util: Add Assume() identity function

configure.ac

@@ -348,6 +348,7 @@ if test "x$enable_debug" = xyes; then
 
   AX_CHECK_PREPROC_FLAG([-DDEBUG],[[DEBUG_CPPFLAGS="$DEBUG_CPPFLAGS -DDEBUG"]],,[[$CXXFLAG_WERROR]])
   AX_CHECK_PREPROC_FLAG([-DDEBUG_LOCKORDER],[[DEBUG_CPPFLAGS="$DEBUG_CPPFLAGS -DDEBUG_LOCKORDER"]],,[[$CXXFLAG_WERROR]])
+  AX_CHECK_PREPROC_FLAG([-DABORT_ON_FAILED_ASSUME],[[DEBUG_CPPFLAGS="$DEBUG_CPPFLAGS -DABORT_ON_FAILED_ASSUME"]],,[[$CXXFLAG_WERROR]])
   AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG([-ftrapv],[DEBUG_CXXFLAGS="$DEBUG_CXXFLAGS -ftrapv"],,[[$CXXFLAG_WERROR]])
 fi
 
@@ -1189,6 +1190,8 @@ if test "x$enable_fuzz" = "xyes"; then
   use_upnp=no
   use_zmq=no
 
+  AX_CHECK_PREPROC_FLAG([-DABORT_ON_FAILED_ASSUME],[[DEBUG_CPPFLAGS="$DEBUG_CPPFLAGS -DABORT_ON_FAILED_ASSUME"]],,[[$CXXFLAG_WERROR]])
+
   AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether main function is needed])
   AX_CHECK_LINK_FLAG(
     [[-fsanitize=$use_sanitizers]],

doc/developer-notes.md

@@ -276,6 +276,33 @@ configure option adds `-DDEBUG_LOCKORDER` to the compiler flags. This inserts
 run-time checks to keep track of which locks are held and adds warnings to the
 `debug.log` file if inconsistencies are detected.
 
+### Assertions and Checks
+
+The util file `src/util/check.h` offers helpers to protect against coding and
+internal logic bugs. They must never be used to validate user, network or any
+other input.
+
+* `assert` or `Assert` should be used to document assumptions when any
+  violation would mean that it is not safe to continue program execution. The
+  code is always compiled with assertions enabled.
+   - For example, a nullptr dereference or any other logic bug in validation
+     code means the program code is faulty and must terminate immediately.
+* `CHECK_NONFATAL` should be used for recoverable internal logic bugs. On
+  failure, it will throw an exception, which can be caught to recover from the
+  error.
+   - For example, a nullptr dereference or any other logic bug in RPC code
+     means that the RPC code is faulty and can not be executed. However, the
+     logic bug can be shown to the user and the program can continue to run.
+* `Assume` should be used to document assumptions when program execution can
+  safely continue even if the assumption is violated. In debug builds it
+  behaves like `Assert`/`assert` to notify developers and testers about
+  nonfatal errors. In production it doesn't warn or log anything, though the
+  expression is always evaluated.
+   - For example it can be assumed that a variable is only initialized once,
+     but a failed assumption does not result in a fatal bug. A failed
+     assumption may or may not result in a slightly degraded user experience,
+     but it is safe to continue program execution.
+
 ### Valgrind suppressions file
 
 Valgrind is a programming tool for memory debugging, memory leak detection, and

src/util/check.h

@@ -46,14 +46,30 @@ class NonFatalCheckError : public std::runtime_error
 #error "Cannot compile without assertions!"
 #endif
 
-/** Helper for Assert(). TODO remove in C++14 and replace `decltype(get_pure_r_value(val))` with `T` (templated lambda) */
+/** Helper for Assert() */
 template <typename T>
 T get_pure_r_value(T&& val)
 {
     return std::forward<T>(val);
 }
 
 /** Identity function. Abort if the value compares equal to zero */
-#define Assert(val) [&]() -> decltype(get_pure_r_value(val)) { auto&& check = (val); assert(#val && check); return std::forward<decltype(get_pure_r_value(val))>(check); }()
+#define Assert(val) ([&]() -> decltype(get_pure_r_value(val)) { auto&& check = (val); assert(#val && check); return std::forward<decltype(get_pure_r_value(val))>(check); }())
+
+/**
+ * Assume is the identity function.
+ *
+ * - Should be used to run non-fatal checks. In debug builds it behaves like
+ *   Assert()/assert() to notify developers and testers about non-fatal errors.
+ *   In production it doesn't warn or log anything.
+ * - For fatal errors, use Assert().
+ * - For non-fatal errors in interactive sessions (e.g. RPC or command line
+ *   interfaces), CHECK_NONFATAL() might be more appropriate.
+ */
+#ifdef ABORT_ON_FAILED_ASSUME
+#define Assume(val) Assert(val)
+#else
+#define Assume(val) ((void)(val))
+#endif
 
 #endif // BITCOIN_UTIL_CHECK_H