Your error messages are UX. Treat them like it. 😭➡️😊
Bad Error Messages: ❌ "Something went wrong" ❌ "Error 500" ❌ "Invalid input" ❌ "Cannot process request" ❌ "NULL POINTER EXCEPTION"
Good Error Messages: ✅ What happened: "User authentication failed" ✅ Why it happened: "Password doesn't match our records" ✅ What to do next: "Try again or reset your password"
The 3W Formula: 🔹 What went wrong (context) 🔹 Why it happened (root cause) 🔹 What to do next (actionable solution)
Examples That Don't Suck:
🔸 API Error: "Failed to create user account. Email 'john@example.com' is already registered. Try logging in instead or use a different email."
🔸 Validation Error: "Password must be at least 8 characters and include one number. Your password 'secret' is too short and missing numbers."
🔸 Network Error: "Can't connect to payment service. This might be temporary. Try again in a few minutes or contact support if the problem persists."
Developer-Specific Tips: • Include error codes for logging/tracking • Provide stack traces in development only • Link to documentation when possible • Use consistent error response format
Good error messages turn frustration into understanding. They're the difference between a 5-minute fix and a 2-hour debugging session.
Your future self will thank you. 🙏