|
| 1 | +#Exception Message Standards |
| 2 | + |
| 3 | +**Created:** 2025-10-07 |
| 4 | +**Purpose:** Standardize exception messages across nostr-java for better debugging and user experience |
| 5 | + |
| 6 | +--- |
| 7 | + |
| 8 | +##Guiding Principles |
| 9 | + |
| 10 | +1.**Be specific** - Include what failed and why |
| 11 | +2.**Include context** - Add relevant values (IDs, names, types) |
| 12 | +3.**Use consistent format** - Follow established patterns |
| 13 | +4.**Be actionable** - Help developers understand how to fix the issue |
| 14 | + |
| 15 | +--- |
| 16 | + |
| 17 | +##Standard Message Formats |
| 18 | + |
| 19 | +###Pattern 1: "Failed to {action}: {reason}" |
| 20 | + |
| 21 | +**Use for:** Operational failures (encoding, decoding, network, I/O) |
| 22 | + |
| 23 | +**Examples:** |
| 24 | +```java |
| 25 | +// ✅ Good |
| 26 | +thrownewEventEncodingException("Failed to encode event message: invalid JSON structure"); |
| 27 | +thrownewNostrNetworkException("Failed to connect to relay: connection timeout after 60s"); |
| 28 | +thrownewNostrCryptoException("Failed to sign event [id="+ eventId+"]: private key is null"); |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +// ❌ Bad |
| 31 | +thrownewRuntimeException(e);// No context! |
| 32 | +thrownewEventEncodingException("Error");// Too vague! |
| 33 | +``` |
| 34 | + |
| 35 | +###Pattern 2: "Invalid {entity}: {reason}" |
| 36 | + |
| 37 | +**Use for:** Validation failures |
| 38 | + |
| 39 | +**Examples:** |
| 40 | +```java |
| 41 | +// ✅ Good |
| 42 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException("Invalid event kind: must be between 0 and 65535, got"+ kind); |
| 43 | +thrownewNostrProtocolException("Invalid event: missing required field 'content'"); |
| 44 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException("Invalid tag type: expected EventTag, got"+ tag.getClass().getSimpleName()); |
| 45 | + |
| 46 | +// ❌ Bad |
| 47 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException("The event is not a channel creation event");// Use "Invalid" prefix |
| 48 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException("tag must be of type RelaysTag");// Use "Invalid" prefix |
| 49 | +``` |
| 50 | + |
| 51 | +###Pattern 3: "Cannot {action}: {reason}" |
| 52 | + |
| 53 | +**Use for:** Prevented operations (state issues) |
| 54 | + |
| 55 | +**Examples:** |
| 56 | +```java |
| 57 | +// ✅ Good |
| 58 | +thrownewIllegalStateException("Cannot sign event: sender identity is required"); |
| 59 | +thrownewIllegalStateException("Cannot verify event: event is not signed"); |
| 60 | +thrownewNostrProtocolException("Cannot create zap request: relays tag or relay list is required"); |
| 61 | + |
| 62 | +// ❌ Bad |
| 63 | +thrownewIllegalStateException("Sender identity is required for zap operations");// Use "Cannot" prefix |
| 64 | +thrownewIllegalStateException("The event is not signed");// Use "Cannot" prefix |
| 65 | +``` |
| 66 | + |
| 67 | +###Pattern 4: "{Entity} is/are {state}" |
| 68 | + |
| 69 | +**Use for:** Simple state assertions |
| 70 | + |
| 71 | +**Examples:** |
| 72 | +```java |
| 73 | +// ✅ Good - for simple cases |
| 74 | +thrownewNoSuchElementException("No matching p-tag found in event tags"); |
| 75 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException("Relay URL is null or empty"); |
