🧰 Engineering Essentials · Debugging Craft

Hunt bugs systematically (PHP)

Reproduce, bisect, hypothesize, verify — the method that beats random poking under deadline pressure.

foundation~30 minAll Software Engineers

Steps

1Reproduce deterministically first; flaky repro = flaky fix
2Write failing test capturing the bug before touching source
3Bisect history or code path until minimal failing case remains
4Form ONE hypothesis, predict its observable, then check
5Fix root cause, not nearest symptom; add regression test
6Document the hunt briefly for future searchers
7Run static analysis (PHPStan/Psalm) at max level in CI
8Profile request cycles with Xdebug + cachegrind on real routes

Common Pitfalls

▲Shotgun changes stacking unknown unknowns
▲Fixing symptoms while root cause ships elsewhere

Commands

Install with skills CLI

$ npx skills add aniruddhaadak80/skills --skill debug-craft-systematic-bug-hunt-php

Install globally

$ npx skills add aniruddhaadak80/skills --skill debug-craft-systematic-bug-hunt-php -g

Tags

#debugging#methodology#engineering-essentials#debug-craft

Install this skill

$ npx skills add aniruddhaadak80/skills --skill debug-craft-systematic-bug-hunt-php -a opencode

SKILL.md

# Hunt bugs systematically (PHP)

> Reproduce, bisect, hypothesize, verify — the method that beats random poking under deadline pressure.

## When to Use This Skill

Reproduce, bisect, hypothesize, verify — the method that beats random poking under deadline pressure.

## Steps

1. Reproduce deterministically first; flaky repro = flaky fix
2. Write failing test capturing the bug before touching source
3. Bisect history or code path until minimal failing case remains
4. Form ONE hypothesis, predict its observable, then check
5. Fix root cause, not nearest symptom; add regression test
6. Document the hunt briefly for future searchers
7. Run static analysis (PHPStan/Psalm) at max level in CI
8. Profile request cycles with Xdebug + cachegrind on real routes

## Common Pitfalls

- Shotgun changes stacking unknown unknowns
- Fixing symptoms while root cause ships elsewhere

View source on GitHub ↗

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