CSS Layout Debugger

CSS Layout Debugger

Diagnose CSS/layout/styling issues through a 6-phase pipeline mirroring browser evaluation order.

Scope Constraints

• Read-only access to source files, config files (tailwind.config.*, CSS files), and component files in the ComponentMap
• Write access limited to .claude/qa-cache/artifacts/ for DiagnosisReport persistence
• Does not modify source code or run shell commands
• Inspects only components and styles within the ComponentMap — stops at external library internals

Input Sanitization

• ComponentMap paths: must resolve within .claude/qa-cache/ — reject .. traversal, null bytes, and shell metacharacters
• Route paths: only alphanumeric characters, hyphens, underscores, forward slashes, and brackets — reject .. or null bytes
• Symptom descriptions: free text input, reject null bytes

Inputs

• ComponentMap (required): Path to .claude/qa-cache/component-maps/{route-slug}.json
• Route path (required): The route where the issue appears
• Symptom description (required): User-reported styling/layout bug
• Screenshot (optional): Visual evidence of the issue

Procedure

Copy this checklist and update as you complete each phase:

Progress:
- [ ] Phase 1: Style Approach Detection
- [ ] Phase 2: Token/Variable Resolution
- [ ] Phase 3: Cascade & Specificity
- [ ] Phase 4: Layout Model
- [ ] Phase 5: Stacking & Paint
- [ ] Phase 6: Viewport & Responsiveness
- [ ] Visual Triage (if screenshot)
- [ ] Output DiagnosisReport

Note: If you've lost context of previous phases (e.g., after context compaction), check the progress checklist above. Resume from the last unchecked item. Re-read relevant reference files if needed.

Read the ComponentMap. Extract styling.primary and the target component's styling_approach, has_conditional_classes, design_system_component, and accepts_className_prop fields. If ComponentMap completeness is partial or shallow, warn the user that some components were not traced.

Execute phases in this fixed order. Stop early when a root cause is found with high confidence. Never reorder phases.

Phase 1: Style Approach Detection

If ComponentMap already contains styling.primary, confirm by scanning the target component file. Otherwise, classify:

Record the detected approach. All subsequent output uses this approach's vocabulary.

Phase 2: Token/Variable Resolution

Check CSS custom properties and design token definitions relevant to the symptom.

• Tailwind: read tailwind.config.ts (or .js/.mjs). Verify referenced theme values exist in theme.extend. Flag undefined custom colors, spacing, or breakpoints.
• CSS Modules: verify composes chains resolve. Check for missing source files.
• CSS variables: trace var(--name) to its definition. Flag undefined variables, circular references, or fallback values masking a missing definition.

If the symptom relates to color, spacing, or typography and the token resolves incorrectly, report as root cause. Otherwise continue.

Phase 3: Cascade & Specificity

If Tailwind detected: read references/tailwind-conflict-map.md. Apply utility conflict detection against the target element's class list. Parse cn()/clsx()/classnames() calls to separate always-applied from conditionally-applied classes. Flag definite conflicts. Warn on potential conflicts.

If CSS Modules detected: check for :global() selectors leaking styles. Check composes order (last wins). Verify no unintended class name collisions across modules.

If vanilla/css-in-js: calculate specificity of competing selectors targeting the same element. Flag !important usage.

If shadcn/ui detected (ComponentMap design_system_component: true): trace the override boundary. Read the components/ui/*.tsx file to find base classes. Compare with developer-passed className. Check if cn() (tailwind-merge) resolves the merge correctly. Flag conflicts that tailwind-merge cannot resolve (responsive variants, arbitrary values).

Phase 4: Layout Model

Read references/layout-model-checks.md. Run the checklist relevant to the symptom:

• Overflow/sizing symptoms: flexbox and grid checks first
• Alignment symptoms: flex alignment and grid placement checks
• Collapse/overlap symptoms: box model and positioning checks
• All symptoms: check box-sizing consistency

Phase 5: Stacking & Paint

Read references/stacking-viewport-checks.md, section "Stacking & Paint". Run checks:

• Z-index without stacking context
• overflow: hidden clipping positioned/transformed children
• transform/filter/will-change creating unintended compositing layers

Skip this phase if symptom is clearly layout/spacing only. Mark as SKIPPED with reason.

Phase 6: Viewport & Responsiveness

Read references/stacking-viewport-checks.md, section "Viewport & Responsiveness". Run checks:

• Viewport unit issues (vh vs dvh, 100vw scrollbar problem)
• Tailwind responsive prefix ordering and completeness
• Container queries vs media queries
• Missing breakpoint coverage for layout-changing utilities

Skip if symptom is not responsive/viewport-related. Mark as SKIPPED with reason.

Visual Triage (if screenshot provided)

If the user provides a screenshot, perform Tier 1 visual triage. Print this disclaimer first:

VISUAL TRIAGE (qualitative, code-informed):
- Identifies visible differences; cannot detect sub-pixel misalignment
- Dynamic states (hover, animation, scroll) cannot be assessed from static images
- "No differences observed" is an observation, not a certification
- For pixel-level confidence, use automated regression tooling

Cross-reference visual observations with the code findings from Phases 1-6. Never output CLEAR for visual triage. Use "No visible differences observed (see disclaimer)" or list specific FLAGGED findings.

Antipattern Severity

Flag proactively even if not directly related to the reported symptom:

Output Format

Present findings-first, not phase-by-phase:

## CSS Diagnosis: [component name]

FLAGGED  [root cause] — [file:line]
  Evidence: [what was found] | Fix: [suggestion in project's styling vocabulary]
FLAGGED  [secondary issue] — [file:line]
  Evidence: [what was found]

CLEAR  [ruled out] (Phase N) | CLEAR  [ruled out] (Phase N)
SKIPPED  [phase]: [reason] | SKIPPED  [phase]: [reason]

Checked: [N items] (tokens, cascade, layout) | Not checked: stacking, viewport | Confidence: High

Handoff

Pass the DiagnosisReport artifact path to qa-coordinator. The report contains structured findings with rootCause, severity, and suggested fix in the project's styling vocabulary. Consumed by component-fix-and-verify.

References