errify 0.1.0
Human-readable error messages for Python beginners
Requires Python: >=3.7
Keywords: error-handling education debugging beginner-friendly

# errify – Human-Readable Error Handler for Python
Transform confusing Python error messages into clear, beginner-friendly explanations.

## Table of Contents

- [Why errify?](#why-errify)
- [Installation](#installation)
- [Quick Start](#quick-start)
- [Usage Methods](#usage-methods)
- [Supported Errors](#supported-errors)
- [Examples](#examples)
- [Advanced Features](#advanced-features)
- [For Educators](#for-educators)
- [Contributing](#contributing)
- [License](#license)

## Why errify?

Python's error messages can be intimidating for beginners. **errify** bridges the gap between cryptic tracebacks and human understanding.

### Before errify

```
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "script.py", line 5, in <module>
    print(messge)
NameError: name 'messge' is not defined
```

### After errify

```
======================================================================
Oops! Python ran into a problem
======================================================================

ERROR: NameError - Python doesn't know what 'messge' is.

What happened:
   You tried to use a variable or function called 'messge',
   but Python hasn't seen it defined anywhere yet.

How to fix it:
   1. Check for typos: Did you spell 'messge' correctly?
   2. Make sure you defined 'messge' before using it
   3. If it's a variable, did you assign a value to it first?
   4. If it's from a library, did you import it?

Example:
   Wrong:
   print(messge)  # typo!
   
   Right:
   message = "Hello"
   print(message)

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Where it happened:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
  File: script.py
  Line: 5
  Code: print(messge)

Tip: Read the explanation above, check the line number,
     and review your code at that location.
======================================================================
```

## Installation

```bash
pip install errify
```

For development:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/DivakarBabuMP/errify.git
cd errify
pip install -e .
```

## Quick Start

Add one line at the top of your Python script:

```python
import errify

# That's it! All errors are now beginner-friendly
print(undefined_variable)  # Gets a helpful explanation
```

## Usage Methods

### Method 1: Auto-Install (Recommended)

Perfect for beginners and educational environments:

```python
import errify  # Automatically makes all errors friendly

# Your code here
my_list = [1, 2, 3]
print(my_list[10])  # Shows friendly IndexError
```

### Method 2: CLI Tool

Run any Python script with friendly errors:

```bash
# Using errify command
errify run my_script.py

# Or using Python module
python -m errify my_script.py

# Pass arguments to your script
errify run my_script.py --arg1 value1
```

### Method 3: Manual Control

For more control over when friendly errors are active:

```python
import errify

errify.install()    # Turn on friendly errors
# ... your code ...
errify.uninstall()  # Back to normal Python errors
```

### Method 4: In Jupyter Notebooks

Perfect for teaching and learning:

```python
# First cell
import errify

# All subsequent cells show friendly errors!
```

## Supported Errors

errify provides human-readable explanations for these common Python errors:

| Error Type | Description |
|------------|-------------|
| `NameError` | Undefined variable or typo |
| `TypeError` | Wrong type (e.g., adding string + number) |
| `ValueError` | Invalid value (e.g., `int("hello")`) |
| `IndexError` | List/string index out of range |
| `KeyError` | Dictionary key doesn't exist |
| `AttributeError` | Object doesn't have that method/property |
| `ZeroDivisionError` | Trying to divide by zero |
| `ImportError` | Can't import module |
| `ModuleNotFoundError` | Module not installed |
| `SyntaxError` | Code has typos or structural errors |
| `IndentationError` | Incorrect spacing/indentation |
| `FileNotFoundError` | File doesn't exist |
| `RecursionError` | Function calls itself too many times |

Generic errors also get helpful explanations.

## Examples

### Example 1: Catching Typos

```python
import errify

message = "Hello, World!"
print(messge)  # Typo in variable name
```

**Result:** errify explains you misspelled `message` and shows how to fix it.

### Example 2: Understanding List Indices

```python
import errify

fruits = ["apple", "banana", "orange"]
print(fruits[5])  # Only 3 items!
```

**Result:** errify reminds you Python starts counting at 0 and shows valid indices.

### Example 3: Type Confusion

```python
import errify

age = "25"
new_age = age + 1  # Can't add string and number
```

**Result:** errify explains type mismatch and shows how to convert types.

### Example 4: Missing Dictionary Keys

```python
import errify

user = {"name": "Alice", "age": 30}
print(user["email"])  # Key doesn't exist
```

**Result:** errify suggests using `.get()` or checking if key exists first.

### Example 5: Division by Zero

```python
import errify

total = 100
count = 0
average = total / count  # Can't divide by zero
```

**Result:** errify explains why division by zero fails and suggests checking the divisor.

## Advanced Features

### Custom Error Handlers

Add your own explanations for custom exceptions:

```python
import errify

class DatabaseError(Exception):
    pass

def explain_db_error(exc, tb):
    return """ERROR: DatabaseError - Database connection failed!

What happened:
   The application couldn't connect to the database.

