# Observe Before Editing

> Observe Before Editing

- Skill: `thedixitjain/observe-before-editing` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add thedixitjain/observe-before-editing`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/thedixitjain/observe-before-editing/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: thedixitjain (https://skillmd.com/u/thedixitjain)
- Updated: 2026-09-08
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/thedixitjain/observe-before-editing

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# Observe Before Editing

Before editing code to fix a bug, confirm what the system *actually produced*.

## Pattern

Outputs don't lie. Code might. Check outputs first.

## DO

1. Check if expected directories exist: `ls -la .claude/cache/`
2. Check if expected files were created: `ls -la .claude/cache/learnings/`
3. Check logs for errors: `tail .claude/cache/*.log`
4. Run the failing command manually to see actual error
5. Only then edit code

## DON'T

- Assume "hook didn't run" without checking outputs
- Edit code based on what you *think* should happen
- Confuse global vs project paths (check both: `.claude/` and `~/.claude/`)

## Source Sessions

- a541f08a: Token limit error was invisible until manual run revealed it
- 6a9f2d7a: Looked in wrong cache path (`~/.claude/` vs `.claude/`), assumed hook failure
- a8bd5cea: Confirmed hook worked by finding output files in project cache
- 1c21e6c8: Verified Artifact Index indexing by checking DB file exists

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**Source:** [`parcadei/Continuous-Claude-v3`](https://github.com/parcadei/Continuous-Claude-v3) → `.claude/skills/observe-before-editing/SKILL.md`