root-cause-debugger
by Roy Yuen
An evidence-first debugging workflow for agents to identify, reproduce, and surgically fix software defects.
- Identify and fix the source of intermittent flaky test failures
- Debug runtime exceptions by tracing bad values back to their source
- Resolve dependency and import conflicts without breaking the build
$6
One-time purchase
Included in download
- Identify and fix the source of intermittent flaky test failures
- Debug runtime exceptions by tracing bad values back to their source
- Includes example output and usage patterns
See it in action
Reproduction: Ran 'npm test' -> Test 'auth-flow.spec.ts' failed with 401. Root Cause: JWT expiration was set to 0 in dev config, causing immediate rejection. Fix: Updated config/dev.json expiry to 3600s. Regression Trace: Added smoke test check_token_validity(). Verification: PASSED.
An evidence-first debugging workflow for agents to identify, reproduce, and surgically fix software defects.
$6
One-time purchase
⚡ Also available via Agensi MCP — your AI agent can load this skill on demand via MCP. Learn more →
Included in download
- Identify and fix the source of intermittent flaky test failures
- Debug runtime exceptions by tracing bad values back to their source
- Includes example output and usage patterns
- Instant install
- One-time purchase
See it in action
Reproduction: Ran 'npm test' -> Test 'auth-flow.spec.ts' failed with 401. Root Cause: JWT expiration was set to 0 in dev config, causing immediate rejection. Fix: Updated config/dev.json expiry to 3600s. Regression Trace: Added smoke test check_token_validity(). Verification: PASSED.
Screenshots
About This Skill
What it does
The Root Cause Debugger is a high-precision diagnostic skill for AI agents. Rather than "spraying and praying" with broad code changes, it enforces an evidence-first debugging loop: reproduce, narrow scope, identify root cause, apply a surgical fix, and verify with regression coverage. This prevents the agent from making destructive "guesses" like indiscriminately upgrading dependencies or ballooning timeout values.
Why use this skill
Standard LLMs often attempt to fix bugs by rewriting large swaths of code or tweaking configurations until something works. This skill forces a developer-centric workflow that treats debugging as a science. It is particularly effective for complex issues like flaky tests, runtime exceptions, dependency conflicts, and race conditions where the "where" and "why" are not immediately obvious.
Supported Scenarios
- Failing Tests: Isolates minimal reproductions to find the boundary of failure.
- Runtime Exceptions: Traces value transformations backward to find illegal states.
- Dependency/Build Failures: Audits lockfiles and module formats before suggesting changes.
- Flaky Behavior: Proves race conditions through targeted logging and state inspection.
The output is a structured Handoff Report that documents the exact evidence found, the surgical fix applied, and the automated check added to prevent regressions.
📖 Learn more: Best Testing & QA Skills for Claude Code →
Use Cases
- Identify and fix the source of intermittent flaky test failures
- Debug runtime exceptions by tracing bad values back to their source
- Resolve dependency and import conflicts without breaking the build
- Create minimal reproduction cases for complex production-like incidents
- Apply surgical fixes that maintain project style and architectural boundaries
How to Install
unzip root-cause-debugger.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to share your experience.
Only users who have downloaded or purchased this skill can leave a review.
Early access skill
Be the first to review this skill.
Only users who have downloaded or purchased this skill can leave a review.
Security Scanned
Passed automated security review
Permissions
No special permissions declared or detected
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn More About AI Agent Skills
Similar Skills
env-doctor
Diagnoses why your project will not start. Checks runtime versions, dependencies, environment variables, databases, ports, and build artifacts systematically.
codex-grade-coding
Turn your AI agent into a senior engineer with strict task classification and verification-driven coding protocols.
git-commit-writer
Writes conventional commit messages by analyzing your staged git changes. Detects commit type, scope, and breaking changes automatically.
code-reviewer
Reviews your code for bugs, security vulnerabilities, logic errors, performance issues, and style violations. Organizes findings by severity and suggests fixes with code examples.