common-debugging

Troubleshoot systematically using the Scientific Method. Use when debugging crashes, tracing errors, diagnosing unexpected behavior, or investigating exceptions. (triggers: debug, fix bug, crash, error, exception, troubleshooting)

385 stars

Best use case

common-debugging is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.

Troubleshoot systematically using the Scientific Method. Use when debugging crashes, tracing errors, diagnosing unexpected behavior, or investigating exceptions. (triggers: debug, fix bug, crash, error, exception, troubleshooting)

Teams using common-debugging should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.

When to use this skill

  • You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.

When not to use this skill

  • You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
  • You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.

Installation

Claude Code / Cursor / Codex

$curl -o ~/.claude/skills/common-debugging/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/HoangNguyen0403/agent-skills-standard/main/.agent/skills/common/common-debugging/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

  1. Download SKILL.md from GitHub
  2. Place it in .claude/skills/common-debugging/SKILL.md inside your project
  3. Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill

How common-debugging Compares

Feature / Agentcommon-debuggingStandard Approach
Platform SupportNot specifiedLimited / Varies
Context Awareness High Baseline
Installation ComplexityUnknownN/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

Troubleshoot systematically using the Scientific Method. Use when debugging crashes, tracing errors, diagnosing unexpected behavior, or investigating exceptions. (triggers: debug, fix bug, crash, error, exception, troubleshooting)

Where can I find the source code?

You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.

Related Guides

SKILL.md Source

# Debugging Expert

## **Priority: P1 (OPERATIONAL)**

Systematic, evidence-based troubleshooting. Do not guess; prove.

## The Scientific Method

1. **OBSERVE**: Gather data. What exactly is happening?
   - Logs, Stack Traces, Screenshots, Steps to Reproduce.
2. **HYPOTHESIZE**: Formulate a theory. "I think X is causing Y because Z."
3. **EXPERIMENT**: Test the theory.
   - Create a reproduction case.
   - Change _one variable at a time_ to validate the hypothesis.
4. **FIX**: Implement the solution once the root cause is proven.
5. **VERIFY**: Ensure the fix works and doesn't introduce regressions.

## Anti-Patterns

- **No shotgun debugging**: Prove root cause before changing code.
- **No debug prints in production**: Remove all print/console.log before commit.
- **No symptom masking**: Fix root cause; never swallow errors without handling.

## Best Practices

- **Diff Diagnosis**: What changed since it last worked?
- **Minimal Repro**: Create the smallest possible code snippet that reproduces the issue.
- **Rubber Ducking**: Explain the code line-by-line to an inanimate object (or the agent).
- **Binary Search**: Comment out half the code to isolate the failing section.

## References

- [Bug Report Template](references/bug-report-template.md)

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