error-handling-patterns

Error handling patterns provide structured approaches like typed error hierarchies, exceptions versus result types, and retry strategies. This Skill covers cross-language implementations in Python, TypeScript, Rust, and Go, enabling you to design consistent error handling regardless of your tech stack.

A circuit breaker is a fault-tolerance pattern that stops requests to failing services, preventing cascading failures in distributed systems. Use it when integrating external APIs or services to protect downstream systems and improve resilience during outages.

Exponential backoff retries gradually increase wait time between failed requests, reducing load on struggling services. This Skill provides practical retry patterns and code examples to implement backoff strategies that improve API reliability without overwhelming systems.

Yes. These error-handling patterns apply to API development, data processing pipelines, and distributed systems. They enforce clear error messages, typed hierarchies, and reusable patterns that improve failure recovery across different architectural contexts.

Exceptions use control flow for error signaling, while result types return values representing success or failure. This Skill compares both approaches across languages, helping you choose the pattern that best fits your codebase and team conventions.

Document your error taxonomy—the categories, messages, and handling rules specific to your system—and share guidelines during development. This Skill helps you establish reusable error patterns and documentation practices for consistent team implementation.