In the last days before Pycon08 we hastily scripted support for error sharing (based on bug.gd) for use inside the Python interpreter. This is a bit of a hint of some of our long-term plans with our technology. You should give it a whirl and let us know what you think.

Install

It’s in the Python Cheese Shop, so you can install it pretty easily:

easy_install bug.gd

(If you don’t have easy_install, you really should get it.)

After finishing the installation steps (it requires you to run error_help_config.py from your scripts directory), the error_help tool is now accessible from the interactive interpreter whenever you need.

Using error_help()

Whenever you run into an exception in the interactive interpreter, you can type error_help() and you’ll find everyone else who ran into that same error and (hopefully) how they solved it.

Here’s an example session:

>>> 0/0
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ZeroDivisionError: integer division or modulo by zero
>>> error_help()
========== 1 of 8 ==========
Error: Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ZeroDivisionError: integer division or modulo by zero

Solution: I divided by zero as a test. Maybe you did the same thing?
The trick is not to divide by zero!
========== 2 of 8 ==========
Error: Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ImportError: No module named shinynewmodule

Solution: (Example error and solutions)
I didn't have the shinynewmodule installed.
You can install it via fake_easy_install shinynewmodule

As people use this feature, in a couple of days, they’ll receive email asking how they worked around the error. Their solution will then be visible for every future Pythonista that runs into the problem. If everyone gives back to the community, mysterious errors will be a thing of the past.

If you wanted to see some of the other results from the search, for example the 7th result, you’d just use:

error_help(7)

Anyway, we’ve love to hear your feedback on this quick proof of concept. Keep your eye out for more “formal” versions of this feature in other applications.

We’re extremely pleased that bug.gd has been honored as one of PC World magazine’s 101 Fantastic Freebies for their May 2008 issue. Each year they pick their favorite free services and software and spread the word.

A quick quote they sent our way:

“Each download or service on the list impressed the editors with its functionality and usability,” said Harry McCracken, VP/editor in chief of PC World. “These are some of the most well-crafted services available – congratulations to bug.gd!”

Thanks to everyone for spreading the word about bug.gd!

We plan to announce some new bug fixes and features tomorrow. Some of them are already live and hard to miss, but we’ll tell you more about them soon.