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thinking-scientific-method
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When a symptom has several plausible causes, rank falsifiable hypotheses and run the cheapest discriminating observation first; prefer least-assumptive survivors only after evidence fit.
When to use
- A bug, incident, or anomaly has more than one plausible cause.
- You can observe code, logs, diffs, traces, tests, configs, or data now.
- You must localize the faulty file, function, branch, config, or invariant before fixing.
- Competing explanations fit the same surface facts and you need a discriminating check.
When not to use
- Cause is already obvious from a single stack, failing test, or recent diff — fix directly.
- Only one plausible hypothesis exists — test it; do not invent rivals for ritual.
- No observation is possible yet — obtain access first; do not speculate a localization.
- Multi-week experiments, product A/B tests, or policy trials — this skill is for agent-now checks.
- Fault is already localized and you need systemic root/prevention depth — use five-whys-plus.
- Selective "only these objects/times" defects better suited to IS/IS-NOT comparison — use Kepner-Tregoe.
- Representation (doc/dashboard) may be stale versus reality — verify territory with map-territory first, then resume hypotheses.
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