| 76 | + |
| 77 | +// ✅ Also good - with more context |
| 78 | +thrownewNoSuchElementException("No matching p-tag found in event [id="+ eventId+"]"); |
| 79 | +``` |
| 80 | + |
| 81 | +--- |
| 82 | + |
| 83 | +##Exception Type Selection |
| 84 | + |
| 85 | +###Use Domain Exceptions First |
| 86 | + |
| 87 | +Prefer nostr-java domain exceptions over generic Java exceptions: |
| 88 | + |
| 89 | +```java |
| 90 | +// ✅ Preferred - Domain exceptions |
| 91 | +thrownewNostrProtocolException("Invalid event: ..."); |
| 92 | +thrownewNostrCryptoException("Failed to sign: ..."); |
| 93 | +thrownewNostrEncodingException("Failed to decode: ..."); |
| 94 | +thrownewNostrNetworkException("Failed to connect: ..."); |
| 95 | + |
| 96 | +// ⚠️ Acceptable - Standard Java exceptions when appropriate |
| 97 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException("Invalid parameter: ..."); |
| 98 | +thrownewIllegalStateException("Cannot perform action: ..."); |
| 99 | +thrownewNoSuchElementException("Element not found: ..."); |
| 100 | + |
| 101 | +// ❌ Avoid - Bare RuntimeException |
| 102 | +thrownewRuntimeException(e);// Use specific exception type! |
| 103 | +thrownewRuntimeException("Something failed");// Use NostrProtocolException or other domain exception |
| 104 | +``` |
| 105 | + |
| 106 | +###Domain Exception Usage Guide |
| 107 | + |
| 108 | +| Exception Type| When to Use| Example| |
| 109 | +|----------------|-------------|---------| |
| 110 | +|`NostrProtocolException`| NIP violations, invalid events/messages| Invalid event structure, missing required tags| |
| 111 | +|`NostrCryptoException`| Signing, verification, encryption failures| Failed to sign event, invalid signature| |
| 112 | +|`NostrEncodingException`| JSON, Bech32, hex encoding/decoding errors| Invalid JSON, malformed Bech32| |
| 113 | +|`NostrNetworkException`| Relay communication, timeouts, connection errors| Connection timeout, relay rejected event| |
| 114 | +|`IllegalArgumentException`| Invalid method parameters| Null parameter, out of range value| |
| 115 | +|`IllegalStateException`| Object state prevents operation| Event not signed, identity not set| |
| 116 | +|`NoSuchElementException`| Expected element not found| Tag not found, subscription not found| |
| 117 | + |
| 118 | +--- |
| 119 | + |
| 120 | +##Context Inclusion |
| 121 | + |
| 122 | +###Include Relevant Context Values |
| 123 | + |
| 124 | +**Good examples:** |
| 125 | +```java |
| 126 | +// Event ID |
| 127 | +thrownewNostrCryptoException("Failed to sign event [id="+ event.getId()+"]: private key is null"); |
| 128 | + |
| 129 | +// Kind value |
| 130 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException("Invalid event kind ["+ kind+"]: must be between 0 and 65535"); |
| 131 | + |
| 132 | +// Tag type |
| 133 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException("Invalid tag type: expected"+ expectedType+", got"+ actualType); |
| 134 | + |
| 135 | +// Relay URL |
| 136 | +thrownewNostrNetworkException("Failed to connect to relay ["+ relay.getUrl()+"]:"+ cause); |
| 137 | + |
| 138 | +// Field name |
| 139 | +thrownewNostrProtocolException("Invalid event: missing required field '"+ fieldName+"'"); |
| 140 | +``` |
| 141 | + |
| 142 | +###Use String.format() for Complex Messages |
| 143 | + |
| 144 | +```java |
| 145 | +// ✅ Good - Readable with String.format |
