Bug Fixing Workflow

Learn how to systematically investigate, fix, and verify bug fixes using Dotpack’s debugging workflow.

Overview

Goal: Debug and fix issues systematically with root cause analysis. Agents Used: Debugger, QA, Engineer. Command: /fix

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Reproduce & Investigate

Start by describing the bug to the Debugger.

/fix "users can't login with valid credentials, receiving 401 error"

What happens:

• Debugger analyzes the request and codebase.
• Attempts to reproduce the issue (if a reproduction script is possible).
• Investigates logs and code flow to identify the root cause.

2. Implementation of Fix

The agent will propose and implement a solution.

What happens:

• Debugger/Engineer modifies the code to resolve the root cause.
• Applies minimal changes to avoid side effects.
• Adds safeguards (validation, error handling) to prevent recurrence.

3. Verification

Verify the fix using tests.

/test

What happens:

• QA agent runs relevant tests to ensure the bug is fixed.
• Checks for regressions in related functionality.

Scenarios

Scenario A: Quick Fix

For simple, obvious bugs.

/fix "typo in the login button label"

Result: The agent locates the component and corrects the text immediately.

Scenario B: Deep Investigation

For complex, multi-file issues.

/fix "memory leak in WebSocket connections causing server crashes"

Result: The Debugger performs a deep dive, analyzing lifecycle methods and event listeners before proposing a structural fix.

Scenario C: UI/Visual Bugs

For layout or styling issues.

/fix "login button is misaligned on mobile devices"

Result: The agent analyzes CSS/Tailwind classes and adjusts responsive breakpoints.

Scenario D: CI/CD Failures

For build pipeline errors.

/fix "build failed due to missing dependency in CI"

Result: The agent checks package.json, lock files, and build configurations to resolve the dependency mismatch.

Real Example: Shopping Cart Bug

Bug Report

“Shopping cart duplicates items when the page is refreshed.”

Execution

/fix "shopping cart duplicates items on page refresh"

Analysis Results

• Root Cause: Cart data loaded from both LocalStorage and Database without deduplication.
• Fix: Added a check in the loadCart function to merge items by ID.

Verification

• QA runs tests: Add item -> Refresh -> Verify count is 1.

Best Practices

1. Be Specific: Include error messages, reproduction steps, and environment details in your prompt.
2. Logs: If you have a stack trace, paste it into the prompt.
3. Verify: Always run /test after a fix to ensure no regressions.
4. Document: Use /docs to update troubleshooting guides if the bug was critical.