rust-error-handling

name: rust-error-handling description: Use when changing Rust code paths that return errors or log failures. Ensures errors are actionable, consistent, and safe.

rust-error-handling Skill

Use this skill when changing Rust code paths that return errors or log failures.

Goal

Keep errors actionable, consistent, and easy to debug without leaking sensitive data.

Principles

• Prefer anyhow::Context to add operation + resource context.
• Keep top-level error messages short and user-facing.
• Preserve root causes in chained errors.
• Avoid swallowing errors silently.
• Do not include secrets/keys/tokens in error text.

Patterns

1. Add context at I/O and boundary calls:
   • file open/read/write
   • socket bind/send/recv
   • process execution
2. Use bail! for validation failures with explicit reason.
3. Keep logs structured and component-scoped (DNS, PROXY, TLS, etc.).
4. Return typed status at boundaries (for HTTP/DNS behavior) and retain internal error cause.

Checklist

• Error path explains what failed and where.
• Caller receives enough info to act.
• Logs are useful at info/debug/error levels.
• No sensitive material is printed.