goerr

This package defines an error type that maintains a stack of nested errors and gives a human readable stack trace for logging.

Problem

In typical go error type, you don't have the stack trace of complete call chain. The only possibility is to log the stack trace at every function in the call chain. This will have multiple log entries made from single call and also the log are very cumbersome. Also the default stack trace contains lot many details that becomes difficult to read.

Principle

This package is to facilitate the well-known idiom

"throw error multiple times, but log once at the top most level"

For eg., if the call chain is controller -> service -> repository.

Then with goerr you return error from repository to service to controller and log the same in controller.

Output

If you return goerr in all methods and get the stack at top most level, it gives below nicely formatted, easily readable stack

controller failed [/Users/madhan.ganesh/src/github.com/madhanganesh/goerr/samplesrc/samples.go:11 (samplesrc.Controller)]
    service failed [/Users/madhan.ganesh/src/github.com/madhanganesh/goerr/samplesrc/samples.go:19 (samplesrc.Service)]
        error from database [/Users/madhan.ganesh/src/github.com/madhanganesh/goerr/samplesrc/samples.go:26 (samplesrc.Repository)]

Usage

Whenver you wanted to return an error just use

err := goerr.New(nil, "error in here")

if you have to nest the error, just pass it in New

err1 := goerr.New(err, "error in here")

Sample code that log in nested methods

func Controller() error{
	err := Service()
	if err != nil {
		return goerr.New(err, "controller failed")
	}
	return nil
}

func Service() error {
	err := Repository()
	if err != nil {
		return goerr.New(err, "service failed")
	}
	return err
}

func Repository() error {
	err := errors.New("error from database")
	return goerr.New(nil, err.Error())
}

Code to get the stack at the top most level

        err := samplesrc.Controller()
	if err != nil {
		t.Logf("error in controller: %s", goerr.Stack(err))
	}

Compatibility

• goerr implements standard error interface, so can be assigned where ever error is used
• goerr.Error() will give the error text of the top most error object
• goerr.Stack(err) will give stack trace of call chain
• goerr.Stack(err) can be called for error type as well, in which case it will just return Error()

Installation

go install github.com/madhanganesh/goerr