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AI Agent InsightsBy Reinventing.AI
Vibe Coding

Debugging with AI

Bugs happen to everyone. The difference is how fast you fix them. Learn how to use AI assistants to diagnose and resolve errors in minutes instead of hours.

Why AI is Great at Debugging

AI models have been trained on millions of code examples and error scenarios. They've "seen" most bugs before and can:

  • Instantly recognize common error patterns
  • Suggest multiple solutions ranked by likelihood
  • Explain what went wrong in plain English
  • Provide code fixes you can copy-paste
  • Catch edge cases you might miss

Think of AI as a senior developer who's available 24/7, never gets tired, and doesn't judge you for asking "dumb" questions.

The AI Debugging Workflow

  1. Reproduce the bug - Understand exactly when it happens
  2. Gather information - Error messages, console logs, relevant code
  3. Ask AI for diagnosis - Paste error + code context
  4. Try the suggested fix - Apply the solution
  5. Test thoroughly - Make sure it actually works
  6. If still broken, iterate - Give AI more context

Real Example: Fixing a React Error

Let's debug a real error message from a React app:

Error: Cannot read property 'map' of undefined

Your code:

function ProductList({ products }) {
  return (
    <div>
      {products.map(product => (
        <ProductCard key={product.id} {...product} />
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

Step 1: Ask AI

"I'm getting this error: Cannot read property 'map' of undefined

Here's my code: [paste code above]

The error happens when I load the page. What's wrong?"

Step 2: AI's Response

The error means products is undefined when the component renders. This typically happens when:

  1. The prop isn't being passed
  2. Data is still loading
  3. An API call failed

Fix by providing a default value:

function ProductList({ products = [] }) {
  return (
    <div>
      {products.map(product => (
        <ProductCard key={product.id} {...product} />
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

What to Include in Your Debug Request

The more context you give AI, the faster it can help. Include:

✅ The exact error message

Copy the full error from console, including stack trace

✅ The relevant code

The function/component where the error occurs, plus any related code

✅ What you were trying to do

"I was trying to filter products when the user clicks a category button"

✅ When it happens

"On page load" vs "after clicking the submit button"

✅ Your stack/framework

"Using React 18 with Next.js 14 and TypeScript"

Common Bug Categories & How to Ask

1. Syntax Errors

When your code won't even run:

"Getting 'Unexpected token' error on line 42. Here's the code around that line: [paste code]"

2. Logic Errors

When code runs but produces wrong results:

"My total price calculator is adding an extra $10 somehow. Expected $50, getting $60. Here's my calculation logic: [paste code]"

3. Runtime Errors

When things break during execution:

"App crashes when I try to delete an item. Error: 'TypeError: Cannot read property id of null'. Here's my delete handler: [paste code]"

4. State/Rendering Issues

React-specific problems:

"Component isn't re-rendering after I update state. Using useState to track cart items. Here's my add-to-cart function: [paste code]"

Tool-Specific Debugging Tips

ChatGPT / Claude

  • Paste error messages in code blocks for better parsing
  • Ask "Why is this happening?" for explanations
  • Request "Show me the fix with inline comments"
  • Say "Explain like I'm 5" if the answer is too technical

Cursor AI

  • Highlight the problematic code and press Cmd+K
  • Type: "This is throwing [error], please fix"
  • Use Cmd+Shift+K to chat about errors without editing
  • Cursor sees your whole codebase for better context

Bolt.new

  • Copy the error from the preview console
  • Tell Bolt: "Getting this error in the preview: [error]"
  • Bolt can see what it generated, so it has full context
  • Ask "Why did this break after the last change?"

Advanced Debugging Techniques

1. Binary Search Debugging

When you can't pinpoint the bug location:

"My checkout page breaks somewhere between clicking 'Pay' and the success screen. Here's the full checkout flow: [paste code]. Where should I add console.logs to narrow this down?"

2. Comparative Debugging

Show AI what works vs what doesn't:

"This version works: [paste working code]
This version breaks: [paste broken code]
What's the difference causing the bug?"

3. Performance Debugging

When your app is slow:

"My list of 1000 items is lagging when I scroll. Using this render method: [paste code]. How can I optimize this?"

Real-World Debugging Session

Here's a complete debugging conversation:

You:

"My form submit isn't working. Nothing happens when I click submit."

AI:

"Can you paste your form code and the submit handler?"

You:

[pastes code]

AI:

"I see the issue. Your form has type='submit' but you're using onClick instead of onSubmit. Also, you're not preventing the default form behavior. Change..."

You:

"That fixed it! But now the page refreshes after submit."

AI:

"Add e.preventDefault() at the start of your submit handler to stop the page refresh."

When AI Can't Help

AI is powerful but not perfect. It struggles with:

  • Environment-specific issues - "Works on my machine" problems
  • Third-party API bugs - Issues in libraries you're using
  • Race conditions - Timing-dependent bugs that are hard to reproduce
  • Hardware/browser quirks - Platform-specific issues

For these, combine AI debugging with traditional methods like checking GitHub issues, Stack Overflow, or asking in Discord communities.

Troubleshooting the Troubleshooter

AI suggests a fix that doesn't work

Reply: "That didn't fix it. The error is now: [new error]. Here's what I changed: [paste new code]"

AI gives conflicting advice

Start a new conversation. Sometimes context gets muddled. Or try a different AI tool.

Fix works but you don't understand why

Ask: "Can you explain in simple terms why this fix works and what was causing the original bug?"

Prevention: Debug Before Bugs Happen

Use AI proactively to avoid bugs:

  • "Review this function and point out potential bugs or edge cases"
  • "What could go wrong with this API call? How should I handle errors?"
  • "Add defensive programming to this function"
  • "What TypeScript types would prevent bugs in this code?"

Learning Resources

Improve your debugging skills:

For production-grade debugging and monitoring, explore Reinventing.AI's enterprise solutions.

Next Steps