Add verbose diagnostics to CLI commands

src/cortex-cli/src/agent_cmd/handlers/list.rs

@@ -9,6 +9,15 @@ use crate::agent_cmd::utils::matches_pattern;
 
 /// List agents command.
 pub async fn run_list(args: ListArgs) -> Result<()> {
+    tracing::debug!(
+        all = args.all,
+        primary = args.primary,
+        subagents = args.subagents,
+        remote = args.remote,
+        filter = ?args.filter,
+        "listing agents"
+    );
+
     // Validate mutually exclusive flags
     if args.primary && args.subagents {
         bail!(
@@ -31,6 +40,7 @@ pub async fn run_list(args: ListArgs) -> Result<()> {
     }
 
     let agents = load_all_agents()?;
+    tracing::debug!(total_agents = agents.len(), "loaded agent definitions");
 
     // Filter agents
     let mut filtered: Vec<_> = agents
@@ -56,6 +66,7 @@ pub async fn run_list(args: ListArgs) -> Result<()> {
             true
         })
         .collect();
+    tracing::debug!(filtered_agents = filtered.len(), "filtered agent list");
 
     // Sort by display_name (if present) or name for user-friendly ordering
     // This ensures agents are listed in the order users expect (by visible name)

src/cortex-cli/src/github_cmd.rs

@@ -587,6 +587,11 @@ fn get_help_message() -> String {
 /// Check GitHub Actions installation status.
 async fn run_status(args: StatusArgs) -> Result<()> {
     let repo_path = args.path.unwrap_or_else(|| PathBuf::from("."));
+    tracing::debug!(
+        path = %repo_path.display(),
+        json = args.json,
+        "checking GitHub Actions installation status"
+    );
 
     let mut status = InstallationStatus::default();
 
@@ -601,6 +606,10 @@ async fn run_status(args: StatusArgs) -> Result<()> {
                 if content.contains("Cortex") {
                     status.workflow_installed = true;
                     status.workflow_path = Some(path.clone());
+                    tracing::debug!(
+                        workflow_path = %path.display(),
+                        "found Cortex workflow"
+                    );
 
                     // Check workflow features
                     if content.contains("issue_comment") {
@@ -623,6 +632,13 @@ async fn run_status(args: StatusArgs) -> Result<()> {
 
     // Check if we're in a git repo
     status.is_git_repo = repo_path.join(".git").exists();
+    tracing::debug!(
+        is_git_repo = status.is_git_repo,
+        github_dir_exists = status.github_dir_exists,
+        workflow_installed = status.workflow_installed,
+        features = ?status.features,
+        "computed GitHub Actions installation status"
+    );
 
     if args.json {
         let json = serde_json::to_string_pretty(&status)?;

src/cortex-cli/tests/verbose_output.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+use std::fs;
+use std::process::Command;
+
+use tempfile::tempdir;
+
+fn combined_output(output: &std::process::Output) -> String {
+    format!(
+        "{}{}",
+        String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stdout),
+        String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr)
+    )
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn verbose_agent_list_adds_diagnostics() {
+    let home_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+
+    let normal = Command::new(env!("CARGO_BIN_EXE_Cortex"))
+        .args(["agent", "list"])
+        .env("HOME", home_dir.path())
+        .env_remove("CORTEX_HOME")
+        .output()
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        normal.status.success(),
+        "normal agent list failed:\n{}",
+        combined_output(&normal)
+    );
+
+    let verbose = Command::new(env!("CARGO_BIN_EXE_Cortex"))
+        .args(["--verbose", "agent", "list"])
+        .env("HOME", home_dir.path())
+        .env_remove("CORTEX_HOME")
+        .output()
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        verbose.status.success(),
+        "verbose agent list failed:\n{}",
+        combined_output(&verbose)
+    );
+
+    let normal_output = combined_output(&normal);
+    let verbose_output = combined_output(&verbose);
+    assert_ne!(normal_output, verbose_output);
+    assert!(verbose_output.contains("listing agents"));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn verbose_github_status_adds_diagnostics() {
+    let repo = tempdir().unwrap();
+    fs::create_dir(repo.path().join(".git")).unwrap();
+    let workflows_dir = repo.path().join(".github").join("workflows");
+    fs::create_dir_all(&workflows_dir).unwrap();
+    fs::write(
+        workflows_dir.join("Cortex.yml"),
+        r#"# Cortex CI/CD Automation
+# Generated by: cortex github install
+
+name: Cortex
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+jobs:
+  cortex:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps: []
+"#,
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+
+    let normal = Command::new(env!("CARGO_BIN_EXE_Cortex"))
+        .args(["github", "status", "--path", repo.path().to_str().unwrap()])
+        .output()
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        normal.status.success(),
+        "normal github status failed:\n{}",
+        combined_output(&normal)
+    );
+
+    let verbose = Command::new(env!("CARGO_BIN_EXE_Cortex"))
+        .args([
+            "--verbose",
+            "github",
+            "status",
+            "--path",
+            repo.path().to_str().unwrap(),
+        ])
+        .output()
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        verbose.status.success(),
+        "verbose github status failed:\n{}",
+        combined_output(&verbose)
+    );
+
+    let normal_output = combined_output(&normal);
+    let verbose_output = combined_output(&verbose);
+    assert_ne!(normal_output, verbose_output);
+    assert!(verbose_output.contains("checking GitHub Actions installation status"));
+}