Install

npm install hint-errors

Usage

Standalone scripts

Add one line to the top of your entry file. The package catches the first uncaught error, shows a hint, and exits.

require("hint-errors");

const a = 10;
a = 20; // TypeError: Assignment to constant variable

When the error is fixed, the script continues normally.

Web servers

For long-running processes, use server mode. The process stays alive after an error so a single bad request doesn't take down the whole server.

require("hint-errors/server");

const http = require("http");

const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
  if (req.url === "/crash") {
    const user = undefined;
    console.log(user.name); // shown but server keeps running
  }
  res.end("ok");
});

server.listen(3000);

What's covered

JavaScript errors

Error	When it happens
TypeError	A value is not of the expected type (e.g. reading a property of undefined)
ReferenceError	A variable that doesn't exist or hasn't been initialized is referenced
SyntaxError	The code contains invalid JavaScript syntax
RangeError	A numeric value is outside the allowed range
URIError	A global URI handling function is used incorrectly
AssertionError	An assertion from the node:assert module fails

Node.js & OS errors

Code	When it happens
ENOENT	File or directory not found
EACCES	Permission denied when accessing a file
EPERM	Operation not permitted, common on Windows
EEXIST	File already exists
EISDIR	Expected a file, got a directory
ENOTDIR	Expected a directory, got a file
ENOTEMPTY	Directory still has contents
EMFILE	Too many files open at once
MODULE_NOT_FOUND	Package not installed or path is wrong
ECONNREFUSED	Target server isn't running
ECONNRESET	Connection dropped by remote host
ETIMEDOUT	Server didn't respond in time
EADDRINUSE	Port is already taken
EADDRNOTAVAIL	Address not available on this machine
EPIPE	Writing to an already-closed connection
EAI_AGAIN	DNS lookup failed (temporary failure)
EHOSTUNREACH	No route to the target host

Async scenarios

• Promise rejected with no .catch()
• Unhandled rejection inside async/await
• Missing await causing undefined reads

Maintainers

• @ZLouisMiguel