diff --git a/src/JuliaFEM.jl b/src/JuliaFEM.jl
index 6dc60dd..202323e 100644
--- a/src/JuliaFEM.jl
+++ b/src/JuliaFEM.jl
@@ -105,6 +105,12 @@ about JuliaFEM, please visit our website at
 """
 module JuliaFEM
 
+# Import Base functions FIRST before defining any methods
+import Base: getindex, setindex!, convert, length, size, isapprox,
+   similar, first, last, vec,
+   ==, +, -, *, /, haskey, copy, push!, isempty, empty!,
+   append!, read
+
 using SparseArrays, LinearAlgebra, Statistics
 using Reexport, ForwardDiff, LightXML, HDF5, Parameters
 using Tensors  # For basis functions (Vec type)
@@ -157,11 +163,6 @@ include("deprecated_fembase.jl")     # Deprecated/legacy methods from FEMBase (l
 using TimerOutputs
 export @timeit, print_timer
 
-import Base: getindex, setindex!, convert, length, size, isapprox,
-   similar, first, last, vec,
-   ==, +, -, *, /, haskey, copy, push!, isempty, empty!,
-   append!, read, copy
-
 # TODO: Consolidate these vendor packages later
 # using AbaqusReader
 # using AsterReader
diff --git a/test_minimal.jl b/test_minimal.jl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ead1db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_minimal.jl
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env julia
+# Minimal test to debug what's broken
+
+using JuliaFEM
+
+println("✓ JuliaFEM loaded")
+
+# Test 1: Can we create an element?
+try
+    element = Element(Seg2, (1, 2))
+    println("✓ Element created: ", typeof(element))
+    println("  length: ", length(element))
+catch e
+    println("✗ Element creation failed: ", e)
+end
+
+# Test 2: Can we create a Problem?
+try
+    problem = Problem(Dirichlet, "test", 1, "temperature")
+    println("✓ Problem created: ", typeof(problem))
+catch e
+    println("✗ Problem creation failed: ", e)
+end
+
+# Test 3: Can we update element fields?
+try
+    element = Element(Seg2, (1, 2))
+    X = Dict(1 => [0.0, 0.0], 2 => [6.0, 0.0])
+    update!(element, "geometry", X)
+    println("✓ Element update successful")
+catch e
+    println("✗ Element update failed: ", e)
+    println("  Stacktrace:")
+    for (exc, bt) in Base.catch_stack()
+        showerror(stdout, exc, bt)
+        println()
+    end
+end
+
+println("\n=== Summary ===")
+println("If all checks pass, the core API works!")