Agent skill

df:debug

Systematic debugging with persistent state across context resets. Use when the user reports a bug, error, or something not working as expected. Triggers on: "debug this", "something's broken", "fix this bug", "not working", "there's an error", "why isn't this working?"

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Install this agent skill to your Project

npx add-skill https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry/tree/main/skills/other/other/df-debug

SKILL.md

Orchestrator role: Gather symptoms, spawn df-debugger agent, handle checkpoints, spawn continuations.

Why subagent: Investigation burns context fast (reading files, forming hypotheses, testing). Fresh 200k context per investigation. Main context stays lean for user interaction.

Check for active sessions:

bash
ls .planning/debug/*.md 2>/dev/null | grep -v resolved | head -5

0. Initialize Context

bash
INIT=$(node ~/.claude/devflow/bin/df-tools.cjs state load)

Extract commit_docs from init JSON. Resolve debugger model:

bash
DEBUGGER_MODEL=$(node ~/.claude/devflow/bin/df-tools.cjs resolve-model df-debugger --raw)

1. Check Active Sessions

If active sessions exist AND no $ARGUMENTS:

  • List sessions with status, hypothesis, next action
  • User picks number to resume OR describes new issue

If $ARGUMENTS provided OR user describes new issue:

  • Continue to symptom gathering

2. Gather Symptoms (if new issue)

Step 2a: What happens? (structured)

Use AskUserQuestion:

  • header: "Symptom"
  • question: "What happens when the issue occurs?"
  • multiSelect: false
  • options:
    • "Nothing happens" — Expected action produces no result
    • "Wrong output" — Something happens but it's incorrect
    • "Error displayed" — An error message or crash occurs
    • "Partial success" — Some parts work, others don't

Step 2b: Impact (structured)

Use AskUserQuestion:

  • header: "Impact"
  • question: "How does this affect your workflow?"
  • multiSelect: false
  • options:
    • "Completely blocked" — Cannot continue without fixing this
    • "Workaround exists" — Can work around it but it's painful
    • "Cosmetic issue" — Functionality works, appearance is wrong
    • "Intermittent" — Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't

Step 2c: Expected behavior (freeform)

Ask inline: "What should happen instead? Describe the expected behavior."

Step 2d: Error details (freeform)

Ask inline: "Any error messages? Paste them or describe what you see."

Step 2e: Reproduction (freeform)

Ask inline: "How do you trigger this? What steps reproduce the issue?"

After all gathered, confirm ready to investigate.

3. Spawn df-debugger Agent

Fill prompt and spawn:

markdown
<objective>
Investigate issue: {slug}

**Summary:** {trigger}
</objective>

<symptoms>
expected: {expected}
actual: {actual}
errors: {errors}
reproduction: {reproduction}
timeline: {timeline}
</symptoms>

<mode>
symptoms_prefilled: true
goal: find_and_fix
</mode>

<debug_file>
Create: .planning/debug/{slug}.md
</debug_file>
Task(
  prompt=filled_prompt,
  subagent_type="df-debugger",
  model="{debugger_model}",
  description="Debug {slug}"
)

4. Handle Agent Return

If ## ROOT CAUSE FOUND:

  • Display root cause and evidence summary
  • Offer options:
    • "Fix now" - spawn fix subagent
    • "Plan fix" - suggest /df:plan-objective --gaps
    • "Manual fix" - done

If ## CHECKPOINT REACHED:

  • Present checkpoint details to user
  • Get user response
  • Spawn continuation agent (see step 5)

If ## INVESTIGATION INCONCLUSIVE:

  • Show what was checked and eliminated
  • Offer options:
    • "Continue investigating" - spawn new agent with additional context
    • "Manual investigation" - done
    • "Add more context" - gather more symptoms, spawn again

5. Spawn Continuation Agent (After Checkpoint)

When user responds to checkpoint, spawn fresh agent:

markdown
<objective>
Continue debugging {slug}. Evidence is in the debug file.
</objective>

<prior_state>
Debug file: @.planning/debug/{slug}.md
</prior_state>

<checkpoint_response>
**Type:** {checkpoint_type}
**Response:** {user_response}
</checkpoint_response>

<mode>
goal: find_and_fix
</mode>
Task(
  prompt=continuation_prompt,
  subagent_type="df-debugger",
  model="{debugger_model}",
  description="Continue debug {slug}"
)

<success_criteria>

  • Active sessions checked
  • Symptoms gathered (if new)
  • df-debugger spawned with context
  • Checkpoints handled correctly
  • Root cause confirmed before fixing </success_criteria>

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