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Debugging by Explanation

Separating root cause from symptom prevents superficial fixes. Asking for a test case that catches the bug helps prevent regression and builds testing intuition.

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Prompt
My {{language}} code is not working as expected.\n\nCode:\n{{buggy_code}}\n\nExpected behavior: {{expected_behavior}}\nActual behavior: {{actual_behavior}}\nError message (if any): {{error_message}}\n\nPlease:\n1. Identify the root cause of the bug (not just the symptom)\n2. Explain WHY this bug occurs — what is the code actually doing vs. what I intended?\n3. Provide the fixed code with the minimal change needed\n4. Suggest a test case that would have caught this bug\n5. Note if this is a common mistake and how to avoid it in the future

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{{language}}{{buggy_code}}{{expected_behavior}}{{actual_behavior}}{{error_message}}

Why this prompt works

Separating root cause from symptom prevents superficial fixes. Asking for a test case that catches the bug helps prevent regression and builds testing intuition.

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