Cursor Debug Mode: AI-Powered Bug Finding and Fixing

Learn Cursor Debug Mode for systematic bug hunting with hypothesis generation, runtime log instrumentation, and automated fix iteration.

Cursor Debug Mode is a specialized agent loop built around runtime information and human verification for systematic debugging.

How to Use Debug Mode

1. Select Debug Mode from the mode dropdown
2. Describe the bug in as much detail as possible
3. The agent reads your codebase and generates multiple hypotheses
4. It instruments code with runtime logs to gather evidence
5. You reproduce the issue and verify findings
6. The agent iterates on fixes until verified

Debugging Workflow

Step 1: Identify Patterns

Determine if errors are related to types, dependencies, or logic.

Step 2: Gather Context

Provide relevant documentation, error messages, and stack traces.

Step 3: Minimal Reproduction

Strip away everything but the problem for focused debugging.

Step 4: Test in Isolation

Verify solutions independently before integrating into the codebase.

Best Practices

• Always ask the AI to explain its reasoning before accepting fixes
• Provide complete error messages and stack traces
• Reference specific files with @mentions
• Use test-driven debugging: write a failing test first, then fix
• Be specific about expected vs actual behavior

Debug Mode vs Agent Mode

Debug Mode is specialized for finding and fixing bugs with hypothesis-driven investigation. Agent Mode is general-purpose for implementing features and making changes.