claude-mpm 4.25.10__py3-none-any.whl → 5.1.8__py3-none-any.whl

claude_mpm/skills/bundled/debugging/systematic-debugging/references/anti-patterns.md

@@ -1,483 +0,0 @@
-# Debugging Anti-Patterns
-
-> **Part of**: [Systematic Debugging](../SKILL.md)
-> **Category**: debugging
-> **Reading Level**: Intermediate
-
-## Purpose
-
-Common debugging mistakes, rationalizations, and red flags to avoid. Learn to recognize when you're violating systematic debugging principles.
-
-## Red Flags - Recognize and Stop
-
-### "Quick Fix for Now, Investigate Later"
-
-**What It Sounds Like**:
-- "Let me just try this quick fix first"
-- "We'll investigate the root cause after shipping"
-- "This workaround will hold us over"
-
-**Why It's Wrong**:
-- "Later" never comes
-- Quick fixes become permanent
-- Masks underlying issues
-- Creates technical debt
-
-**Reality Check**:
-```
-Quick fix:     15 min → ships with bug hidden
-Investigation: 30 min → bug returns different form
-Total:         45 min + future debugging time
-
-Systematic:    25 min → bug actually fixed
-Total:         25 min, done forever
-```
-
-**What to Do Instead**: Spend 25 minutes finding root cause now vs 2+ hours fixing symptoms repeatedly.
-
-### "Just Try Changing X and See If It Works"
-
-**What It Sounds Like**:
-- "Maybe if we change this..."
-- "Let's try increasing the timeout"
-- "What if we add try-catch here?"
-- "Could we just restart the service?"
-
-**Why It's Wrong**:
-- Random changes waste time
-- If it works, you don't know why
-- If it fails, you learned nothing
-- Creates more bugs
-
-**Reality Check**:
-```typescript
-// Random attempt 1
-setTimeout(() => process(), 5000);  // Didn't work
-
-// Random attempt 2
-setTimeout(() => process(), 10000); // Didn't work
-
-// Random attempt 3
-setTimeout(() => process(), 20000); // Works sometimes?
-
-// You still don't know the actual problem
-```
-
-**What to Do Instead**: Gather evidence about why it's timing out, then fix root cause.
-
-### "Add Multiple Changes, Run Tests"
-
-**What It Sounds Like**:
-- "Let me fix all these issues at once"
-- "While I'm here, I'll also..."
-- "These changes are all related"
-
-**Why It's Wrong**:
-- Can't isolate what actually fixed it
-- If tests fail, which change broke it?
-- If it works, which change was necessary?
-- Makes debugging harder
-
-**Reality Check**:
-```
-Changed: Auth logic, error handling, timeout value
-Test passes
-Which change fixed it? Unknown
-Are all changes necessary? Unknown
-Can we safely refactor? Unknown
-```
-
-**What to Do Instead**: One change at a time, verify each change independently.
-
-### "I'll Write Test After Confirming Fix Works"
-
-**What It Sounds Like**:
-- "Let me verify the fix manually first"
-- "I'll add tests once I know it works"
-- "Testing can come after we fix it"
-
-**Why It's Wrong**:
-- Manual testing misses edge cases
-- No regression protection
-- Can't verify fix in CI
-- Bug likely returns
-
-**Reality Check**:
-```
-Manual test:
-1. Try fix
-2. Seems to work
-3. Ship it
-4. Bug returns in different scenario
-5. Debug again
-
-Test-first:
-1. Write failing test
-2. Fix until test passes
-3. Test catches regressions forever
-```
-
-**What to Do Instead**: Write failing test reproducing bug, then fix until test passes.
-
-### "It's Probably X, Let Me Fix That"
-
-**What It Sounds Like**:
-- "I'm pretty sure it's..."
-- "This looks like that bug we had before"
-- "Usually this means..."
-- "Based on my experience..."
-
-**Why It's Wrong**:
-- "Probably" is not evidence
-- Each bug is unique
-- Assumptions lead to wrong fixes
-- Wastes time on wrong solution
-
-**Reality Check**:
-```
-Assumption: "Probably a caching issue"
-Fix:         Clear cache
-Result:      Still broken
-Cause:       Actually a validation bug
-Time wasted: 45 minutes
-```
-
-**What to Do Instead**: Gather evidence, form hypothesis based on data, test hypothesis.
