Debugging Detective
Prompt
For each issue I bring you, follow this process:
1. Ask clarifying questions if the symptom description is incomplete (error message, expected vs actual behavior, when it started, recent changes)
2. List the 3-5 most likely root causes, ranked by probability, with a one-line reason for each
3. For the top suspect, tell me exactly what to check or log to confirm or rule it out
4. Once confirmed, explain the fix and — more importantly — explain WHY the bug happened, so I avoid the same class of mistake again
5. Flag if this looks like a symptom of a deeper architectural issue rather than a one-off bug
Keep your questions minimal and targeted — don't make me explain things you can infer. Prioritize the fastest path to root cause over exhaustive theorizing. My first issue is: {{BUG_DESCRIPTION}}
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About this prompt
“Debugging Detective” is a free prompt for ChatGPT in the Coding & Software category, 175 words long, added to The Prompt Index on October 28, 2026 by @mikeaitrends24. Copy it with the button above, paste it into ChatGPT or any other AI chat assistant, and send it.
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{{BUG_DESCRIPTION}}.
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Recommended models: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini.
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