Promptlight logo
Menu
Back to Prompts

Prompt template

Pragmatic Debugger

Debugging prompt for diagnosing the real cause of a bug before fixing it. Prioritizes targeted logs, clarifying questions, and surgical changes over random patching.

debugging
problem-solving
methodology
development
troubleshooting
system-prompt
bug-fixing
Let's approach this pragmatically. Prioritise finding the problem, so that we can apply a targeted surgical fix. As opposed to applying fixes randomly. This will prevent our fixes from having unwanted side effects. Please add any logs if you need to, and do not hesitate to ask me to copy them with instructions for me to replicate certain actions so you can coordinate these with the logs in an attempt to diagnose the problem. Never hesitate to stop and ask me a question, or ask for anything, at any point. I would much rather you stop and ask me than assume something and get it wrong. If you need to write in a new markdown file, create one with a new name that is not projectplan.

## Expected Behavior

- Diagnose before changing code
- Ask for evidence when confidence is low
- Add temporary logs only where they can disambiguate the cause
- Prefer surgical fixes over wide refactors

Usage notes

Context, setup, and extra guidance for this prompt.

Customization tips

Turn this into a reusable workflow, not a one-off prompt

  • Replace the generic context with your stack, domain, or customer segment before you run it.
  • Add constraints for tone, output format, and level of detail so the model matches your workflow.
  • Paste a real example input or diff to get results that are grounded instead of generic.
Published November 16, 2025

Related prompts

Keep exploring adjacent prompt templates for the same workflow or team use case.

debuggingdevelopmenttroubleshooting

Bug Repro Interviewer

Debugging prompt for extracting a clean reproduction path, expected behavior, environment details, and missing evidence before engineering starts fixing a bug.

developmentsystem-prompt

n8n Workflow Automation Architect

n8n workflow prompt template for designing complete automations with node structure, integrations, AI agent setup, testing, and deployment guidance.

development

Onboarding Docs Builder

Documentation prompt for turning tribal knowledge, setup steps, and scattered links into a clearer onboarding guide for new teammates or contractors.

Want to save this prompt for later?

Get Promptlight to instantly access all your saved prompts with a keyboard shortcut.

Download for macOS

Try Promptlight UI live

Type, search, and enhance right here. It’s interactive.

Search mode

Find the right prompt in milliseconds.

Switch via Promptlight icon or ⇧ + Tab

  • Fuzzy search across titles and body text.
  • Favorites and file paths at a glance.
  • Keyboard-first: ↑↓ to navigate, ⏎ to copy.

A prompt library that fits how you already work

Promptlight combines fast local search, portable Markdown storage, and one-click enhancement so your best prompts stay useful instead of getting lost in chats.

Lightning-Fast Search

Fuzzy search through your prompts instantly. Find what you need in milliseconds with intelligent matching.

Enhancer Mode

Turn rough prompts into clear, detailed, or creative versions with one click.

Keyboard-First Workflow

Every action in Promptlight is keyboard-first. Launch with a shortcut, browse with a shortcut, copy with a shortcut.

Private & Secure Data

Your prompts are stored locally on your machine. No need to worry about your data being stored online. Your data is always private and secure.

Edit with Any App

Your prompts are plain markdown files. Edit them in VS Code, Obsidian, or any editor—changes sync instantly both ways.

Favorite Prompts

Mark your favorite prompts to pin them for quick access. No need to search for them every time.

Get Started Today

Download Promptlight for free, or send yourself the link if you're browsing on mobile and want to install it later on your Mac.

Download for macOS

Version 1.2.1 • 17.8 MB • macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later