Debug an error properly

Forces the model to rank causes by likelihood before proposing a fix.

ChatGPTClaudeGemini

Use it when: Getting unstuck on a stubborn bug.

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StackExpectedActualErrorCode

Your prompt

Act as a debugging partner.

Stack: [Stack]
What I expected: [Expected]
What happens instead: [Actual]
Error output:
[Error]
Relevant code:
[Code]

Return:
1. The three most likely causes, ranked, each with the evidence in my output that supports it.
2. One quick check per cause to confirm or rule it out.
3. Only after that, the fix for the most likely cause, with the changed code.

Do not guess at code I have not shown you. Ask for it instead.

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