Community Forum

Minimal Reproduction Guide

Reduce a bug report to the smallest safe example that still proves the behavior another developer needs to inspect. Last updated September 8, 2026.

Reduce a bug report to the smallest safe example that still proves the behavior another developer needs to inspect. It helps developers ask better questions, preserve useful evidence and keep public examples safe enough to share.

Use this when

Practical workflow

StepWhat to include
Remove unrelated systemsCut the example down until only the failing parser, request, query or runtime behavior remains.
Keep the failing inputDo not simplify away the exact value that triggers the bug.
Add versionsRuntime, browser, package, database and operating-system versions often decide the answer.
Make it runnableA pasted sample, command or short file should let another developer reproduce the issue.

Template

1. Remove private data
2. Keep the failing input
3. Keep the exact error
4. Add versions
5. Describe one expected result

Safety checklist

  1. Remove passwords, tokens, cookies, private keys and connection strings.
  2. Replace customer records with tiny synthetic examples.
  3. Keep exact error text, versions, command output and timestamps when safe.
  4. Say what changed after the fix so the answer helps future readers.

Good forum content is not long by default. It is specific, safe, reproducible and useful after the first reader leaves.

Related Formalint references

Continue with Formalint Developer Forum, Developer Forum Question, Browser Console Debugging Guide.