What is Defense-in-Depth validation?

It is a methodology used by this skill to validate data at every layer—entry points, business logic, and environment guards—to make bugs structurally impossible to recur.

How does this improve over standard AI code fixing?

Standard AI often guesses at fixes based on symptoms; this skill enforces a systematic framework that traces errors backward through the stack to find the original trigger, leading to a 95% first-time fix rate.

When should I use the root-cause-tracing sub-skill?

Use root-cause-tracing specifically when an error appears in a different location from where the actual problem originated, or when dealing with deep, complex stack traces.

What is the 'Iron Law' of this debugging skill?

The skill operates under two iron laws: no fixes are attempted without a thorough root cause investigation first, and no completion claims are made without fresh verification evidence.

Debugging Framework

Name: Debugging Framework
Author: mrgoonie

bymrgoonie

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1,395

Security & Testing

Implements systematic debugging methodologies to identify root causes and validate fixes with rigorous verification protocols.

About

The Debugging Skill for Claude Code provides a structured, four-phase framework designed to eliminate guesswork and 'trial-and-error' cycles during the troubleshooting process. By enforcing a strict 'investigation-first' policy, it guides developers through tracing bugs back to their original triggers, applying defense-in-depth validation to prevent regressions, and performing mandatory verification before any task is marked complete. This skill transforms random debugging into a predictable, high-success-rate engineering process suitable for both simple test failures and complex production issues.

Key Features

Mandatory verification protocols to confirm fixes with fresh evidence before completion
Deep root cause tracing to find the source of invalid data, not just symptoms
Quick-dispatch mapping for matching symptoms to specific debugging sub-skills
Four-phase systematic framework: Investigation, Analysis, Testing, and Implementation
Defense-in-depth validation across entry points, business logic, and environment guards
1,395 GitHub stars

Use Cases

Preventing recurring bugs by applying structural defense-in-depth security patterns
Ensuring rigorous quality control through automated verification before claiming success
Resolving complex production errors where the root cause is hidden deep in the call stack

About

Key Features

Mandatory verification protocols to confirm fixes with fresh evidence before completion
Deep root cause tracing to find the source of invalid data, not just symptoms
Quick-dispatch mapping for matching symptoms to specific debugging sub-skills
Four-phase systematic framework: Investigation, Analysis, Testing, and Implementation
Defense-in-depth validation across entry points, business logic, and environment guards
1,395 GitHub stars

Use Cases

Preventing recurring bugs by applying structural defense-in-depth security patterns
Ensuring rigorous quality control through automated verification before claiming success
Resolving complex production errors where the root cause is hidden deep in the call stack