Debug an error the right way
By VibeCoderHQ|Published on 6/22/2025
PromptingAIClaude
Stops the AI from thrashing and rewriting half your file on a bug it does not understand. Paste the full error and stack trace, then it isolates the root cause before touching code. Ideal in Cursor and Claude Code, and the one-change-at-a-time rule keeps a small bug from turning into three new ones.
Prompt Text
I have a bug and I want you to find the real cause before changing anything.
What is happening: [DESCRIBE THE BEHAVIOR]
What I expected instead: [DESCRIBE EXPECTED]
The exact error message and stack trace:
[PASTE IT HERE]
When it happens: [ALWAYS / ONLY WHEN X / SINCE I CHANGED Y]
Do this in order and do not skip steps:
1. Explain in plain English what the error message actually means.
2. List the 3 or 4 most likely causes, ranked, with your reasoning for each.
3. Tell me the single fastest thing I can check or log to confirm which cause it is. Wait for my result if you need it.
4. Once we know the cause, show the smallest fix that addresses the root cause, not a patch that hides the symptom.
5. Explain why this happened so I do not repeat it.
Do not rewrite unrelated code, and do not make more than one change at a time. If you are guessing, say you are guessing.Join the vibe coder community
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