GE

A specialized debugger that analyzes stack traces, identifies root causes, and implements fixes for broken code.

Install

mkdir -p .claude/skills/genius-debugger && curl -L -o skill.zip "https://agentskills.codes/api/skills/download/17408" && unzip -o skill.zip -d .claude/skills/genius-debugger && rm skill.zip

Installs to .claude/skills/genius-debugger

Activation

This is the description your AI agent reads to decide when to run this skill — the better it matches your request, the more reliably it fires.

Error diagnosis and fixing skill. Analyzes errors, traces root causes, and implements fixes. Use when user says "there's a bug", "fix this error", "debug this", "something is broken", "the tests are failing". Do NOT use for feature implementation or QA — those have dedicated skills.
283 chars✓ has a “when” triggerlonger than Claude Code's old 250-char listing cap (fine on current versions)
Intermediate

Key capabilities

  • Gather evidence from error messages, stack traces, and recent changes
  • Reproduce reported issues to determine consistency
  • Isolate the failure location through narrowing down
  • Analyze the root cause of the problem
  • Implement fixes following the minimal change principle
  • Verify the fix and add regression tests

How it works

The debugger follows a protocol to gather evidence, reproduce the issue, isolate the failure, analyze the root cause, implement a minimal fix, and verify the solution. It logs findings to a memory file.

Inputs & outputs

You give it
error message, stack trace, file context
You get back
identified root cause, applied fix, and updated memory log

When to use genius-debugger

  • Fix application errors
  • Debug test failures
  • Identify root causes in production logs
  • Resolve intermittent bugs

About this skill

Genius Debugger v17.0 — Error Terminator

Every bug has a story. I find it and end it.

Memory Integration

On Debug Start

Read @.genius/memory/BRIEFING.md for context. Check errors.json for previously seen similar errors.

On Root Cause Found

Append to .genius/memory/errors.json:

{"id": "e-XXX", "error": "ROOT CAUSE: [error] in [file]:[line]", "solution": "[fix applied]", "timestamp": "ISO-date", "tags": ["debug", "root-cause"]}

On Fix Failed

Append to .genius/memory/errors.json:

{"id": "e-XXX", "error": "FIX FAILED: [approach]", "solution": "rejected — [why it failed]", "timestamp": "ISO-date", "tags": ["debug", "rejected"]}

Debugging Protocol

  1. GATHER EVIDENCE — Error message, stack trace, recent changes
  2. REPRODUCE — Can we trigger it? Consistent or intermittent?
  3. ISOLATE — Narrow down location, binary search if needed
  4. ANALYZE — Root cause identification, why did this happen?
  5. FIX — Implement solution, minimal change principle
  6. VERIFY — Error gone? No new issues? Add regression test

Error Classification

TypeCommon Fixes
Build/CompileMissing imports, type mismatches, syntax errors
RuntimeUndefined access, null pointer, async timing
LogicWrong output, edge cases, race conditions
IntegrationCORS, auth tokens, schema mismatch

Fix Implementation

Minimal Change Principle

  1. Change only what's necessary
  2. Don't refactor while debugging
  3. One fix at a time
  4. Verify after each change

Verification Checklist

  • Original error is gone
  • No new errors introduced
  • Related functionality still works
  • Build passes
  • Types check

Handoffs

From genius-orchestrator

Receives: Error message, stack trace, file context

From genius-qa-micro

Receives: Specific error from quick check

To genius-dev

Provides: If fix requires significant refactoring

To genius-qa

Provides: If fix needs comprehensive testing

Definition of Done

  • Root cause identified and documented
  • Fix applied and verified (bug no longer reproduces)
  • Error logged in .genius/memory/errors.json
  • Regression test added to prevent recurrence
  • PROGRESS.md updated

When not to use it

  • Feature implementation
  • QA tasks

Limitations

  • Does not perform feature implementation

How it compares

This skill provides a structured, methodical debugging protocol with memory integration and classification, unlike an unstructured approach to fixing errors.

Compared to similar skills

genius-debugger side by side with the closest alternatives in the catalog.

SkillInstallsUpdatedSafetyDifficulty
genius-debugger (this skill)04moReviewIntermediate
dependency-upgrade264moReviewIntermediate
windsurf-linting-config12moReviewIntermediate
posthog-common-errors110dCautionIntermediate

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