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mindforge-debug

mindforge-debug is a debugging orchestrator that uses the scientific method to systematically investigate issues by spawning isolated subagents with fresh context budgets. It gathers symptoms through structured questions, manages persistent debug sessions across context resets via checkpoint files, and coordinates investigation workflows while keeping the main context lean for user interaction. Use this when facing complex issues that require extensive file reading and hypothesis testing that would otherwise exhaust available tokens.

Install in Claude Code
Copy
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/sairam0424/MindForge /tmp/mindforge-debug && cp -r /tmp/mindforge-debug/.agent/skills/mindforge-debug ~/.claude/skills/mindforge-debug
Then start a new Claude Code session; the skill loads automatically.

SKILL.md

<objective>
Debug issues using scientific method with subagent isolation.

**Orchestrator role:** Gather symptoms, spawn mindforge-debugger agent, handle checkpoints, spawn continuations.

**Why subagent:** Investigation burns context fast (reading files, forming hypotheses, testing). Fresh 200k context per investigation. Main context stays lean for user interaction.
</objective>

<context>
User's issue: $ARGUMENTS

Check for active sessions:
```bash
ls .planning/debug/*.md 2>/dev/null | grep -v resolved | head -5
```
</context>

<process>

## 0. Initialize Context

```bash
INIT=$(node ".agent/bin/mindforge-tools.cjs" state load)
if [[ "$INIT" == @file:* ]]; then INIT=$(cat "${INIT#@file:}"); fi
```

Extract `commit_docs` from init JSON. Resolve debugger model:
```bash
debugger_model=$(node ".agent/bin/mindforge-tools.cjs" resolve-model mindforge-debugger --raw)
```

## 1. Check Active Sessions

If active sessions exist AND no $ARGUMENTS:
- List sessions with status, hypothesis, next action
- User picks number to resume OR describes new issue

If $ARGUMENTS provided OR user describes new issue:
- Continue to symptom gathering

## 2. Gather Symptoms (if new issue)

Use AskUserQuestion for each:

1. **Expected behavior** - What should happen?
2. **Actual behavior** - What happens instead?
3. **Error messages** - Any errors? (paste or describe)
4. **Timeline** - When did this start? Ever worked?
5. **Reproduction** - How do you trigger it?

After all gathered, confirm ready to investigate.

## 3. Spawn mindforge-debugger Agent

Fill prompt and spawn:

```markdown
<objective>
Investigate issue: {slug}

**Summary:** {trigger}
</objective>

<symptoms>
expected: {expected}
actual: {actual}
errors: {errors}
reproduction: {reproduction}
timeline: {timeline}
</symptoms>

<mode>
symptoms_prefilled: true
goal: find_and_fix
</mode>

<debug_file>
Create: .planning/debug/{slug}.md
</debug_file>
```

```
Task(
  prompt=filled_prompt,
  subagent_type="mindforge-debugger",
  model="{debugger_model}",
  description="Debug {slug}"
)
```

## 4. Handle Agent Return

**If `## ROOT CAUSE FOUND`:**
- Display root cause and evidence summary
- Offer options:
  - "Fix now" - spawn fix subagent
  - "Plan fix" - suggest /mindforge-plan-phase --gaps
  - "Manual fix" - done

**If `## CHECKPOINT REACHED`:**
- Present checkpoint details to user
- Get user response
- If checkpoint type is `human-verify`:
  - If user confirms fixed: continue so agent can finalize/resolve/archive
  - If user reports issues: continue so agent returns to investigation/fixing
- Spawn continuation agent (see step 5)

**If `## INVESTIGATION INCONCLUSIVE`:**
- Show what was checked and eliminated
- Offer options:
  - "Continue investigating" - spawn new agent with additional context
  - "Manual investigation" - done
  - "Add more context" - gather more symptoms, spawn again

## 5. Spawn Continuation Agent (After Checkpoint)

When user responds to checkpoint, spawn fresh agent:

```markdown
<objective>
Continue debugging {slug}. Evidence is in the debug file.
</objective>

<prior_state>
<files_to_read>
- .planning/debug/{slug}.md (Debug session state)
</files_to_read>
</prior_state>

<checkpoint_response>
**Type:** {checkpoint_type}
**Response:** {user_response}
</checkpoint_response>

<mode>
goal: find_and_fix
</mode>
```

```
Task(
  prompt=continuation_prompt,
  subagent_type="mindforge-debugger",
  model="{debugger_model}",
  description="Continue debug {slug}"
)
```

</process>

<success_criteria>
- [ ] Active sessions checked
- [ ] Symptoms gathered (if new)
- [ ] mindforge-debugger spawned with context
- [ ] Checkpoints handled correctly
- [ ] Root cause confirmed before fixing
</success_criteria>