Title: Solving a Bug
Use: When solving a bug
Type: read-do
Date: 03/24/2025

Checklist

• Stop thinking - Make an audit log
• Read the bug
• Make it fail and record steps
• Understand the system
• Simulate the failure with a unit-test
• Identify the cause of the failure
• Fix the root problem
• Follow the steps to make it fail
• Remove the fix and watch it fail

Notes:

• Rules:

  • Understand the system
  • Make it fail
  • Quit Thinking and Look
  • Divide and Conquer
  • Change one thing at a time
  • Keep an audit trail
  • Check the Plug
  • Get a fresh View
  • If you didn't fix it, it ain't fixed

• See The art of debugging

• Read The art of debugging to better understand this checklist

• Check out my Debugging notes on the book