start-testing
start-testing copied to clipboard
Published
20 hours ago •
dialex
dialex
Logging + Error handling
Every error is an obstacle that gets in the way of what users are trying to do. A reliable system detects unexpected or unwanted events, tries to gracefully recover from them, and finally warns the user about it.
Think carefully about the message, ie. what caused it and who will read it. A good error message helps the user solve the problem and move on. An unhelpful message can mean the difference between continuing or giving up.
- Find the right tone
- 👎 Avoid being too technical or detailed
- 👍 Be positive without sounding goofy
- Explain what happened and why
- 👎 You're ineligible for this offer
- 👍 You've taken a trial before, so you're not eligible for this offer
- Suggest a next step
- 👎 App is out of date
- 👍 To keep using the app, download the latest version here
Notice that the "user" can be a developer or someone from the customer support.
-- The Art of the Error Message