domains / families / software-engineering / phase-gated-debugging

phase-gated-debugging

authentic

Use when debugging any bug. Enforces a 5-phase protocol where code edits are blocked until root cause is confirmed. Prevents premature fix attempts.

When to use

• 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

When not to use

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.

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