How to install debug
npx skills add https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill debugFull instructions (SKILL.md)
Source of truth, from anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins.
name: debug description: Structured debugging session — reproduce, isolate, diagnose, and fix. Trigger with an error message or stack trace, "this works in staging but not prod", "something broke after the deploy", or when behavior diverges from expected and the cause isn't obvious. argument-hint: "<error message or problem description>"
/debug
If you see unfamiliar placeholders or need to check which tools are connected, see CONNECTORS.md.
Run a structured debugging session to find and fix issues systematically.
Usage
/debug $ARGUMENTS
How It Works
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DEBUG │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Step 1: REPRODUCE │
│ ✓ Understand the expected vs. actual behavior │
│ ✓ Identify exact reproduction steps │
│ ✓ Determine scope (when did it start? who is affected?) │
│ │
│ Step 2: ISOLATE │
│ ✓ Narrow down the component, service, or code path │
│ ✓ Check recent changes (deploys, config changes, dependencies) │
│ ✓ Review logs and error messages │
│ │
│ Step 3: DIAGNOSE │
│ ✓ Form hypotheses and test them │
│ ✓ Trace the code path │
│ ✓ Identify root cause (not just symptoms) │
│ │
│ Step 4: FIX │
│ ✓ Propose a fix with explanation │
│ ✓ Consider side effects and edge cases │
│ ✓ Suggest tests to prevent regression │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
What I Need From You
Tell me about the problem. Any of these help:
- Error message or stack trace
- Steps to reproduce
- What changed recently
- Logs or screenshots
- Expected vs. actual behavior
Output
## Debug Report: [Issue Summary]
### Reproduction
- **Expected**: [What should happen]
- **Actual**: [What happens instead]
- **Steps**: [How to reproduce]
### Root Cause
[Explanation of why the bug occurs]
### Fix
[Code changes or configuration fixes needed]
### Prevention
- [Test to add]
- [Guard to put in place]
If Connectors Available
If ~~monitoring is connected:
- Pull logs, error rates, and metrics around the time of the issue
- Show recent deploys and config changes that may correlate
If ~~source control is connected:
- Identify recent commits and PRs that touched affected code paths
- Check if the issue correlates with a specific change
If ~~project tracker is connected:
- Search for related bug reports or known issues
- Create a ticket for the fix once identified
Tips
- Share error messages exactly — Don't paraphrase. The exact text matters.
- Mention what changed — Recent deploys, dependency updates, and config changes are top suspects.
- Include context — "This works in staging but not prod" or "Only affects large payloads" narrows things fast.
Related skills
More from anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins and the wider catalog.
data-visualization
Pick the right chart and generate publication-quality Python visualizations with built-in design and accessibility best practices.
code-review
Review code changes for security, performance, and correctness. Trigger with a PR URL or diff, "review this before I merge", "is this code safe?", or when checking a change for N+1 queries, injection risks, missing edge cases, or error handling gaps.
documentation
Write and maintain technical documentation. Trigger with "write docs for", "document this", "create a README", "write a runbook", "onboarding guide", or when the user needs help with any form of technical writing — API docs, architecture docs, or operational runbooks.
build-dashboard
Build an interactive HTML dashboard with charts, filters, and tables. Use when creating an executive overview with KPI cards, turning query results into a shareable self-contained report, building a team monitoring snapshot, or needing multiple charts with filters in one browser-openable file.
task-management
Simple task management using a shared TASKS.md file. Reference this when the user asks about their tasks, wants to add/complete tasks, or needs help tracking commitments.
memory-management
Two-tier memory system that makes Claude a true workplace collaborator. Decodes shorthand, acronyms, nicknames, and internal language so Claude understands requests like a colleague would. CLAUDE.md for working memory, memory/ directory for the full knowledge base.