name: kiro-debug description: Investigate implementation failures using root-cause-first debugging. Use when an implementer is blocked, verification fails, or repeated remediation does not converge. allowed-tools: Read, Bash, Grep, Glob, WebSearch, WebFetch
This skill is for fresh-context root cause investigation. It combines local evidence, runtime/config inspection, and external documentation or issue research when available. It is not a patch generator for guess-first debugging.
BLOCKEDDo not use this skill to speculate about fixes before gathering evidence.
Provide:
git diff or summary of uncommitted failed changesrequirements.md, design.md)## Implementation NotesReturn:
ROOT_CAUSECATEGORYFIX_PLANVERIFICATIONNEXT_ACTION: RETRY_TASK | BLOCK_TASK | STOP_FOR_HUMANCONFIDENCE: HIGH | MEDIUM | LOWNOTESUse the language specified in spec.json.
Extract:
Inspect the repository for local evidence:
package.json, pyproject.toml, go.mod, Makefile, README*tsconfig or equivalent language/runtime configgit diffIf web access is available, search:
Prefer:
Use one category:
MISSING_DEPENDENCYRUNTIME_MISMATCHMODULE_FORMATNATIVE_ABICONFIG_GAPLOGIC_ERRORTASK_ORDERING_PROBLEMTASK_DECOMPOSITION_PROBLEMSPEC_CONFLICTEXTERNAL_DEPENDENCYDecide whether the issue can be fixed inside this repo by:
Use NEXT_ACTION: RETRY_TASK when the issue is repo-fixable inside the current approved task plan.
Decide whether the current approved task plan is still safe to execute as written.
Prefer NEXT_ACTION: STOP_FOR_HUMAN when:
Use NEXT_ACTION: BLOCK_TASK only when the current task should stop but the rest of the queue can still proceed safely.
Do not propose a brute-force code fix as a substitute for revising tasks.md or the approved plan.
Do not propose a multi-fix shotgun plan. Identify the root cause first, then produce the smallest plausible fix plan. If the true problem is a spec conflict or architecture problem, say so directly.
Use NEXT_ACTION: STOP_FOR_HUMAN when the blocker genuinely requires:
If the issue is fixable by repo changes inside the current task plan, do not escalate prematurely.
| Rationalization | Reality |
|---|---|
| “This probably just needs a quick patch” | Patch-first debugging creates rework. |
| “Let’s try a few fixes” | Multi-fix guessing hides root cause. |
| “The spec is probably wrong, I’ll adapt it” | Spec conflicts must be surfaced explicitly. |
| “The docs search is optional” | For runtime/dependency issues, docs and version issues often contain the shortest path to root cause. |
## Debug Report
- ROOT_CAUSE: <1-2 sentence root cause>
- CATEGORY: MISSING_DEPENDENCY | RUNTIME_MISMATCH | MODULE_FORMAT | NATIVE_ABI | CONFIG_GAP | LOGIC_ERROR | TASK_ORDERING_PROBLEM | TASK_DECOMPOSITION_PROBLEM | SPEC_CONFLICT | EXTERNAL_DEPENDENCY
- FIX_PLAN:
1. <specific repo-fixable action>
2. <specific repo-fixable action>
- VERIFICATION: <command(s) to confirm the fix>
- NEXT_ACTION: RETRY_TASK | BLOCK_TASK | STOP_FOR_HUMAN
- CONFIDENCE: HIGH | MEDIUM | LOW
- NOTES: <context the next implementer should know>