What happens if the AI cannot fix the bug after several tries?

If three or more fix attempts fail, the skill forces the agent to stop and question the fundamental architecture, preventing 'thrashing' and initiating a discussion with the human partner.

How does Arc Debugging prevent 'guess-and-check' behavior?

It implements 'The Iron Law,' which forbids proposing any code changes until Phase 1 (Root Cause Investigation) is complete and a specific hypothesis has been tested.

Does this skill work with Test-Driven Development (TDD)?

Yes, it is designed to work with the arc-tdd skill, requiring a failing test case as the first step of the implementation phase to ensure the fix actually works.

Can this skill help with bugs in complex CI/CD or build systems?

Yes, it includes specific instructions for adding diagnostic instrumentation at component boundaries to reveal exactly where data flow or environment state breaks down.

Arc Systematic Debugging

Name: Arc Systematic Debugging
Author: GregoryHo

byGregoryHo

0•

Security & Testing

Enforces a rigorous four-phase workflow to identify root causes and ensure reliable fixes before modifying code.

The Arc Debugging skill provides a disciplined framework for AI coding agents to handle bugs, test failures, and unexpected behaviors by mandating a 'Root Cause First' approach. It eliminates the time-wasting 'guess-and-check' cycle by guiding the agent through exhaustive error analysis, consistent reproduction, and diagnostic instrumentation for multi-layer systems. By requiring a verified hypothesis and a failing test case before any implementation begins, it ensures that fixes are permanent, verifiable, and address the source of the problem rather than just the symptoms.

Key Features

01Scientific hypothesis testing to isolate variables and verify theories minimally.

02Strict root cause investigation protocol that prohibits fixes without evidence.

03Multi-layer diagnostic instrumentation for complex CI, build, and API boundaries.

040 GitHub stars

05Pattern analysis to compare broken code against working reference implementations.

06Architectural safety valve that triggers after three failed fix attempts to re-evaluate the system design.

Use Cases

01Resolving intermittent test failures that lack clear reproduction steps through instrumentation.

02Debugging complex integration failures in distributed systems or multi-component build pipelines.

03Troubleshooting architectural debt where multiple 'quick fixes' have failed to solve underlying issues.

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add gregoryho/arcforge arc-debugging

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill