• LOGIC
  • STATE
  • SIMULATION
  • HUMAN

How to debug smart contracts with your AI

Connect Ankr to your AI client to inspect on-chain data through natural language. You stop digging through block explorers and start asking direct questions about contract state.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I use AI to debug smart contracts?

Your AI uses Ankr to fetch bytecode, storage slots, and transaction simulations. It identifies why a function reverts or why a variable holds a specific value, providing a clear breakdown of the contract's current state.

Debugging outcomes

Where your findings land.

The AI translates raw hex and bytecode into readable insights.

LOGIC

Code analysis

The AI pulls the contract bytecode to explain how functions work. You get a clear picture of the actual logic running on-chain.

STATE

Storage inspection

The AI reads specific storage slots to check variable values. You find out exactly what is stored at a given address.

SIMULATION

Execution testing

The AI runs a dry run of a transaction to catch errors. You see where a call fails without spending any gas.

HUMAN

Manual fixes

The AI points out the error but cannot change the blockchain. You take the logic flaws back to your local development environment.

The workflow

What your AI does when the request arrives.

The AI uses Ankr tools to gather the data needed to answer your question.

  1. Fetch bytecode

    The AI pulls the contract code to understand the logic you are questioning.

    eth_getCode

  2. Read storage

    The AI inspects specific memory slots to check the current state of the contract.

    eth_getStorageAt

  3. Execute calls

    The AI performs a read-only call to see what a specific function returns.

    eth_call

  4. Run simulations

    The AI simulates a transaction to identify why a specific call might revert.

    eth_simulateV1

Try it

Copy these to start.

Paste these into your chat to begin debugging.

Starting points

Replace the contract addresses and function names with your own.

Ankr Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_ovDNKkD1boVWkgwgjN7iwXmwbTY2XG9BpJ0FYRBc/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — Ankr capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ankr-web3-node-api-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_ovDNKkD1boVWkgwgjN7iwXmwbTY2XG9BpJ0FYRBc/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Check the storage at 0x123... to see the current balance of the owner.

  • Simulate a transfer of 50 tokens from 0xabc... to 0xdef... and tell me why it fails.

  • Get the code for contract 0x789... and explain the logic in the mint function.

  • Call the getPrice function on 0x456... and tell me the result.

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Start here

Connect Ankr once, then ask.

Connect your client to Ankr via Vinkius. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can immediately start querying the blockchain.

Connect Ankr to your AI

FAQ

How the debugging task behaves.

  • 01

    Can the AI fix my smart contract bugs automatically?

    No. The AI identifies the errors and explains the logic, but you must manually edit and redeploy your code.

  • 02

    Does the AI spend real gas when simulating transactions?

    No. It uses simulation tools to run the code against the current state without sending a real transaction to the network.

  • 03

    Can the AI change the state of the blockchain?

    No. The tools provided are for reading data and simulating execution. The AI cannot execute real transactions or change any data on-chain.

  • 04

    Can the AI delete or modify existing contracts?

    No. The AI only has read and simulation capabilities. It has no power to modify, delete, or interact with live contracts.

  • 05

    How does the AI know what is in a contract's storage?

    It uses specific tools to read the raw data from individual storage slots at a given block height.

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