debug

Q: How do I install debug?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill debug in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/debug/ (personal) or .claude/skills/debug/ (project).

by anthropics OfficialCode Quality & Workflow

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.

Installs: 5.9K
Last 24h: +15
Trending rank: #6987
Security: Pass

Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill debug

01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads debug automatically when relevant.
03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

Security audits

Independent scans of the skill's instructions and bundled files.

Gen Agent Trust Hub PassSAFE ·This skill facilitates a structured debugging process to identify and resolve software issues. It provides a systematic approach for the agent to follow, including reproduction, isolation, and root cause analysis. No security issues were detected.

Socket PassNo alerts

Snyk PassLOW ·Risk: LOW · No issues

Runlayer PassNONE ·1 file scanned · No issues

ZeroLeaks PassNONE ·Score: 93/100 · 2 sections analyzed

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

/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.

FAQ

What does the debug skill do?

How do I install debug?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill debug in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/debug/ (personal) or .claude/skills/debug/ (project).

Which AI agents can use debug?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is debug safe to install?

Security partners have reviewed it: Gen Agent Trust Hub passed; Socket passed; Snyk passed; Runlayer passed; ZeroLeaks passed. As with any skill, read the SKILL.md and bundled scripts before installing.

Who maintains debug?

It is published by anthropics in anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins, and it is an official skill from the maker of the technology it covers. It has 5,871 recorded installs.