The Debugging Cycle
Error → Context → AI → Fix → Test → Loop
Step 1: Error Appears
Code breaks. Read the error message carefully.
Step 2: Copy Full Context
Copy the complete error text, not just the first line.
Step 3: Paste to AI
Include the error, relevant code, and what you expected.
Step 4: Apply Fix
Let AI explain the fix. Apply it. Run the code again.
Step 5: Test & Loop
Still broken? Loop again with the new error and more context.
Key rule: Never just say "it's not working." Always give the AI the exact error message, the relevant code, and what you expected to happen.
Every vibe coder will hit a wall where the AI generates code that doesn't work. This is not a failure, it's the normal development cycle. The skill that separates beginners from professionals is knowing how to debug effectively and iterate quickly.
Debug Decision Tree
How to diagnose issues and get effective AI help
Build errorFirst: Read the error message line numberThen: Paste exact error + surrounding code to AI
Runtime crashFirst: Check browser console for stack traceThen: Share component tree + state context with AI
Wrong outputFirst: Compare expected vs actual in detailThen: Describe the gap with specific examples
Performance issueFirst: Profile with React DevTools or LighthouseThen: Share metrics + component causing bottleneck