systematic-debugging

by @obra/superpowers · 118.4K stars · 42.5K installs/wk · Rank #77

A rigorous four-phase debugging process focusing on root cause analysis, evidence gathering, and systematic testing.

Install

npx skills add https://github.com/obra/superpowers --skill systematic-debugging

Summary

Four-phase process: root cause investigation, pattern analysis, hypothesis testing, and implementation with mandatory test cases
Requires completing Phase 1 (evidence gathering, error analysis, data flow tracing) before proposing any fixes; blocks symptom-based patching
Includes diagnostic instrumentation guidance for multi-component systems and backward call-stack tracing techniques to isolate failure points
Enforces stopping and questioning architecture after three failed fix attempts, treating repeated failures as a sign of fundamental design problems rather than implementation issues