Error - array bounds, recursion, numeric limits
- File/Path Error - missing files, working directory, permissions
- Connection Error - service availability, host/port, firewall
- Permission Error - file permissions, privileges, role access
- Memory Error - leaks, data size, memory limits
- Promise/Async Error - missing await, unhandled rejections, async return types
- Import Error - module names, package installation, relative paths
- Database Error - SQL syntax, connections, table existence, deadlocks
- Network Error - connectivity, host reachability, connection pools
- Build Error - source syntax, dependencies, cache, bundler config
Red Flag Phrases
The red-flags mode detects these anti-patterns in your debugging description:
| Phrase |
Severity |
Issue |
| "quick fix for now" / "temporary fix" |
DANGER |
Temporary Fix Mindset |
| "just try changing" / "let me try" |
WARNING |
Trial-and-Error Debugging |
| "don't fully understand but" / "might work" |
DANGER |
Incomplete Understanding |
| "works on my machine" |
WARNING |
Environment Blindness |
| "should be fine" |
WARNING |
Unverified Assumption |
Session Tracking
Track your debugging progress across multiple steps:
session start <problem> - Begin a new sessionsession log <entry> - Record what you triedsession hypothesis <h> - Record and track hypothesessession summary - View timeline, stats, and 3-fix threshold warnings
Output
Debugging plan with ordered steps, likely causes ranked by probability, resolution strategies, validation checklists, and code templates.
1---2name: debugging-strategies3description: Systematic debugging methodologies for diagnosing and resolving issues4---56# Debugging Strategies Skill78Apply systematic debugging methodologies to diagnose and resolve software issues. Includes the obra/superpowers systematic debugging methodology with root cause analysis, red flag detection, defense in depth validation, and session tracking.910## Usage1112```13/debugging-strategies [mode] [error description or file path]14```1516## Modes1718### Core Modes1920- **diagnose** (default) - Systematic diagnosis with checklist21- **bisect** - Binary search to isolate the problem22- **trace** - Execution trace analysis23- **hypothesis** - Hypothesis-driven debugging24- **rubber-duck** - Explain-to-debug methodology2526### Advanced Modes2728- **root-cause** - 4-phase systematic root cause analysis (Investigation, Pattern Analysis, Hypothesis Testing, Implementation) with 3-fix threshold rule29- **red-flags** - Detect anti-patterns in your debugging approach and rate quality (good/warning/danger)30- **defense** - Multi-layer validation strategy (input, business logic, data access, output) with code templates31- **session** - Track debugging sessions with timeline, hypotheses, and summaries3233## Examples3435```36/debugging-strategies diagnose TypeError: Cannot read property 'map' of undefined37/debugging-strategies bisect Feature broke between v1.2 and v1.538/debugging-strategies trace src/main/database.js39/debugging-strategies hypothesis Memory leak in long-running process40/debugging-strategies rubber-duck Why does the login fail intermittently?41/debugging-strategies root-cause SQLITE_BUSY error during concurrent writes42/debugging-strategies red-flags I'll just try a quick fix for now, might work43/debugging-strategies defense TypeError in user registration endpoint44/debugging-strategies session start Login page crashes on submit45/debugging-strategies session log Added console.log to auth handler46/debugging-strategies session hypothesis Token refresh is racing with the login request47/debugging-strategies session summary48```4950## Error Categories5152The skill classifies errors into the following categories with targeted suggestions:5354- **Type Error** - null/undefined, type mismatches, function signatures55- **Reference Error** - spelling, scope, imports, declaration order56- **Syntax Error** - brackets, quotes, missing punctuation57- **Range Error** - array bounds, recursion, numeric limits58- **File/Path Error** - missing files, working directory, permissions59- **Connection Error** - service availability, host/port, firewall60- **Permission Error** - file permissions, privileges, role access61- **Memory Error** - leaks, data size, memory limits62- **Promise/Async Error** - missing await, unhandled rejections, async return types63- **Import Error** - module names, package installation, relative paths64- **Database Error** - SQL syntax, connections, table existence, deadlocks65- **Network Error** - connectivity, host reachability, connection pools66- **Build Error** - source syntax, dependencies, cache, bundler config6768## Red Flag Phrases6970The red-flags mode detects these anti-patterns in your debugging description:7172| Phrase | Severity | Issue |73| ------------------------------------------- | -------- | ------------------------- |74| "quick fix for now" / "temporary fix" | DANGER | Temporary Fix Mindset |75| "just try changing" / "let me try" | WARNING | Trial-and-Error Debugging |76| "don't fully understand but" / "might work" | DANGER | Incomplete Understanding |77| "works on my machine" | WARNING | Environment Blindness |78| "should be fine" | WARNING | Unverified Assumption |7980## Session Tracking8182Track your debugging progress across multiple steps:83841. `session start <problem>` - Begin a new session852. `session log <entry>` - Record what you tried863. `session hypothesis <h>` - Record and track hypotheses874. `session summary` - View timeline, stats, and 3-fix threshold warnings8889## Output9091Debugging plan with ordered steps, likely causes ranked by probability, resolution strategies, validation checklists, and code templates.
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