-
-### "One More Fix Attempt" (After 2+)
-
-**What It Sounds Like**:
-- "Let me try one more thing"
-- "This fix should definitely work"
-- "Third time's the charm"
-
-**Why It's Wrong**:
-- 3+ failures indicate architectural problem
-- More symptom fixing won't help
-- Digging deeper into wrong solution
-- Need to question fundamentals
-
-**Reality Check**:
-```
-Fix 1: Add retry logic         → Failed
-Fix 2: Increase retry count    → Failed
-Fix 3: Add exponential backoff → Failed
-
-Pattern: Each fix assumes retrying will work
-Reality: Problem isn't retry-able error
-```
-
-**What to Do Instead**: STOP. Question whether approach is fundamentally sound.
-
-## Common Rationalizations
-
-### "Issue Is Simple, Don't Need Process"
-
-**The Rationalization**:
-"This is obviously a simple typo/config issue, systematic debugging is overkill"
-
-**Reality**:
-- Simple issues have root causes too
-- "Simple" bugs often hide deeper problems
-- Process is fast for simple bugs (5-10 minutes)
-- "Simple" assumption often wrong
-
-**Counter-Example**:
-```
-Seems simple: Variable name typo
-Following process reveals: Copy-pasted code in 5 places
-Systematic fix: Abstract to shared function
-Random fix: Fix one instance, bug persists elsewhere
-```
-
-### "Emergency, No Time for Process"
-
-**The Rationalization**:
-"Production is down, we need to fix NOW, can't follow slow process"
-
-**Reality**:
-- Systematic debugging is FASTER than guess-and-check
-- Random fixes in emergencies often make it worse
-- Process ensures you actually fix it
-- Rushing guarantees longer downtime
-
-**Time Comparison**:
-```
-"Quick Fix" Approach:
-Attempt 1:  10 min → makes it worse
-Attempt 2:  15 min → partially works
-Attempt 3:  20 min → still broken
-Call expert: 30 min
-Total:       75 min downtime
-
-Systematic Approach:
-Phase 1:    10 min → identify root cause
-Phase 4:    10 min → correct fix
-Total:      20 min downtime
-```
-
-### "Reference Too Long, I'll Adapt the Pattern"
-
-**The Rationalization**:
-"I understand the general idea, don't need to read all the details"
-
-**Reality**:
-- Partial understanding guarantees bugs
-- Details matter - that's why they're documented
-- Adaptation without full understanding fails
-- Reading takes 10 minutes, fixing bugs takes hours
-
-**Counter-Example**:
-```
-Reference: "Initialize connection pool before server starts"
-Skimmed:   "Initialize connection pool" ✓
-Missed:    "Before server starts"
-Result:    Race condition, intermittent failures
-```
-
-### "I See the Problem, Let Me Fix It"
-
-**The Rationalization**:
-"I can see what's wrong, no need to investigate further"
-
-**Reality**:
-- Seeing symptoms ≠ understanding root cause
-- "Obvious" fixes often miss deeper issues
-- What you see is rarely the actual problem
-- Quick "fixes" become permanent workarounds
-
-**Counter-Example**:
-```
-Symptom:    NullPointerException at line 45
-"Obvious":  Add null check at line 45
-Root cause: Function at line 23 returns null unexpectedly
-Correct fix: Fix function at line 23
-Your "fix":  Hides real problem, bug persists elsewhere
-```
-
-## Pattern Recognition: Bad Debugging
-
-### Pattern: Timeout Spiral
-
-**Progression**:
-1. Operation times out
-2. Increase timeout
-3. Still times out
-4. Increase timeout more
-5. Eventually works (sometimes)
-6. Actual problem never fixed
-
-**Why It Fails**: Timeouts are symptoms, not root causes
-
-**Correct Approach**:
-1. Why is it timing out?
-2. What operation is slow?
-3. Fix slow operation
-4. Remove arbitrary timeout
-
-### Pattern: Try-Catch Cascade
-
-**Progression**:
-1. Error occurs
-2. Add try-catch to hide error
-3. Different error occurs
-4. Add another try-catch
-5. More errors appear elsewhere
-6. Code full of error handling, problem not solved
-
-**Why It Fails**: Catching errors doesn't fix causes
-
-**Correct Approach**:
-1. What's causing the error?
-2. Fix root cause
-3. Add error handling only for truly exceptional cases
-
-### Pattern: Configuration Whack-a-Mole
-
-**Progression**:
-1. Doesn't work
-2. Change config setting
-3. Different failure
-4. Change another setting
-5. Previous failure returns
-6. Config becomes mystery state
-
-**Why It Fails**: Random config changes without understanding
-
-**Correct Approach**:
-1. What does this config control?
-2. What's the correct value for our use case?
-3. Why was previous value wrong?