| 146 | +thrownewNostrCryptoException( |
| 147 | +String.format("Failed to sign event [id=%s, kind=%d]: %s", |
| 148 | + event.getId(), event.getKind(), reason) |
| 149 | +); |
| 150 | + |
| 151 | +// ⚠️ Okay - String concatenation for simple messages |
| 152 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException("Invalid kind:"+ kind); |
| 153 | +``` |
| 154 | + |
| 155 | +--- |
| 156 | + |
| 157 | +##Cause Chain Preservation |
| 158 | + |
| 159 | +**Always preserve the original exception as the cause:** |
| 160 | + |
| 161 | +```java |
| 162 | +// ✅ Good - Preserve cause |
| 163 | +try { |
| 164 | + mapper.writeValueAsString(event); |
| 165 | +}catch (JsonProcessingException e) { |
| 166 | +thrownewEventEncodingException("Failed to encode event message", e); |
| 167 | +} |
| 168 | + |
| 169 | +// ❌ Bad - Lost stack trace |
| 170 | +try { |
| 171 | + mapper.writeValueAsString(event); |
| 172 | +}catch (JsonProcessingException e) { |
| 173 | +thrownewEventEncodingException("Failed to encode event message");// Cause lost! |
| 174 | +} |
| 175 | + |
| 176 | +// ❌ Bad - No context |
| 177 | +try { |
| 178 | + mapper.writeValueAsString(event); |
| 179 | +}catch (JsonProcessingException e) { |
| 180 | +thrownewRuntimeException(e);// What operation failed? |
| 181 | +} |
| 182 | +``` |
| 183 | + |
| 184 | +--- |
| 185 | + |
| 186 | +##Common Patterns by Module |
| 187 | + |
| 188 | +###Event Validation (nostr-java-event) |
| 189 | + |
| 190 | +```java |
| 191 | +// Required field validation |
| 192 | +if (content==null) { |
| 193 | +thrownewNostrProtocolException("Invalid event: missing required field 'content'"); |
| 194 | +} |
| 195 | + |
| 196 | +// Kind range validation |
| 197 | +if (kind<0|| kind>65535) { |
| 198 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException("Invalid event kind ["+ kind+"]: must be between 0 and 65535"); |
| 199 | +} |
| 200 | + |
| 201 | +// Signature validation |
| 202 | +if (!event.verify()) { |
| 203 | +thrownewNostrCryptoException("Failed to verify event [id="+ event.getId()+"]: invalid signature"); |
| 204 | +} |
| 205 | +``` |
| 206 | + |
| 207 | +###Encoding/Decoding (nostr-java-event) |
| 208 | + |
| 209 | +```java |
| 210 | +// JSON encoding |
| 211 | +try { |
| 212 | +return mapper.writeValueAsString(message); |
| 213 | +}catch (JsonProcessingException e) { |
| 214 | +thrownewEventEncodingException("Failed to encode"+ messageType+" message", e); |
| 215 | +} |
| 216 | + |
| 217 | +// Bech32 decoding |
| 218 | +try { |
| 219 | +returnBech32.decode(bech32String); |
| 220 | +}catch (Exception e) { |
| 221 | +thrownewNostrEncodingException("Failed to decode Bech32 string ["+ bech32String+"]", e); |
| 222 | +} |
| 223 | +``` |
| 224 | + |
| 225 | +###API Operations (nostr-java-api) |
| 226 | + |
| 227 | +```java |
| 228 | +// State preconditions |
| 229 | +if (sender==null) { |
| 230 | +thrownewIllegalStateException("Cannot create event: sender identity is required"); |
| 231 | +} |
| 232 | + |
| 233 | +// Type checking |
| 234 | +if (!(taginstanceofRelaysTag)) { |
| 235 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException( |
| 236 | +"Invalid tag type: expected RelaysTag, got"+ tag.getClass().getSimpleName() |
| 237 | + ); |
| 238 | +} |
| 239 | + |
| 240 | +// Event type validation |
| 241 | +if (event.getKind()!=Kind.CHANNEL_CREATE.getValue()) { |
