rust-error-handling

Explain Rust error handling with anyhow and thiserror crates.

28|6|Updated Dec 27, 2025

Search Tags:#debugging #error handling #programming #rust #thiserror #anyhow

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npx skills add https://github.com/johnlindquist/script-kit-next --skill rust-error-handling-johnlindquist

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Skill: rust-error-handling
Source: https://github.com/johnlindquist/script-kit-next/tree/main/.opencode/skill/rust-error-handling
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/johnlindquist/script-kit-next --skill rust-error-handling-johnlindquist

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill provides a comprehensive guide to robust error handling in Rust, enabling developers to write more reliable and maintainable code by leveraging the anyhow and thiserror crates.

Core Features & Use Cases

Structured Error Types: Learn to define custom, matchable error enums using thiserror for library and domain-specific errors.
Flexible Application Errors: Understand how to use anyhow for convenient, context-rich error handling in application code.
Contextual Error Messages: Master adding context to errors using .context() and .with_context() for better debugging.
Use Case: When building a complex Rust application, you need to differentiate between configuration errors, network issues, and parsing failures. This Skill shows you how to implement distinct error types for each scenario and provide clear, actionable messages to the user.

Quick Start

Learn how to use the anyhow crate to return a Result with added context from a function that reads a file.

Frequently Asked Questions about rust-error-handling

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I handle errors in Rust using anyhow and thiserror?▼

To handle errors in Rust, use `anyhow` for application-level error management and `thiserror` for library-level structured error enums. This combination provides flexible context-rich errors and distinct matchable domain-specific error types.

When should I use thiserror vs anyhow in my Rust project?▼

Use `thiserror` when building libraries to define custom, matchable error enums for structured domain errors. Use `anyhow` in application code for convenient, context-rich error handling where you don't need to programmatically match every error variant.

What is the best way to add context to Rust errors?▼

The best way to add context to Rust errors is by using `.context()` and `.with_context()` methods from the `anyhow` crate. This attaches descriptive information to errors during propagation, significantly improving debugging and traceability.

Why does unwrapping cause problems in Rust error handling?▼

Unwrapping causes problems because it causes the program to panic instead of gracefully managing the failure. Proper Rust error handling avoids this anti-pattern by returning `Result` types and using context to preserve error details instead of losing them.

How do I create custom error types in Rust?▼

Create custom error types in Rust by defining enums and deriving `thiserror::Error`. This allows you to structure distinct errors for scenarios like configuration or network failures, making them matchable and providing clear, actionable messages.

Can I convert different error types into a single Rust Result?▼

Yes, you can convert different error types into a single `anyhow::Result` in application code. This allows you to seamlessly propagate various underlying errors while attaching context to track exactly where and why the failure occurred.