Agent skill · software engineering · sickn33
phase-gated-debugging
Use when debugging any bug. Enforces a 5-phase protocol where code edits are blocked until root cause is confirmed. Prevents premature fix attempts.
Why this skill is useful
Adds a structured 5-phase debugging protocol that enforces disciplined debugging practices not commonly known to AI.
What it needs
About 2k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-08-07. 44,571 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
Phase-Gated Debugging Overview AI coding agents see an error and immediately edit code. They guess at fixes, get it wrong, and spiral. This skill enforces a strict 5-phase protocol where you CANNOT edit source code until the root cause is identified and confirmed. Based on claude-debug (full plugin with PreToolUse hook enforcement). When to Use Use this skill when: a bug keeps getting "fixed" without resolving the underlying issue you need to slow an agent down and force disciplined debugging before code edits the failure is intermittent, a regression, performance-related, or otherwise hard to isolate you want an explicit user confirmation checkpoint before any fix is applied The Protocol Phase 1: REPRODUCE Run the failing command/test. Capture the exact error. Run 2-3 times for consistency. Do NOT read source code Do NOT hypothesize Do NOT edit any files Phase 2: ISOLATE Read code. Add diagnostic logging marked // DEBUG. Re-run with diagnostics. Binary search to narrow down. Only // DEBUG marked logging is allowed Do NOT fix the bug even if you see it Phase 3: ROOT CAUSE Analyze WHY at the isolated location. Use "5 Whys" technique. Remove debug logging. State: "This is my root cause analysis: [explanation]. Do you agree, or should I investigate further?" WAIT for user confirmation. Do NOT proceed without it. Phase 4: FIX Remove all // DEBUG lines. Apply minimal change addressing confirmed root cause. Only edit files related to root cause Do NOT refactor unrelated code Phase 5: VERIFY Run original failing test — must pass. Run related tests. For intermittent bugs, run 5+ times. If verification fails: root cause was wrong, go back to Phase 2. …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills sickn33/phase-gated-debugging--75532d