[ILUG] Dept of utterly useless error messages

[Timothy Murphy]

On Tuesday 16 May 2006 14:43, you wrote:

> > May 16 13:46:50 alfred snmpd[2324]: netsnmp_assert index == tmp failed
> > if-mib/data_access/interface.c:468 _access_interface
> > _entry_save_name()
> >
> > Linux error messages really are ubelievably bad.
...
> > How could any sane person write a program which produces the above
> > message?
>
> It's an excellent error message for the programmer, which is why the
> programmer put it in the code. The author(s) of snmpd should be able
> to shed some light on it.

Are error messages private epistles from programmers to themselves?

In my opinion, any error message should at least hint
at how you can correct it.

Windows error messages usually end up telling you 
to run a wizard of some kind.
This never works, but at least makes you think someone is trying to help.
[Admittedly, the Windows wizard invariably ends by telling you 
that the device is working perfectly, which is frustrating.]



-- 
Timothy Murphy  
e-mail (<80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland