reproduce-bug

n8n-io/n8n · updated Apr 8, 2026

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$npx skills add https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n --skill reproduce-bug
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summary

Given a Linear ticket context ($ARGUMENTS), systematically reproduce the bug

  • with a failing regression test.
skill.md

Bug Reproduction Framework

Given a Linear ticket context ($ARGUMENTS), systematically reproduce the bug with a failing regression test.

Step 1: Parse Signals

Extract the following from the provided ticket context:

  • Error message / stack trace (if provided)
  • Reproduction steps (if provided)
  • Workflow JSON (if attached)
  • Affected area (node, execution engine, editor, API, config, etc.)
  • Version where it broke / last working version

Step 2: Route to Test Strategy

Based on the affected area, pick the test layer and pattern:

Area Test Layer Pattern Key Location
Node operation Jest unit NodeTestHarness + nock packages/nodes-base/nodes/*/test/
Node credential Jest unit jest-mock-extended packages/nodes-base/nodes/*/test/
Trigger webhook Jest unit mock IHookFunctions + jest.mock GenericFunctions packages/nodes-base/nodes/*/test/
Binary data Jest unit NodeTestHarness assertBinaryData packages/core/nodes-testing/
Execution engine Jest integration WorkflowRunner + DI container packages/cli/src/__tests__/
CLI / API Jest integration setupTestServer + supertest packages/cli/test/integration/
Config Jest unit GlobalConfig + Container packages/@n8n/config/src/__tests__/
Editor UI Vitest Vue Test Utils + Pinia packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/**/__tests__/
E2E / Canvas Playwright Test containers + composables packages/testing/playwright/

Step 3: Locate Source Files

Find the source code for the affected area:

  1. Search for the node/service/component mentioned in the ticket
  2. Find the GenericFunctions file (common bug location for nodes)
  3. Check for existing test files in the same area
  4. Look at recent git history on affected files (git log --oneline -10 -- <path>)

Step 4: Trace the Code Path

Read the source code and trace the execution path that triggers the bug:

  • Follow the call chain from entry point to the failure
  • Identify the specific line(s) where the bug manifests
  • Note any error handling (or lack thereof) around the bug

Step 5: Form Hypothesis

State a clear, testable hypothesis:

  • "When [input/condition], the code does [wrong thing] because [root cause]"
  • Identify the exact line(s) that need to change
  • Predict what the test output will show

Step 6: Find Test Patterns

Look for existing tests in the same area:

  1. Check test/ directories near the affected code
  2. Identify which mock/setup patterns they use
  3. Use the same patterns for consistency
  4. If no tests exist, find the closest similar node/service tests as a template

Step 7: Write Failing Test

Write a regression test that:

  • Uses the patterns found in Step 6
  • Targets the specific hypothesis from Step 5
  • Includes a comment referencing the ticket ID
  • Asserts the CORRECT behavior (test will fail on current code)
  • Also includes a "happy path" test to prove the setup works

Step 8: Run and Score

Run the test from the package directory (e.g., cd packages/nodes-base && pnpm test <file>).

Classify the result:

Confidence Criteria Output
CONFIRMED Test fails consistently, failure matches hypothesis Reproduction Report
LIKELY Test fails but failure mode differs slightly Report + caveat
UNCONFIRMED Cannot trigger the failure Report: what was tried
SKIPPED Hit a hard bailout trigger Report: why skipped
ALREADY_FIXED Bug no longer reproduces on current code Report: when fixed

Step 9: Iterate or Bail

If UNCONFIRMED after first attempt:

  • Revisit hypothesis — re-read the code path
  • Try a different test approach or layer
  • Maximum 3 attempts before declaring UNCONFIRMED

Hard bailout triggers (stop immediately):

  • Requires real third-party API credentials
  • Race condition / timing-dependent
  • Requires specific cloud/enterprise infrastructure
  • Requires manual UI interaction that can't be scripted

Output: Reproduction Report

Present findings in this format:


Ticket: [ID] — [title] Confidence: [CONFIRMED | LIKELY | UNCONFIRMED | SKIPPED | ALREADY_FIXED]

Root Cause

[1-2 sentences explaining the bug mechanism]

Location

File Lines Issue
path/to/file.ts XX-YY Description of the problem

Failing Test

path/to/test/file.test.ts — X/Y tests fail:

  1. test name — [failure description]

Fix Hint

[Pseudocode or description of the fix approach]


Important

  • DO NOT fix the bug — only reproduce it with a failing test
  • Leave test files in place as evidence (don't commit unless asked)
  • Run tests from the package directory (e.g., pushd packages/nodes-base && pnpm test <file> && popd)
  • Always redirect build output: pnpm build > build.log 2>&1
  • DO NOT look at existing fix PRs — the goal is to reproduce from signals alone
how to use reproduce-bug

How to use reproduce-bug on Cursor

AI-first code editor with Composer

1

Prerequisites

Before installing skills in Cursor, ensure your development environment meets these requirements:

  • Cursor installed and configured on your development machine
  • Node.js version 16.0+ with npm package manager (verify with node --version)
  • Active project directory or workspace where you want to add reproduce-bug
2

Execute installation command

Execute the skills CLI command in your project's root directory to begin installation:

$npx skills add https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n --skill reproduce-bug

The skills CLI fetches reproduce-bug from GitHub repository n8n-io/n8n and configures it for Cursor.

3

Select Cursor when prompted

The CLI will show a list of available agents. Use arrow keys to navigate and space to select Cursor:

◆ Which agents do you want to install to?
│ ── Universal (.agents/skills) ── always included ────
│ • Amp
│ • Antigravity
│ • Cline
│ • Codex
│ ●Cursor(selected)
│ • Cursor
│ • Windsurf
4

Verify installation

Confirm successful installation by checking the skill directory location:

.cursor/skills/reproduce-bug

Reload or restart Cursor to activate reproduce-bug. Access the skill through slash commands (e.g., /reproduce-bug) or your agent's skill management interface.

