Prompt

EngineeringPromptFree

Debug Detective

I have a bug in my [language] code

  • Role-Based
I have a bug in my [language] code. Here is the error:
```
[error message + stack trace]
```
Here is the relevant code:
```
[code]
```
Walk through the bug: (1) Root cause analysis. (2) Why the error manifests here specifically. (3) All possible locations where this could originate. (4) The minimal fix. (5) The proper long-term fix. (6) How to test the fix. (7) How to prevent this class of bug in future.

How to use it

  1. Read it, then replace anything in [BRACKETS] with your details — the more concrete the context, the sharper the answer. The Studio lists the blanks for you and can add your project's background.
  2. Copy it (or download the .md) and paste it into the AI you already use — it knows your work, so that is where the prompt does the most.
  3. Not sure what it produces? Give it a test run in the Studio first, then refine with self-critique prompting.

Techniques in this prompt

Role-Based

Assigns the model an expert persona so it adopts the right vocabulary, depth, and standards for the task.

Learn this technique

Works with

Any chat AI — ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Grok, Mistral or a local model. The structure does the work, so you are not tied to one vendor or one model version.

New to structured prompts? Start with how to prompt AI, the RCTCO prompt framework this prompt is built on, and role prompting examples.

More in Engineering