---
name: debugging-workflow
description: >
  Diagnose and fix unexpected behavior, runtime errors, or failing checks when asked to debug or repair an issue.
scope: global
---

# Debugging

1. Establish expected versus actual behavior from existing errors, logs, and code.
   Build a small reproduction when useful; do not ask for information already given.
2. Rank plausible causes and choose a focused probe that distinguishes them.
   Inspect boundary inputs, recent relevant diffs, or execution state as needed.
3. Fix the demonstrated cause with a small change. Stop blind retry loops and
   avoid broad refactoring while resolving a bug.
4. Add regression coverage for meaningful behavioral failures when practical.
   Use [shared verification](../../protocols/workflow.md#verification) to choose checks.
5. Report the cause, changed behavior, evidence, and any remaining uncertainty.

Use `backprop` only when an existing spec needs a bug record or invariant update.
No spec creation, mandatory full suite, or separate review is required for a routine fix.