# Surgical Patch

> Fix bugs and small behavior changes at the narrowest responsible layer. Use when regression proof, preserved surrounding behavior, and task-relevant tests matter.

- Skill: `juliusbrussee/surgical-patch` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add juliusbrussee/surgical-patch`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/juliusbrussee/surgical-patch/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Productivity
- Author: Julius Brussee (https://skillmd.com/u/juliusbrussee)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/juliusbrussee/surgical-patch

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# Surgical patch

Reproduce failure first when economical; otherwise capture strongest available evidence.

- Trace symptom to responsible mechanism.
- Change narrowest layer that owns incorrect behavior.
- Preserve unrelated behavior and user changes.
- Avoid cleanup, renaming, and abstraction outside fix.
- Add only regression proof relevant to task.

Run focused proof plus nearest affected gate. Stop when failure is fixed and regression proof passes.