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Agent Self-Correction

Agent Building
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Protocols for the agent to autonomously detect failures, analyze root causes, and attempt recovery strategies before requesting user intervention.

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How to use this skill

Bring this guide into your coding agent with a prompt tailored to the tool you use.

  1. Open your project in Codex.
  2. Copy the prompt below and paste it into your agent.
  3. Review the proposed files and risks before you approve installation.
Prompt to paste
I want to install this Agent Skill for this project in Codex.

Source SKILL.md: https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry/blob/HEAD/skills/agent/agent-self-correction/SKILL.md

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First, summarize what it does, its dependencies, license status if identifiable, and any risks. Show the exact files you propose to add under .agents/skills/agent-self-correction/. Do not write files or run scripts until I approve.

After I approve, install the complete skill folder, including required referenced files, into that project location. Verify it is discoverable, then tell me its actual invocation name and how to use it. Do not claim it is installed until you have verified it.

Copying this prompt does not install or run the skill. Review third-party files before use. Codex skill guide

Agent Self-Correction

[Context: Errors and roadblocks are inevitable. An efficient agent does not stop at the first sign of failure; it analyzes the error, adjusts its approach, and retries. This skill defines the cognitive loop for autonomous self-correction.]

1. Core Principles

  • Analyze First: Never retry the exact same action without understanding why it failed.
  • Fail Fast, recover Faster: Identify failure modes immediately (tech stack mismatch, syntax error, hallucination).
  • Graceful Escalation: Attempt 2-3 autonomous fixes before escalating to the user.
  • State Preservation: Don't destroy partial progress when fixing a specific bug.

2. Step-by-Step Implementation

Phase 1: Failure Detection & Analysis

When a tool returns an error or a check fails:

  1. Stop: Do not proceed to the next step of the plan.
  2. Read: Analyze the error message thoroughly.
    • Is it a syntax error? -> Fix code.
    • Is it a logic error? -> Rethink algorithm.
    • Is it a tool misuse? -> Check tool definition.
    • Is it environmental? -> Check paths/permissions.
  3. Hypothesize: Formulate a hypothesis for the fix.

Phase 2: autonomous Recovery Loop

  1. Attempt 1 (Quick Fix): Address the obvious error (e.g., install missing package, fix typo).
  2. Verify: Run the verification command (e.g., npm run build or pytest).
  3. Attempt 2 (Alternative Approach): If Attempt 1 fails, try a different distinct strategy (e.g., switch library, rewrite logic).
  4. Attempt 3 (Simplify): Reduce complexity or scope to isolate the issue.

Phase 3: Escalation

If Attempt 3 fails:

  1. Gather Context: Collect error logs and the 3 failed attempts.
  2. Propose solution: Present the user with the situation and a proposed manual intervention or request for clarification.

3. Templates & Examples

Internal Monologue for Debugging

ERROR DETECTED: [Error Message]
ANALYSIS: The error implies [Cause].
HYPOTHESIS: If I change [X] to [Y], it should resolve.
ACTION: Applying fix [X->Y].

Self-Correction Checklist

  • Did I read the entire error message?
  • Have I checked if the file path is correct?
  • Did I verify the library version compatibility?
  • Is this a hallucinated import?

4. Common Pitfalls

  • Don't: Blindly loop the same command hoping it works eventually.
  • Don't: Delete the user's codebase to "start over" without permission.
  • Do: Use common_sense to judge if an error is a simple typo or a fundamental design flaw.