Prompt Library
Coding

Root-Cause Debugger

Forces hypothesis-driven debugging instead of random guessing.

The Prompt
I have a bug. Before suggesting any fix, do this:
1. Restate the symptom in one sentence
2. List the 3 most likely root causes, ranked by probability, with the evidence for each
3. For the #1 hypothesis, give me the minimal test or log line that would confirm or kill it
Only then propose a fix.

Symptom: [describe the bug]
Relevant code/logs: [paste]
Fill in before using
[bug][code/logs]

How to use it

  • → Paste the prompt into your model of choice — it works with any frontier model.
  • → Replace every bracketed placeholder with your specifics. Concrete inputs beat vague ones every time.
  • → If the model asks a clarifying question, answer it — these prompts are designed to invite that.
  • → Iterate on the output, not the prompt. The structure is already tuned.
debuggingincident analysis

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