Security & Verification Notice

We perform automated surface-level scans (Gen AI Scanner, Socket, Snyk) during installation. These checks detect common vulnerabilities but do not guarantee complete security. Always review skill source code and verify the publisher's reputation before production use.

Skills execute code in your development environment. Always verify the publisher's identity, review recent commits, and test in isolated environments before production deployment.

List & Monetize Your Skill

Submit your Claude Code skill and start earning

GET_STARTED →

Use Cases

User Story & Requirements Generation

Create detailed user stories, acceptance criteria, and feature specs

Example

Generate user stories for 'password reset feature' with acceptance criteria, edge cases, and test scenarios

Reduce spec writing time by 50%, ensure comprehensive coverage

Competitive Analysis

Research competitors, compare features, identify gaps

Example

Analyze 5 competitor products, create feature comparison matrix, suggest differentiation opportunities

Complete competitive research in 2 hours instead of 2 days

Roadmap Prioritization

Evaluate features using frameworks (RICE, ICE, Kano) and create prioritized backlogs

Example

Score 20 feature ideas using RICE framework, generate prioritized roadmap with rationale

Make data-driven prioritization decisions faster

Stakeholder Communication

Draft PRDs, status updates, and stakeholder presentations

Example

Create executive summary of Q3 roadmap, monthly progress report, feature launch announcement

Save 3-5 hours/week on communication overhead

Implementation Guide

Prerequisites

  • Claude Desktop or compatible AI client
  • Access to product documentation and roadmap tools (Jira, Notion, etc.)
  • Understanding of product management frameworks (RICE, Jobs-to-be-Done, etc.)
  • Stakeholder contact information and communication channels

Time Estimate

30-60 minutes to see productivity improvements

Installation Steps

  1. 1.Install product management skill
  2. 2.Start with user story generation for known feature
  3. 3.Progress to competitive analysis: research 2-3 competitors
  4. 4.Use for roadmap prioritization: apply RICE/ICE scoring
  5. 5.Draft stakeholder communications and refine based on feedback
  6. 6.Build template library for recurring PM tasks
  7. 7.Share effective prompts with product team

Common Pitfalls

  • Not validating competitive research—verify facts before sharing
  • Accepting user stories without involving engineering team
  • Over-relying on frameworks without qualitative judgment
  • Not customizing outputs to company culture and communication style
  • Skipping stakeholder validation of generated requirements

Best Practices

✓ Do

  • +Validate research and competitive analysis with real data
  • +Collaborate with engineering when generating technical requirements
  • +Customize frameworks and templates to your company context
  • +Use skill for first drafts, refine with stakeholder input
  • +Document successful prompt patterns for PM tasks
  • +Combine AI efficiency with human judgment and intuition

✗ Don't

  • Don't publish competitive analysis without fact-checking
  • Don't finalize user stories without engineering review
  • Don't make prioritization decisions solely on AI scoring
  • Don't skip customer validation of generated requirements
  • Don't ignore company-specific context and culture

💡 Pro Tips

  • Provide context: company goals, constraints, customer feedback
  • Ask for alternatives: 'Show 3 ways to prioritize this roadmap'
  • Request stakeholder-specific formatting: 'Executive summary vs. engineering spec'
  • Use skill for 70% generation + 30% customization to company needs

When to Use This

✓ Use When

Use for user story writing, competitive research, roadmap prioritization, stakeholder communication, and PRD drafting. Best for reducing repetitive documentation and research work.

✗ Avoid When

Avoid for strategic product vision (requires deep customer empathy), pricing decisions (needs market and financial expertise), or when face-to-face customer discovery is more valuable than speed.

Learning Path

  1. 1Basic: user stories, feature specs, status updates
  2. 2Intermediate: competitive analysis, prioritization frameworks, PRDs
  3. 3Advanced: product strategy, go-to-market planning, OKR setting
  4. 4Expert: product vision, market positioning, business model innovation

Discussion

Product Hunt–style comments (not star reviews)
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general reviews

Ratings

4.474 reviews
  • Arjun Okafor· Dec 16, 2024

    reproduce-bug is among the better-maintained entries we tried; worth keeping pinned for repeat workflows.

  • Michael Abebe· Dec 8, 2024

    Keeps context tight: reproduce-bug is the kind of skill you can hand to a new teammate without a long onboarding doc.

  • Chaitanya Patil· Dec 4, 2024

    Useful defaults in reproduce-bug — fewer surprises than typical one-off scripts, and it plays nicely with `npx skills` flows.

  • Kiara Johnson· Dec 4, 2024

    We added reproduce-bug from the explainx registry; install was straightforward and the SKILL.md answered most questions upfront.

  • Emma Dixit· Nov 27, 2024

    We added reproduce-bug from the explainx registry; install was straightforward and the SKILL.md answered most questions upfront.

  • Piyush G· Nov 23, 2024

    reproduce-bug has been reliable in day-to-day use. Documentation quality is above average for community skills.

  • Arjun Kim· Nov 23, 2024

    Keeps context tight: reproduce-bug is the kind of skill you can hand to a new teammate without a long onboarding doc.

  • Arjun Chen· Nov 7, 2024

    reproduce-bug fits our agent workflows well — practical, well scoped, and easy to wire into existing repos.

  • Lucas Iyer· Oct 26, 2024

    We added reproduce-bug from the explainx registry; install was straightforward and the SKILL.md answered most questions upfront.

  • Ishan Desai· Oct 18, 2024

    reproduce-bug fits our agent workflows well — practical, well scoped, and easy to wire into existing repos.

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