Roleplay Scenario
Scenario Overview
A bug has been discovered that only occurs in the staging environment, causing unexpected behavior in a core feature. The production environment is unaffected, but the team needs to diagnose and resolve the issue to ensure a smooth upcoming release. You need to lead the debug session, fostering collaboration and ensuring logical troubleshooting.
Roles & Setup
Role A – Lead Engineer (You)
You’re orchestrating the debugging session.
Your goal: Guide the team through systematic troubleshooting without jumping to conclusions.
Role B – Developer
You’re familiar with the feature in question and have some initial hypotheses.
Your goal: Share insights, test theories, and assist in pinpointing the root cause.
Role C – QA Engineer
You discovered the bug during routine testing.
Your goal: Provide detailed reproduction steps and clarify test results.
Role D – Systems Engineer (Optional)
You have knowledge of the environment configurations.
Your goal: Investigate potential environment-specific issues.
Suggested Openers
Lead Engineer:
- “Thanks for jumping in. Let’s start by going over what we know about this bug and figure out where to look first.”
- “I want us to take a methodical approach here—let’s gather all the info we have before diving into fixes.”
Developer:
- “This feature works fine in dev, so there might be something off in staging. Let’s check what's different between the environments.”
- “I’ve got a few ideas based on recent changes. Let’s explore those first.”
QA Engineer:
- “I can walk you through the steps to reproduce it. It’s consistent in staging, but doesn't show up elsewhere.”
- “I’ve got logs and screenshots from staging. Let me know where you want to dive in.”
Systems Engineer:
- “I’ll look into the config files and environment variables. Let's see if there's anything unusual that could be causing this.”
Sample Roleplay in Action
Lead Engineer:
“Thanks for joining, everyone. We’ve got a bug affecting [Feature X] only in staging. QA, can you kick things off by explaining how to reproduce it and what you’ve seen?”
QA Engineer:
“Sure thing. The issue pops up when [describe action], and it results in [describe bug]. I’ve double-checked it today and have logs ready.”
Developer:
“That’s odd since it works in dev. Maybe it’s a data thing or a config mismatch? I’ll look at recent changes to see if anything stands out.”
Systems Engineer:
“I’ll dig into the staging environment’s configs and deployment logs to see if there’s something different from dev or production.”
Lead Engineer:
“Perfect. Let’s also think about any new dependencies or updates that might differ between environments. Keep me posted, and we’ll regroup in 15 to discuss what we find.”
Developer:
“I noticed a slight difference in how [dependency] is set up in staging. Let’s sync it with dev and see if that fixes the problem.”
Lead Engineer:
“Good catch. Let’s try that adjustment and have QA rerun the tests after.”
QA Engineer:
“Will do. I’ll get the test cases ready and keep the logs handy for comparison.”
Lead Engineer:
“Once we confirm it’s fixed, let’s make sure we document what happened and update our deployment checklist to avoid this in the future.”
Post-Scenario Tools
Curveball Mode (Optional)
Introduce one of these twists to see how the team adapts:
- The bug mysteriously disappears during the session, only to reappear later.
- An unrelated minor bug is discovered during testing.
- A critical deadline pressures the team for faster resolution.
Reflection Checklist
As the Lead Engineer:
- Did you facilitate a structured approach to problem-solving?
- Were you open to all team inputs and ideas?
- Did you ensure everyone was aligned and knew their roles?
As a Participant:
- Did you provide clear, concise updates?
- Did you collaborate effectively without dominating the conversation?
- Did you remain patient and methodical under pressure?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Jumping to conclusions without data
- Overlooking environment-specific variables
- Failing to document findings and next steps
Pro Tip
Encourage a culture of curiosity and thoroughness. Even when bugs are elusive, a systematic approach and teamwork often lead to the best solutions.