Debug Without Panic

Bugs are normal. Reproduce the problem, copy the error, and give the tool one bug at a time. If three attempts fail, roll back to the last working version and try a different approach.

A simple loop

• Write the steps that trigger the bug.
• Paste the full error and the code it points to.
• Apply one fix and test it.
• If it gets worse, roll back.

Worked example

Sam's save button does nothing. He writes the steps to trigger it, pastes the full error and the function it names, and applies the single fix suggested. It works. Another time, three fixes in a row make things worse, so he rolls back to his saved version and asks for a different approach.

Common mistakes

• Asking for five fixes at once.
• Not keeping a working version to return to.
• Describing the symptom without the error text.

Exercise

Pick a bug. Write steps to reproduce it. Give the tool the error and apply one fix at a time.