---
type: email
from: Tech With Tim <tim@techwithtim.net>
subject: the method I use to catch invisible bugs...
received: 2026-03-06 07:57:51
date_header: Mon, 06 Oct 2025 12:00:58 +0000 (UTC)
priority: normal
status: awaiting_approval
uid: 31993
---

## Email Content

**From:** Tech With Tim <tim@techwithtim.net>
**Subject:** the method I use to catch invisible bugs...
**Date:** Mon, 06 Oct 2025 12:00:58 +0000 (UTC)

### Body (preview)

Hey there,



Today’s email is all about helping you debug faster, so you stop

wasting your time when something goes wrong.



And if you’ve ever faced a bug where the code looks fine, nothing

seems obviously wrong, but the app still acts weird and you have

no idea why…



You’re gonna love this email.



Because I’m going to walk you through a method I use every time I

run into problems like that.



And it will definitely help you slow things down, find out what’s

really happening, and fix the issue without going in circles.



Here’s the 5-step method I use every time:



Step 1: Reproduce the bug on purpose



You can’t fix what you can’t see, so the first step is to make

the bug show up on command.



Try to find the smallest input or action that consistently

triggers it, then test it a few times to make sure it’s not

random.



Once you’ve confirmed that, write a test case that captures the

behavior. For example:



import pytest



def test_create_post_requires_title():

with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc:

create_post(title="")

assert "title is required" in str(exc.value)



If you can’t recreate the bug, you’re still guessing.



Make sure you can trigger it every time before doing anything

else.



Step 2: Isolate where things go wrong



Once you can trigger the bug, the next step is to figure out

which part of the code is causing it.



Pull the logic into a small function, strip out anything

unrelated, and mock whatever’s external like databases, APIs, or

time.



from unittest.mock import Mock



store = Mock()

store.save.return_value = True



# Then inject the mock into your function (via DI or

monkeypatching)



This lets you focus on the part of the code that actually

matters.



At this point, you’re not trying to fix anything. You’re just

clearing away the extra stuff so you can see what’s really going

on.



Step 3: Prove what is really happening



Now it’s time to stop guessing and start observing.



Add log statements a

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