playbook/outfitter-agents/plugins/outfitter/commands/debug.md

3.2 KiB

description argument-hint
Systematic debugging with root cause investigation - no random trial-and-error
bug description or error message

Systematic Debugging

Start a methodical debugging session using the four-stage investigation framework with iterative review.

Instructions

  • Consider the recent conversation history, your context, and the problem to be debugged.
  • Specific user instructions should be followed unless they are contradictory to the task at hand. $ARGUMENTS

Steps

  1. Load — Use the Skill tool and load the outfitter:debugging skill
  2. Consider — Ultrathink and analyze the problem, consider available evidence, potential causes, and investigation approach
  3. Dispatch or Execute — Choose execution path based on available tools:
    • If Task tool available: Run the debug loop (see below)
    • If Task tool unavailable: Execute the debugging methodology directly using the loaded skill

Debug Loop (when Task tool available)

Run iterative cycles until the issue is resolved:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  1. INVESTIGATE — Dispatch outfitter:debugger           │
│     └─ Collect evidence, form hypothesis, propose fix   │
│                          ↓                              │
│  2. REVIEW — Dispatch outfitter:reviewer                │
│     └─ Validate fix, check for regressions, verify      │
│        root cause addressed (not just symptoms)         │
│                          ↓                              │
│  3. EVALUATE — Check review outcome                     │
│     └─ If approved → Done                               │
│     └─ If issues found → Back to step 1 with feedback   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Loop Execution

  1. Dispatch debugger (background) — Pass error context, evidence, any prior feedback
  2. Retrieve results — Use TaskOutput to get proposed fix and rationale
  3. Dispatch reviewer (background) — Pass the proposed fix and debugger's findings for code review
  4. Retrieve review — Use TaskOutput to get validation results
  5. Evaluate:
    • Approved: Report success, document root cause and fix
    • Issues found: Loop back to debugger with reviewer feedback
    • Max iterations (3): Escalate to user with findings so far

Context Accumulation

Each loop iteration passes forward:

  • Original error context
  • Investigation findings from debugger
  • Review feedback from reviewer
  • Cumulative hypotheses tested

The Iron Law

NO FIXES WITHOUT ROOT CAUSE INVESTIGATION FIRST

If you catch yourself wanting to "just try something" — stop. Return to investigation.

Context Handoff (for initial dispatch)

When dispatching to the debugger subagent, include:

  • Exact error messages or unexpected behavior
  • Stack traces if available
  • Recent changes (git diff context)
  • Reproduction steps if known
  • Any hypotheses already formed
  • Prior loop feedback (if iterating)