go-error-handling

SKILL.md

Go Error Handling

Available Scripts

scripts/check-errors.sh — Detects error handling anti-patterns: string comparison on err.Error(), bare return err without context, and log-and-return violations. Run bash scripts/check-errors.sh --help for options.

In Go, errors are values — they are
created by code and consumed by code.

Choosing an Error Strategy

System boundary (RPC, IPC, storage)? → Wrap with %v to avoid leaking internals

Caller needs to match specific conditions? → Sentinel or typed error, wrap with %w

Caller just needs debugging context? → fmt.Errorf("...: %w", err)

Leaf function, no wrapping needed? → Return the error directly

Default: wrap with %w and place it at the end of the format string.