-4. Set correct value once
-
-### Pattern: Copy-Paste from Stack Overflow
-
-**Progression**:
-1. Search error message
-2. Find Stack Overflow answer
-3. Copy-paste code
-4. Seems to work
-5. Causes subtle bugs later
-6. Don't understand what it does
-
-**Why It Fails**: Code without understanding
-
-**Correct Approach**:
-1. Find Stack Overflow answer
-2. Read and understand it
-3. Verify it applies to your case
-4. Adapt it appropriately
-5. Add comments explaining what and why
-
-## Human Partner Signals
-
-### Signal Categories
-
-**Questions = You Assumed Without Verifying**
-- "Is that not happening?"
-- "Did you check...?"
-- "Will it show us...?"
-- "Are you sure...?"
-
-**Commands = You're Off Track**
-- "Stop guessing"
-- "Gather evidence first"
-- "One change at a time"
-- "Write a test"
-
-**Frustration = Your Approach Isn't Working**
-- "We're stuck?"
-- "This isn't working"
-- "Let's try different approach"
-- "Ultrathink this"
-
-### How to Respond
-
-**Don't**:
-- Argue or defend
-- Explain why you did it that way
-- Continue with current approach
-- Make excuses
-
-**Do**:
-- STOP immediately
-- Acknowledge the redirect
-- Return to Phase 1
-- Gather evidence
-- Ask for guidance if unclear
-
-**Example Responses**:
-```
-Signal: "Is that not happening?"
-Bad:    "I assumed it would..."
-Good:   "Let me verify that with evidence"
-
-Signal: "Stop guessing"
-Bad:    "I'm not guessing, I think..."
-Good:   "You're right, let me investigate root cause first"
-
-Signal: "We're stuck?"
-Bad:    "Let me try one more thing..."
-Good:   "Let me reconsider the approach from Phase 1"
-```
-
-## Self-Assessment Questions
-
-Ask yourself these questions to catch anti-patterns:
-
-### Before Making Changes
-- [ ] Have I gathered evidence about root cause?
-- [ ] Do I have a specific hypothesis?
-- [ ] Can I explain why this change should work?
-- [ ] Am I changing only one thing?
-- [ ] Have I written a test case?
-
-### If Answer Is "No"
-**STOP. Return to Phase 1.**
-
-### After Multiple Attempts
-- [ ] How many fixes have I tried? (If ≥3, STOP)
-- [ ] Am I fixing symptoms or root cause?
-- [ ] Is each fix revealing new problems?
-- [ ] Should I question the architecture?
-
-### If In Doubt
-- [ ] Would systematic debugging be faster?
-- [ ] Am I rationalizing shortcuts?
-- [ ] What would I tell someone else to do?
-
-## Recovery from Anti-Patterns
-
-### If You Realize You're Doing It Wrong
-
-**Immediate Actions**:
-1. **STOP** - Don't make more random changes
-2. **Revert** - Back to known good state
-3. **Document** - What you tried (data for Phase 1)
-4. **Restart** - Phase 1 with fresh perspective
-
-**Don't**:
-- Keep changes "that might help"
-- Try "one more quick thing"
-- Feel bad about time "wasted"
-- Rush to "make up for lost time"
-
-**Do**:
-- Clean slate
-- Systematic approach from start
-- Use failed attempts as evidence
-- Take time to do it right
-
-### Sunk Cost Fallacy
-
-**The Trap**:
-"I've already spent 2 hours on random fixes, can't give up now"
-
-**The Reality**:
-- Those 2 hours are gone regardless
-- Continuing wastes more time
-- Starting over with systematic approach is faster
-- 25 minutes systematic > 4 hours random
-
-**The Decision**:
-```
-Option A: Continue random approach
-Cost:     2 hours spent + 2 more hours likely
-Result:   Maybe works, likely more bugs
-
-Option B: Restart systematically
-Cost:     2 hours spent + 25 minutes systematic
-Result:   Definitely works, no new bugs
-
-Option B is clearly better despite sunk cost
-```
-
-## Summary
-
-**Common Anti-Patterns**:
-- Quick fixes without investigation
-- Random changes hoping they work
-- Multiple simultaneous changes
-- Tests after instead of before
-- "Probably" instead of evidence
-- Continuing after 3+ failures
-
-**Common Rationalizations**:
-- "Too simple for process"
-- "Emergency, no time"
-- "I'll adapt the pattern"
-- "I see the problem"
-
-**Recovery**:
-- Recognize the pattern
-- STOP immediately
-- Revert to known state
-- Restart Phase 1 systematically
-
-**Remember**: Systematic debugging is faster, even when it feels slow. Random fixes always take longer.
-
-## Related References
-
-- [Workflow](workflow.md): Correct four-phase process
-- [Examples](examples.md): Real-world systematic debugging
-- [Troubleshooting](troubleshooting.md): When debugging gets hard