When is the best time to use Systematic Debugging?

It should be used for any technical issue, especially under time pressure, when a bug seems 'simple,' or when previous attempts to fix the issue haven't worked.

How does this skill handle multi-component systems?

It uses a structured diagnostic approach to log data at every component boundary (e.g., API to Database), isolating exactly which layer the failure occurs in before investigating that specific component.

What happens if three or more fix attempts fail?

The framework triggers an architectural review, shifting focus from symptom-fixing to questioning the fundamental design patterns, preventing endless cycles of ineffective patches.

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

The Iron Law dictates that no fixes should be proposed or attempted until a Phase 1 root cause investigation is fully completed and evidence-backed.

Systematic Debugging Framework

Name: Systematic Debugging Framework
Author: AlabamaMike

byAlabamaMike

安全与测试

Applies a rigorous four-phase scientific framework to identify root causes and implement reliable fixes for complex software bugs.

关于

The Systematic Debugging skill eliminates the 'guess-and-check' approach that leads to technical debt and regression. It enforces an 'Iron Law' that requires full root cause investigation before any code changes are proposed. By guiding Claude through four distinct phases—Root Cause Investigation, Pattern Analysis, Hypothesis Testing, and Implementation—this skill ensures that developers solve the underlying issue rather than just masking symptoms. It is particularly effective for multi-component systems, deep-stack data flow errors, and architectural issues that surface as persistent bugs.

主要功能

Integration with Test-Driven Development (TDD) for verification
Deep-stack data flow tracing and root cause isolation
Enforces a mandatory four-phase debugging lifecycle
Automated triggers for architectural review after multiple failed fixes
0 GitHub stars
Diagnostic instrumentation for multi-layer system boundaries

使用场景

Resolving intermittent failures in distributed systems or CI/CD pipelines
Systematically onboarding and debugging legacy or unfamiliar codebases
Investigating complex bugs where previous 'quick fixes' have failed to stick

关于

主要功能

Integration with Test-Driven Development (TDD) for verification
Deep-stack data flow tracing and root cause isolation
Enforces a mandatory four-phase debugging lifecycle
Automated triggers for architectural review after multiple failed fixes
0 GitHub stars
Diagnostic instrumentation for multi-layer system boundaries

使用场景

Resolving intermittent failures in distributed systems or CI/CD pipelines
Systematically onboarding and debugging legacy or unfamiliar codebases
Investigating complex bugs where previous 'quick fixes' have failed to stick