How does this skill improve my code quality?

It helps prevent 'symptom fixes'—temporary patches that increase complexity—and guides you toward 'root cause fixes' that result in simpler, more robust code.

When should I use the Root Cause Analysis skill?

Use it when you encounter recurring bugs, mysterious system failures, or when you want to ensure a proposed fix is solving the actual problem rather than just hiding a symptom.

What is the 5 Whys methodology in this skill?

It is an iterative technique used to explore cause-and-effect relationships by asking 'Why?' five times to drill down from a surface symptom to the underlying architectural cause.

Can this skill be triggered in Japanese?

Yes, it supports Japanese triggers like 'なぜなぜ分析' (Naze-Naze analysis) and '根本原因' to facilitate root cause analysis in Japanese-speaking development environments.

Root Cause Analysis (5 Whys)

Name: Root Cause Analysis (5 Whys)
Author: thkt

bythkt

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Productivity & Workflow

Performs deep technical investigations using the 5 Whys methodology to identify and fix architectural root causes rather than superficial symptoms.

About

The Root Cause Analysis skill empowers Claude to go beyond 'band-aid' fixes by applying the structured 5 Whys methodology to code issues and architectural bottlenecks. By systematically drilling down from observed symptoms to design decisions and architectural constraints, this skill helps developers implement permanent, clean solutions. It provides a clear distinction between symptom-level fixes—like adding arbitrary timeouts—and root-cause resolutions—like proper state management—ensuring long-term code maintainability and system stability.

Key Features

Identifies architectural constraints and design flaws
Distinguishes between superficial symptom fixes and permanent root cause solutions
Supports bilingual triggers for both Japanese and English workflows
Analyzes implementation details to find underlying logic errors
3 GitHub stars
Implements the 5 Whys methodology for systematic debugging

Use Cases

Analyzing complex architectural decisions that lead to technical debt
Refactoring legacy code with recurring performance bottlenecks
Debugging flaky tests or intermittent race conditions in frontend applications

About

Key Features

Identifies architectural constraints and design flaws
Distinguishes between superficial symptom fixes and permanent root cause solutions
Supports bilingual triggers for both Japanese and English workflows
Analyzes implementation details to find underlying logic errors
3 GitHub stars
Implements the 5 Whys methodology for systematic debugging

Use Cases

Analyzing complex architectural decisions that lead to technical debt
Refactoring legacy code with recurring performance bottlenecks
Debugging flaky tests or intermittent race conditions in frontend applications