| 242 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException( |
| 243 | +"Invalid event: expected kind"+Kind.CHANNEL_CREATE+", got"+ event.getKind() |
| 244 | + ); |
| 245 | +} |
| 246 | +``` |
| 247 | + |
| 248 | +--- |
| 249 | + |
| 250 | +##Migration Examples |
| 251 | + |
| 252 | +###Before → After Examples |
| 253 | + |
| 254 | +####Example 1: Generic RuntimeException |
| 255 | +```java |
| 256 | +// ❌ Before |
| 257 | +thrownewRuntimeException(e); |
| 258 | + |
| 259 | +// ✅ After |
| 260 | +thrownewNostrEncodingException("Failed to serialize event", e); |
| 261 | +``` |
| 262 | + |
| 263 | +####Example 2: Vague Message |
| 264 | +```java |
| 265 | +// ❌ Before |
| 266 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException("The event is not a channel creation event"); |
| 267 | + |
| 268 | +// ✅ After |
| 269 | +thrownewIllegalArgumentException( |
| 270 | +"Invalid event: expected kind"+Kind.CHANNEL_CREATE+", got"+ event.getKind() |
| 271 | +); |
| 272 | +``` |
| 273 | + |
| 274 | +####Example 3: Missing Context |
| 275 | +```java |
| 276 | +// ❌ Before |
| 277 | +thrownewIllegalStateException("Sender identity is required for zap operations"); |
| 278 | + |
| 279 | +// ✅ After |
| 280 | +thrownewIllegalStateException("Cannot create zap request: sender identity is required"); |
| 281 | +``` |
| 282 | + |
| 283 | +####Example 4: No Cause Preservation |
| 284 | +```java |
| 285 | +// ❌ Before |
| 286 | +try { |
| 287 | + algorithm.sign(data); |
| 288 | +}catch (Exception e) { |
| 289 | +thrownewRuntimeException("Signing failed"); |
| 290 | +} |
| 291 | + |
| 292 | +// ✅ After |
| 293 | +try { |
| 294 | + algorithm.sign(data); |
| 295 | +}catch (Exception e) { |
| 296 | +thrownewNostrCryptoException("Failed to sign event [id="+ eventId+"]:"+ e.getMessage(), e); |
| 297 | +} |
| 298 | +``` |
| 299 | + |
| 300 | +--- |
| 301 | + |
| 302 | +##Audit Checklist |
| 303 | + |
| 304 | +When reviewing exception throws: |
| 305 | + |
| 306 | +-[ ]**Type:** Is a domain exception used? (NostrProtocolException, NostrCryptoException, etc.) |
| 307 | +-[ ]**Format:** Does it follow a standard pattern? (Failed to.., Invalid.., Cannot..) |
| 308 | +-[ ]**Context:** Are relevant values included? (IDs, kinds, types, URLs) |
| 309 | +-[ ]**Cause:** Is the original exception preserved in the chain? |
| 310 | +-[ ]**Actionable:** Can a developer understand what went wrong and how to fix it? |
| 311 | + |
| 312 | +--- |
| 313 | + |
| 314 | +##Statistics |
| 315 | + |
| 316 | +**Current Status (as of 2025-10-07):** |
| 317 | +- Total exception throws: 209 |
| 318 | +- Following standard patterns:~85% (estimated) |
| 319 | +- Need improvement:~15% (bare RuntimeException, vague messages, missing context) |
| 320 | + |
| 321 | +**Priority Areas for Improvement:** |
| 322 | +1. Replace bare`throw new RuntimeException(e)` with domain exceptions |
| 323 | +2. Standardize validation messages to use "Invalid {entity}: {reason}" format |
| 324 | +3. Add "Cannot {action}" prefix to IllegalStateException messages |
| 325 | +4. Include context values (event IDs, kinds, types) where missing |
| 326 | + |
| 327 | +--- |
| 328 | + |
| 329 | +**Last Updated:** 2025-10-07 |
| 330 | +**Status:** Standards defined, gradual adoption recommended |
| 331 | +**Enforcement:** Code review + IDE inspections |