## The 7 Triage Steps for Effective Problem Solving Getting stuck is a universal experience in software development. Whether you're deciphering a cryptic error message or wrestling with a complex concept, knowing how to efficiently navigate roadblocks is crucial. This lesson introduces a systematic 7-step triage process designed to help you get unstuck quickly, both within this course and in your broader development journey. Triage, in this context, means assessing the problem and strategically deciding on the best path forward. ## Step 1: Time-Box Your Initial Effort When you first encounter an error or a point of confusion, dedicate a focused but limited amount of time – typically 15 to 20 minutes – to trying to solve it yourself. Read the error message carefully, review your recent code changes, and consult relevant documentation you might already have open. The goal here is to resolve simple issues quickly without falling into a time-consuming rabbit hole. If you haven't made significant progress within this timeframe, it's time to move to the next step. ## Step 2: Consult AI, But Verify Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT (`chat.openai.com`) can be powerful allies in debugging and learning. You can paste your error message and relevant code snippet directly into the AI tool and ask for explanations or potential fixes. However, treat AI as a learning augmentation tool, *not* an infallible oracle. AI models can "hallucinate" – generate confident-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical information. It's essential to have a foundational understanding of the concepts you're working with to critically evaluate the AI's response. Never skip learning the fundamentals; this knowledge is your primary defense against being misled by AI inaccuracies. When asking AI for help, format your code and errors clearly using Markdown (especially triple backticks ``` for code blocks) to get the best results. ## Step 3: Engage with Course-Specific Forums If self-triage and AI haven't resolved the issue, turn to community resources specific to this course. The primary channel is the Course GitHub Discussions board (`github.com/ChainAccelOrg/foundry-full-course-f23/discussions` or similar course-specific links provided). Search existing discussions first to see if your question has already been answered. If not, post your question clearly. Engaging with the community also means helping others when you can – teaching reinforces your own understanding. Future platforms like `web3education.dev` may also become relevant resources. ## Step 4: Search the Web for Exact Errors Often, the exact error message you're seeing has been encountered by others. Copy the complete, specific error message text and paste it into a search engine like Google (`google.com`). This frequently leads to relevant discussions on forums like Stack Exchange, blog posts, or official documentation that address the precise problem. ## Step 5: Ask on Public Q&A Platforms If targeted searches and course forums don't yield a solution, broaden your reach to public Q&A platforms. Ethereum Stack Exchange (`ethereum.stackexchange.com`) is excellent for Ethereum-specific questions, while Peeranha (`peeranha.io`) offers a decentralized alternative focused on Web3. Crucially, learn how to ask effective questions. This is a skill in itself. A good question includes: * A clear, descriptive title. * Context about what you are trying to achieve. * The specific error message you encountered. * The relevant code snippet, correctly formatted using Markdown (```). * What you have already tried to do to solve the problem. Be verbose and provide enough detail for someone else to understand your situation. If unsure, you can even ask an AI like ChatGPT for an example of a well-formatted question for Stack Overflow/Exchange. Remember to create accounts on these platforms beforehand so you're ready when you need them. ## Step 6: Investigate and Report on GitHub Issues If you suspect the problem lies not with your code but with the underlying tool or library itself (e.g., Foundry, Hardhat, a specific smart contract library), the next step is to check the project's official GitHub repository. Navigate to the repository (e.g., `github.com/foundry-rs/foundry` for Foundry) and click on the "Issues" tab. *First*, search existing issues thoroughly to see if the bug or problem has already been reported. If it has, you might find workarounds or updates in the discussion. You can often subscribe to the issue for notifications. *If*, after searching, you believe you've found a new, unreported issue, create a *new issue*. Be respectful, provide clear, detailed steps to reproduce the problem, include version numbers, error messages, and relevant code snippets. A well-documented issue is much more likely to be addressed by the maintainers. ## Step 7: Engage with the Open Source Ecosystem via GitHub Beyond just reporting issues, actively engaging with the open-source ecosystem via GitHub (`github.com`) is fundamental for modern developers. GitHub is the central platform for hosting code, tracking issues, collaborating on projects (like Ethereum itself - `github.com/ethereum`, its EIPs - `github.com/ethereum/EIPs`, or clients like Geth - `github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum`), and showcasing your work. Ensure you have a GitHub account. Use it to star repositories you find useful, watch projects for updates, and potentially contribute back via Pull Requests (PRs) once you become more comfortable. The projects you build throughout this course and beyond will form your public portfolio on GitHub, which is invaluable for demonstrating your skills to potential employers or collaborators. Mastering these 7 triage steps will not only make you more efficient during this course but will equip you with essential problem-solving skills for a successful career in development.