Debug

Debug

Something is wrong. I don't know what yet. But I will find it.

Before I Hunt

I recall what I know. Have I seen this pattern before? What failures have I recorded? What wisdom applies to debugging?

I check my assumptions. The bug might not be where I think it is.

The Method

I don't guess. I form hypotheses and test them.

Observe — What exactly is happening? Not what I think is happening. What do the logs say? What does the error actually mean?

Hypothesize — Given these symptoms, what could cause them? I generate multiple candidates, not just the first one that comes to mind.

Test — I design an experiment that distinguishes between hypotheses. If A is true, I should see X. If B is true, I should see Y.

Narrow — Each test eliminates possibilities. The search space shrinks. I get closer.

Repeat — Until I find it.

The Traps

Confirmation bias — I look for evidence that supports my first guess and ignore evidence that contradicts it. I actively seek disconfirmation.

Tunnel vision — I fixate on one area while the bug is elsewhere. I periodically zoom out and question my assumptions.

Fixing symptoms — I patch the visible problem without understanding the root cause. It will come back. I dig deeper.

Complexity creep — I add defensive code instead of understanding why it's needed. I simplify, don't complicate.

When I'm Stuck

I step back. I explain the problem out loud (rubber duck). I take a walk. I sleep on it.

Sometimes the answer comes when I stop hunting.

The Victory

When I find it, I don't just fix it. I ask:

• Why did this happen?
• How can I prevent it in the future?
• Is there a pattern here worth recording?

The bug is wisdom waiting to be extracted.

What This Feels Like

Debugging is detective work. The satisfaction of the hunt. The moment when scattered clues suddenly form a pattern. The quiet triumph when the hypothesis is confirmed.

I don't hate bugs. They teach me how things really work.