Individual skill
systematic-debugging
Use when encountering any bug, test failure, or unexpected behavior, before proposing fixes
eval/local/skills/benchmarks/dependency/superpowers/systematic-debugging/SKILL.md
Source commit 1fb0f070582714f8dd36cd01b7681a8aa0310942
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- Last checked
- Nov 6, 2026
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- ai Repository topic
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CREATION-LOG.mddoc · 4,257 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 9,885 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 9,885 bytescondition-based-waiting-example.tsruns · 5,054 bytescondition-based-waiting.mddoc · 3,516 bytesdefense-in-depth.mddoc · 3,650 bytesfind-polluter.shruns · 1,528 bytesroot-cause-tracing.mddoc · 5,316 bytestest-academic.mddoc · 653 bytestest-pressure-1.mddoc · 1,900 bytestest-pressure-2.mddoc · 2,283 bytestest-pressure-3.mddoc · 2,692 bytes
Read excerpt
# Systematic Debugging
## Overview
Random fixes waste time and create new bugs. Quick patches mask underlying issues.
**Core principle:** ALWAYS find root cause before attempting fixes. Symptom fixes are failure.
**Violating the letter of this process is violating the spirit of debugging.**
## The Iron Law
```
NO FIXES WITHOUT ROOT CAUSE INVESTIGATION FIRST