Failed to load Stacks chain tip error when checking balance

[dantrevino]

Describe the bug
While attempting to check balance from the local api, I see the text 'Failed to load Stacks chain tip' in the response. No balance.

Steps To Reproduce

1. Run a local node
2. Check STX balance. In my case "http://192.168.29.171:20443/v2/accounts/ST8E0WHZ0HNHFRT7BVPKB8BDRPJ6GCPGGW9EXH3G"

Expected behavior
JSON response with balance information

Environment (please complete the following information):

• OS: Raspbian (server), Ubuntu (client)
• Rust version: n/a
• stacks-node version "2020-04-23"

Additional context

May 14 09:32:14 stackspack stacks-node[4596]: WARN [1589473934.996] [src/net/rpc.rs:600] Failed to load Stacks chain tip
May 14 09:32:15 stackspack stacks-node[4596]: DEBUG [1589473935.042] [src/net/p2p.rs:1649] local.80000000://V4(0.0.0.0:20444): network work state is BlockInvSync
May 14 09:32:15 stackspack stacks-node[4596]: DEBUG [1589473935.042] [src/net/inv.rs:1055] local.80000000://V4(0.0.0.0:20444): Throttle inv sync until 1589473968s
May 14 09:32:15 stackspack stacks-node[4596]: DEBUG [1589473935.042] [src/net/p2p.rs:1649] local.80000000://V4(0.0.0.0:20444): network work state is BlockDownload
May 14 09:32:15 stackspack stacks-node[4596]: DEBUG [1589473935.042] [src/net/download.rs:1388] local.80000000://V4(0.0.0.0:20444): Throttle block downloads until 1589473984
May 14 09:32:15 stackspack stacks-node[4596]: DEBUG [1589473935.042] [src/net/p2p.rs:1649] local.80000000://V4(0.0.0.0:20444): network work state is Prune
May 14 09:32:15 stackspack stacks-node[4596]: DEBUG [1589473935.042] [src/net/neighbors.rs:1608] local.80000000://V4(0.0.0.0:20444): walk state is HandshakeBegin
May 14 09:32:15 stackspack stacks-node[4596]: DEBUG [1589473935.043] [src/net/neighbors.rs:363] Walk clear state
May 14 09:32:15 stackspack stacks-node[4596]: DEBUG [1589473935.043] [src/net/neighbors.rs:1211] local.80000000://V4(0.0.0.0:20444): walk still connecting to facade01+80000000://V4(35.24
May 14 09:32:15 stackspack stacks-node[4596]: DEBUG [1589473935.043] [src/net/neighbors.rs:1302] No Handshake sent (dest was facade01+80000000://V4(35.245.47.179:20444))
May 14 09:32:15 stackspack stacks-node[4596]: DEBUG [1589473935.043] [src/net/neighbors.rs:1682] local.80000000://V4(0.0.0.0:20444): walk has taken 10 steps (total of 0 walks)
May 14 09:32:15 stackspack stacks-node[4596]: DEBUG [1589473935.043] [src/net/p2p.rs:2122] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Begin Poll 5000ms >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>```

[dantrevino]

[diwakergupta]

@dantrevino so the hypothesis is that your node had not yet caught up with the Stacks chain (in fact, hasn't downloaded any blocks), and the error reflects that. Open to suggestions on how we can make the error better, but otherwise it's expected behavior.