spectra-debug

Systematically debug a problem using a four-phase workflow. **This skill enforces debugging discipline.** No guessing, no random changes, no "let me try this." Every step is deliberate and evidence-based. **Input**: The argument after `/spectra:debug` describes the bug or unexpected behavior. Examples: - `/spectra:debug the search returns duplicate results` - `/spectra:debug crash on startup after upgrading` - `/spectra:debug file watcher misses rename events` --- ## The Three-Attempt Rule **Maximum 3 fix attempts per hypothesis in Phase 4 (Fix).** Phases 1-3 (Reproduce, Isolate, Root Cause) are investigation — they do not count toward this limit. If your third fix attempt fails: 1. **Stop fixing** 2. Document what you tried and why it failed 3. Question your hypothesis — is the root cause what you think it is? 4. Research alternatives or try a completely different angle Do NOT keep trying variations of the same approach. That's a loop, not debugging. --- ## Phase 1: Reproduce Before anything else, make the bug happen reliably. - **Find the exact steps** to trigger the bug - **Identify the expected vs actual behavior** — be precise - **Determine if it's consistent** — does it happen every time? Only on certain input? - **Simplify the reproduction** — strip away everything that's not essential If you can't reproduce it, you can't debug it. Gather more information before proceeding. --- ## Phase 2: Isolate Narrow down where the bug lives. - **Binary search the ...