Comments on: The importance of checking your error messages – an example from Delta http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages Web 2 and Social Media News and Reviews Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:27:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Kyle J http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12150 Kyle J Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12150 a lot more public opinion on programming a lot more public opinion on programming

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12151 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12151 > Use regardless. haha ha ha ha ha what? > Use regardless.

haha ha ha ha ha

what?

]]> By: SirNuke http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12152 SirNuke Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12152 'null', in this case, more likely means the site's javascript code set one of the document's elements to a null object. A guess off the top of my head about the source is they are using AJAX, and an error in the client/server communication results in a null object (an object that would otherwise contain the html code for the next step in claiming your award). An error, but not an error message. Startup's have the upper hand with fixing bugs. Less bureaucracy, more dedicated staff, and so on. Irregardless of the type of company, 6 months is far too long to fix the problem. ‘null’, in this case, more likely means the site’s javascript code set one of the document’s elements to a null object. A guess off the top of my head about the source is they are using AJAX, and an error in the client/server communication results in a null object (an object that would otherwise contain the html code for the next step in claiming your award). An error, but not an error message.

Startup’s have the upper hand with fixing bugs. Less bureaucracy, more dedicated staff, and so on.

Irregardless of the type of company, 6 months is far too long to fix the problem.

]]> By: eye-roller http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12154 eye-roller Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12154 Irregardless?? ROFL... Irregardless??

ROFL…

]]> By: Matthew Harwood http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12155 Matthew Harwood Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12155 I remember a few years back, seeing "Ooops, something fecked up big time. Call 911." on either softpedia, or fileforum (I forget which one). Was good to see :-D I remember a few years back, seeing “Ooops, something fecked up big time. Call 911.” on either softpedia, or fileforum (I forget which one). Was good to see :-D

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12156 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12156 "irregardless" is not a legitimate word, “irregardless” is not a legitimate word,

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12157 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12157 Actually, we use irregardless quite a lot in London :| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irregardless Actually, we use irregardless quite a lot in London :| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irregardless

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12158 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12158 Ignorance in practice is still ignorance. Use regardless. Ignorance in practice is still ignorance.

Use regardless.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12160 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12160 "Actually, we use irregardless quite a lot in London" If lots of people in my hometown did something clearly wrong, I don't think I'd brag about it... “Actually, we use irregardless quite a lot in London”

If lots of people in my hometown did something clearly wrong, I don’t think I’d brag about it…

]]> By: Caliban10 http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12161 Caliban10 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12161 Some error messages I've seen in Eudora: "Nicknames in Eudora are limited to 30 characters. This nickname you've typed is...carry the two, subtract the square of Oklahoma...well it's too long." for dialog box with buttons: Use Old and Rebuild "Really, you should choose Rebuild. We only leave 'Use Old' in for geeks. This most likely reason for the toc being out of date is that your machine crashed during a mail transfer, and you might LOSE MAIL if you don't hit 'Rebuild'." Some error messages I’ve seen in Eudora:

“Nicknames in Eudora are limited to 30 characters. This nickname you’ve typed is…carry the two, subtract the square of Oklahoma…well it’s too long.”

for dialog box with buttons: Use Old and Rebuild
“Really, you should choose Rebuild.
We only leave ‘Use Old’ in for geeks. This most likely reason for the toc being out of date is that your machine crashed during a mail transfer, and you might LOSE MAIL if you don’t hit ‘Rebuild’.”

]]> By: Blah http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12162 Blah Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12162 Have you ever bothered to find out where new words come from and how they slowly come in to general acceptance? Have you ever bothered to find out where new words come from and how they slowly come in to general acceptance?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12163 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12163 typical MORONs arguing about grammer rather than the problem originally states. Regardless of why the 'null' was generated, it is an error if it can be seen by folks browsing the page. typical MORONs arguing about grammer rather than the problem originally states.

Regardless of why the ‘null’ was generated, it is an error if it can be seen by folks browsing the page.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12164 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12164 That's "grammar" genius. That’s “grammar” genius.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12165 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12165 my favorite error message (when an upload fails to my ftp server) ...And our attempt to create, rename or upload a file or directory has failed. Why? And what can be done about it? Friend, these are deep issues. Perhaps this file was never meant to exist on this server, and the Powers That Be have sent it to /dev/null. Many a worthy file has found its end there. However, the most probable reason is that this script does not have permission from the server to create new files or directories in the intended location. As to what can be done, well... if you are comfortable using Telnet, you should telnet to this site and type the following: chmod 777 /t/harvey/u/pinewood/admin/CVS/ Alternately, if you use CuteFTP or WS_FTP, make this directory writable from your FTP client. Understand that sometimes, things just fail. People fail. Governemnts fail. And yes, CGI scripts fail. You could always read the documentation, or you could write to us to report a possible bug. my favorite error message (when an upload fails to my ftp server)

…And our attempt to create, rename or upload a file or directory
has failed.

Why? And what can be done about it?

Friend, these are deep issues. Perhaps this file was never meant to exist on this server, and the Powers That Be have sent it to /dev/null. Many a worthy file has found its end there.

However, the most probable reason is that this script does not have permission from the server to create new files or directories in the intended location.

As to what can be done, well… if you are comfortable using Telnet, you should telnet to this site and type the following:

chmod 777 /t/harvey/u/pinewood/admin/CVS/

Alternately, if you use CuteFTP or WS_FTP, make this directory
writable from your FTP client.

Understand that sometimes, things just fail. People fail. Governemnts fail. And yes, CGI scripts fail. You could always read the documentation, or you could write to us to report a possible bug.

]]> By: Mike http://www.centernetworks.com/the-importance-of-checking-your-error-messages#comment-12166 Mike Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-12166 The reason bigger companies take longer to fix stuff is <ol> <li>They have more problems, a bigger codebase, and less people that understand the codebase in its entirety.</li> <li>Problems usually get prioritized against set criteria. One of which is usually frequency and customer base affected.</li> <li>There is usually more than one hand involved in the fix; peer reviews, QA, live code change approvals, rollout plans etc</li> </ol> A small startup would look at any problem as serious, assign a single dedicated resource to it who knows the code well and he/she would be responsible for the whole process. I've worked both sides of the fence so I know how much red tape can slow you down. The reason bigger companies take longer to fix stuff is

  1. They have more problems, a bigger codebase, and less people that understand the codebase in its entirety.
  2. Problems usually get prioritized against set criteria. One of which is usually frequency and customer base affected.
  3. There is usually more than one hand involved in the fix; peer reviews, QA, live code change approvals, rollout plans etc

A small startup would look at any problem as serious, assign a single dedicated resource to it who knows the code well and he/she would be responsible for the whole process.

I’ve worked both sides of the fence so I know how much red tape can slow you down.

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