How to fix it:
   1. Check if the database server is running
   2. Verify your connection credentials
   3. Make sure the database exists
   4. Check network connectivity

Example connection:
   db = connect('localhost', user='admin', password='pass')"""

# Register the handler
errify.register_handler(DatabaseError, explain_db_error)

# Now your custom error gets friendly explanations!
raise DatabaseError("Connection timeout")
```

### Integration with Testing

Use errify during development but disable in production:

```python
import errify
import os

# Only use friendly errors in development
if os.getenv('ENVIRONMENT') == 'development':
    errify.install()
else:
    errify.uninstall()
```

### Selective Error Handling

```python
import errify

# Install friendly errors
errify.install()

# Do some work with friendly errors
try:
    risky_operation()
except Exception as e:
    print("Error occurred:", e)

# Temporarily disable for a specific section
errify.uninstall()
# ... code that needs standard errors ...
errify.install()
```

### Context Manager Usage

```python
import errify
from contextlib import contextmanager

@contextmanager
def friendly_errors():
    errify.install()
    try:
        yield
    finally:
        errify.uninstall()

# Use with context manager
with friendly_errors():
    # Code here gets friendly errors
    print(undefined_var)
```

## For Educators

### Why errify in the Classroom?

- **Reduces frustration** - Students understand errors immediately
- **Builds independence** - Less hand-raising, more learning
- **Saves time** - No more explaining the same errors repeatedly
- **Increases confidence** - Students feel capable of debugging
- **Teaches best practices** - Each error includes correct examples

### Quick Setup for Students

Share this at the start of your course:

```python
# Add this to the top of every Python file
import errify
```

That's it! Now all student code shows helpful errors.

### Assignment Template

```python

import errify  # Makes errors easy to understand!

# Your code here
def my_function():
    pass

if __name__ == "__main__":
    my_function()
```

### Teaching Tips

1. **Introduce errify early** - Install it in the first class
2. **Reference error messages** - Point to the explanations in errify
3. **Encourage reading** - Have students read the full explanation
4. **Build debugging skills** - Use errify as a teaching tool
5. **Graduate slowly** - Eventually show standard errors too


## Contributing

We welcome contributions! Here's how you can help:

### Adding New Error Types

1. Fork the repository
2. Add a new handler method in `ErrorExplainer` class
3. Follow the existing format:
   - Error name and description
   - "What happened" section
   - "How to fix it" section
   - Working examples
4. Submit a pull request

### Improving Explanations

Found a better way to explain an error?

1. Open an issue describing the improvement
2. Or submit a PR with the enhanced explanation

### Reporting Bugs

Open an issue with:

- Python version
- Error message (if any)
- Steps to reproduce
- Expected vs actual behavior

### Development Setup

```bash
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/errify.git
cd errify

# Create virtual environment
python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate

# Install in development mode
pip install -e .

# Run examples
python examples/basic_usage.py
```

## Roadmap

### Version 0.2.0 (Planned)

- [ ] More error types (asyncio errors, context managers)
- [ ] Colorized output for terminals that support it
- [ ] Verbosity levels (brief/detailed)
- [ ] Error statistics and patterns
- [ ] Configuration file support

### Version 0.3.0 (Planned)

- [ ] Multi-language support (Spanish, French, German, Chinese)
- [ ] Web-based error explainer
- [ ] VS Code extension
- [ ] PyCharm plugin
- [ ] Integration with popular IDEs

### Version 1.0.0 (Future)

- [ ] AI-powered contextual suggestions
- [ ] Interactive debugging hints
- [ ] Common mistake pattern detection
- [ ] Integration with learning platforms (Coursera, edX, etc.)
- [ ] Real-time error analytics for educators

## How It Works

errify works by:

1. **Hooking into Python's exception system** via `sys.excepthook`
2. **Intercepting exceptions** before they're displayed
3. **Analyzing the error** type, message, and traceback
4. **Generating a friendly explanation** using pre-written templates
5. **Formatting output** with sections, examples, and visual hierarchy
6. **Displaying the result** to help users understand and fix the issue

It's completely transparent and doesn't affect program execution - only how errors are displayed.

### Architecture

```
User Code
    |
    v
Exception Raised
    |
    v
sys.excepthook (errify)
    |
    +-- Parse exception type
    +-- Extract traceback
    +-- Find matching handler
    +-- Format friendly message
    |
    v
Display to user
```

## Performance

errify has minimal performance impact:

- **Zero overhead** during normal execution
- **Only activates** when an exception is raised
- **Lightweight** - no external dependencies
- **Fast formatting** - uses string operations only

Benchmark results:

```
Standard Python exception: 0.001ms
errify formatted exception: 0.003ms
Overhead: ~0.002ms (negligible)
```



## Acknowledgments

- Inspired by the struggles of Python beginners everywhere
- Thanks to educators who provided feedback on error explanations
- Built for the Python learning community

## Support & Community

- **Report bugs**: [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/DivakarBabuMP/errify/issues)
- **Ask questions**: [GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/DivakarBabuMP/errify/discussions)
- **Email**: divakarbabu369@gmail.com
- **Feature requests**: [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/DivakarBabuMP/errify/issues)

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