Debug a TensorRT Mismatch

Find the first family-owned boundary that diverges without changing the workload or acceptance rule.

Start from the owning case

Record the repository revision, checkpoint revision, family testcase, build inputs, runtime root, hardware, seed, and request. Read these files before changing code:

• families/<family>/tests/manifests/<case>.json
• families/<family>/tests/thresholds/<case>.json
• families/<family>/tests/test_e2e.py

Reproduce the exact direct E2E path:

PYTHONPATH=core/builder:apps/benchmark:. python3 -m pytest \
  families/<family>/tests/test_e2e.py \
  --e2e-testcase <case> -vv

Provide the testcase's required TRTMC_BINARY, TRTMC_RUNTIME_ROOT, local checkpoint, and GPU environment. Do not replace its reference, seed, or threshold with a smaller smoke test.

Localize inside the family

Separate build, native execution, reference execution, and comparison. Then narrow the first failing boundary in the owning family: inputs and preprocessing, weight mapping, graph output, runtime bindings or state, postprocessing, or the family contract.

Reuse an existing family-local probe or test when one exists. Add a focused family-local diagnostic only when the current evidence cannot identify the boundary. Do not move model policy into core or import another family to share debug code.

Never weaken a correctness gate to make the mismatch disappear. If the gate is suspected to be wrong, demonstrate that independently and request review.

Report the exact reproducer, first divergent boundary, evidence that ruled out earlier stages, smallest owner-local fix, and checks still not run.