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Diagnosing bugs skill

Diagnosing bugs is part of Matt Pocock's engineering skills. Its job is to work hard bugs in phases: build a feedback loop, reproduce, hypothesize, instrument, fix. It loads on its own when a request matches its description, and you can also call it by name. It bundles shell scripts that the instructions call for.

When the agent reaches for it

The agent keeps every installed skill's description in view and loads the full instructions when a request matches. This is the description it reads:

Diagnosis loop for hard bugs and performance regressions. Use when the user says "diagnose"/"debug this", or reports something broken/throwing/failing/slow.

What the instructions cover

The sections of its SKILL.md, in order.

  • Redact
  • Phase 1: Build a feedback loop
  • Phase 2: Reproduce + minimise
  • Phase 3: Hypothesise
  • Phase 4: Instrument
  • Phase 5: Fix + regression test
  • Phase 6: Cleanup

What ships with it

Besides SKILL.md, the folder carries these. The agent opens them only when a step in the instructions calls for one.

  • agents/ 1 file · 103 B
  • scripts/ 1 file · 1 KB

Install the diagnosing bugs skill

In Claude Code, run this in a session. It comes from the publisher's own instructions.

Claude Code
/plugin install mattpocock-skills

License: MIT.

In Longwave, add Engineering Skills from the marketplace. It installs all 37 of its skills, and your Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode threads can use them.

Questions people ask

How do I install the diagnosing bugs skill?

In Claude Code, run /plugin install mattpocock-skills. In Longwave, add Engineering Skills from the marketplace, and its skills reach your Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode threads.

When does the agent use the diagnosing bugs skill?

When a request matches its description. The agent keeps only the name and description of each installed skill in view, and reads the full instructions when a task fits. You can also ask for it by name.

Use your skills in every harness.

Longwave installs a skill collection once, and your Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode threads can all use it.