How Can We Achieve Generic Error Handling in Go Without Sacrificing Type Safety?

Generic Error Handling with Interfaces: A Dilemma

In Go, generic programming remains elusive, leading developers to seek out alternatives. One common issue arises when dealing with functions returning both a result and an error.

The Problem:

The code snippet below attempts to define a generic function P that panics on any error:

<code class="go">func P(any interface{}, err error) (interface{}) {
    if err != nil {
        panic("error: " + err.Error())
    }
    return any
}</code>

However, using any results in type information being lost. This can be problematic, especially when calling library functions.

Exploring Solutions:

One approach is to manually generate tailored versions of the P function for each specific type you need to handle. This can be achieved using the go generate command:

<code class="go">//go:generate genny -in=./template.go -out=./p_gen.go gen "anytype,error,string"</code>

This will generate specialized P functions for the specified types.

Another solution involves using go-lint tools, such as golangci-lint, to enforce coding standards and catch potential errors related to type information loss.

Conclusion:

While Go lacks explicit generic syntax, there are ways to simulate generic behavior using alternative constructs. However, it's crucial to be aware of the potential caveats and limitations involved, such as the loss of type information when using interface{}, and adapt your code accordingly.

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