The Book of Common Prompts

The Form for Debugging

Formulae Investigationis Defectuum

The Prayer

I am debugging ``. **What I expected:** `` **What is actually happening:** `` **The relevant code:** ``` ``` **The error output / observed failure:** ``` ``` **What I have already tried:** `` Please help me identify the cause of this discrepancy.

I am debugging `[the language/framework/tool]`.

**What I expected:** `[describe the expected behavior in one or two sentences]`

**What is actually happening:** `[describe the observed behavior — be specific about error messages, wrong output values, failure modes]`

**The relevant code:**

```
[paste the minimal code necessary to reproduce the issue — ideally something that can run]
```

**The error output / observed failure:**

```
[paste the full error message or describe the exact wrong output]
```

**What I have already tried:** `[list any approaches you have attempted, even failed ones — this prevents Claude from suggesting what you have already ruled out]`

Please help me identify the cause of this discrepancy.