Debugging & Troubleshooting

Systematic debugging strategies to solve issues faster and prevent common problems before they happen.

Skills

• Accessibility Diagnostics – WCAG compliance, VoiceOver testing, Dynamic Type support, App Store Review preparation

  • "App Store rejected my app for VoiceOver issues. How do I fix missing labels?"
  • "How do I test my app for color contrast and Dynamic Type support?"
  • Command /axiom:audit-accessibility for quick WCAG compliance scanning

• Xcode Debugging – Environment-first diagnostics for mysterious Xcode issues, prevents 30+ minute rabbit holes

  • "My build is failing with 'BUILD FAILED' but no error details. I haven't changed anything."
  • "Build succeeds but old code is executing. I restarted Xcode but it still happens."

• TestFlight Triage – Crash investigation and beta feedback review using Xcode Organizer

  • "A beta tester said my app crashed. How do I find and understand the crash?"
  • "My crash logs aren't symbolicated. How do I fix that?"
  • "What does EXC_BAD_ACCESS mean and how do I fix it?"

• Memory Debugging – Systematic leak diagnosis with 5 patterns covering 90% of real-world issues

  • "My app crashes after 10-15 minutes of use with no error messages. How do I find the leak?"
  • "View controllers don't deallocate after dismiss. How do I find the retain cycle?"
  • Command /audit-memory for quick triage scanning

• Build Debugging – Dependency resolution for CocoaPods and Swift Package Manager conflicts

  • "I added a Swift Package but I'm getting 'No such module' errors."
  • "Build works on my Mac but fails on CI. Both have the latest Xcode."

• Performance Profiling – Instruments decision trees for CPU, memory, battery profiling with 3 real-world examples

  • "Scrolling is slow and I need to know if it's Core Data or SwiftUI."
  • "We have a deadline and my app feels slow. What should I optimize first?"

• Energy Optimization – Power Profiler workflows, subsystem diagnosis, anti-pattern fixes for battery drain

  • "My app drains battery quickly. Where do I even start?"
  • "Users report the device gets hot when using my app."
  • Command /axiom:audit energy for quick energy anti-pattern scanning

• Display Performance – Variable refresh rate diagnosis for ProMotion, MTKView, CADisplayLink, system caps

  • "My Metal app is stuck at 60fps on iPhone Pro. Why?"
  • "How do I configure MTKView for 120Hz?"
  • "UIScreen says 120 but I'm measuring 60fps. What's wrong?"

• Deep Link Debugging – Add debug-only deep links for automated testing and closed-loop debugging (60-75% faster iteration)

  • "Claude Code can't navigate to specific screens for testing. How do I add debug deep links?"
  • "I want to take screenshots of different screens automatically."
  • Related simulator-tester agent for automated testing with deep links

• SwiftUI Debugging Diagnostics – Systematic diagnostic workflows for complex SwiftUI issues with Instruments integration

  • "Self._printChanges() shows unexpected patterns and I need to trace the data flow."
  • "View issues persist after basic troubleshooting. How do I diagnose with Instruments?"
  • Cross-reference SwiftUI Debugging for basic troubleshooting patterns