# Root Cause Tracing

> Use after the same bug signature recurs two or more times so fixes stop treating symptoms and identify the causal chain before further edits.

- Skill: `dyai2025/root-cause-tracing` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add dyai2025/root-cause-tracing`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/dyai2025/root-cause-tracing/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: DYAI2025 (https://skillmd.com/u/dyai2025)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/dyai2025/root-cause-tracing

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# Root-cause Tracing

## 5-Why loop
1. State the repeated bug signature and evidence.
2. Ask why it happened; answer from observed facts only.
3. Repeat until reaching a process, design, test, or dependency cause.
4. Define a prevention change and a verification step.
5. Resume implementation only after adding or updating a failing test that captures the cause.