errname

Checks that sentinel errors are prefixed with the Err and error types are suffixed with the Error.

Installation & usage

$ go install github.com/Antonboom/errname@latest
$ errname ./...

Motivation

The convention states that

Error types end in "Error" and error variables start with "Err" or "err".

This can be found in the standard Go library:

type AddrError struct{ /* ... */ }
type DecodeError struct{ /*...*/ }
type NoMatchingVersionError struct{ /*...*/ }
type nothingWrittenError struct{ /*...*/ }
type pasteIndicatorError struct{ /*...*/ }
type wrapError struct{ /*...*/ }

var ErrFinalToken = errors.New("final token")
var ErrRange = errors.New("value out of range")
var ErrUnsupportedAlgorithm = errors.New("x509: cannot verify signature: algorithm unimplemented")
var errMissing = errors.New("cannot find package")
var errNUL = errors.New("unexpected NUL in input")
var errTagValueSpace = errors.New("suspicious space in struct tag value")

Also, this can be found in some articles about errors in Go, for example, here:

At first sight you’d think the naming is a bit weird, but that is because of conventions: types are suffixed with “Error”, while constants are prefixed with “Err”. So we’re just following the conventions here.

This is a good rule to improve the consistency of your code. More uniformity, what could be better?

What if I think it's bullshit?

Just don't enable the linter.

Why not revive/error-naming?

At the time of writing this linter, I was unaware of revive.
errname performs more complex and better checks anyway.

Examples

// Bad.
type DecodeErr struct{} // the type name `DecodeErr` should conform to the `xxxError` format
func (d *DecodeErr) Error() string { /*...*/ }

// Good.
type DecodeError struct{}
func (d *DecodeError) Error() string { /*...*/ }

// Bad.
var InvalidURLErr = errors.New("invalid url") // the variable name `InvalidURLErr` should conform to the `ErrXxx` format 

// Good.
var ErrInvalidURL = errors.New("invalid url") // or errInvalidURL

More examples in tests.

Assumptions (open to contributors 🙏🏻)

Click to expand

• Only package level variables (and constants) are checked.
• Initialisms are ignored. As a result, all identifiers in a single case are ignored:

var EOF = errors.New("end of file")
var eof = errors.New("end of file")
var W = errors.New("single letter error")   // on the developer's conscience
var ovflw = errors.New("value is overflow") // on the developer's conscience

• The naming of error constructors is not checked. But I recommend keeping it consistent:

type DecodeError struct{}
func (d *DecodeError) Error() string { /*...*/ }

// Bad.
func NewErrDecode() error {
    return &DecodeError{}
}

// Good.
func NewDecodeError() error {
    return &DecodeError{}
}

• Package aliases are not supported if the source package and its directory differ in name.

• Nested error types are not supported

type timeoutErr struct { // no warning from the linter :(
    error
}

type DeadlineErr struct { //  no warning from the linter :(
    timeoutErr
}

• Not supported sentinel errors that were created by an external type or func (except errors/fmt) and that do not have an explicit type error:

var ErrUnsupported = new(net.AddrError)
var ErrSupported error = new(net.AddrError)

• Linter only checks the correctness of the suffix and prefix and their uniqueness. The logical meaning of the identifier remains on the developer's conscience:

// Bad.
var ErrExecErr = errors.New("exec query error")

// Good.
var ErrExecQuery = errors.New("exec query error")
var ErrGdfjnskjdfskf = errors.New("strange error") // on the developer's conscience

• For error types over array/slice the Errors suffix is expected:

// Bad.
type ValidationErrs []string
func (ve ValidationErrs) Error() string { /*...*/ }

// Good.
type ValidationErrors []string
func (ve ValidationErrors) Error() string { /*...*/ }

Large projects examples

Golang source code

$ errname ./src/...
go/src/runtime/error.go:72:6: the type name `errorString` should conform to the `xxxError` format
go/src/runtime/error.go:80:6: the type name `errorAddressString` should conform to the `xxxError` format
go/src/runtime/panic.go:180:5: the variable name `shiftError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/runtime/panic.go:187:5: the variable name `divideError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/runtime/panic.go:194:5: the variable name `overflowError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/runtime/panic.go:201:5: the variable name `floatError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/runtime/panic.go:208:5: the variable name `memoryError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/errors/errors.go:63:6: the type name `errorString` should conform to the `xxxError` format
go/src/math/bits/bits_errors.go:12:5: the variable name `overflowError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/math/bits/bits_errors.go:15:5: the variable name `divideError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/syscall/syscall_unix.go:114:6: the type name `Errno` should conform to the `XxxError` format
go/src/time/format.go:394:5: the variable name `atoiError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/time/zoneinfo_read.go:110:5: the variable name `badData` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/io/fs/walk.go:15:5: the variable name `SkipDir` should conform to the `ErrXxx` format
go/src/fmt/scan.go:465:5: the variable name `complexError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/fmt/scan.go:466:5: the variable name `boolError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/archive/tar/common.go:39:6: the type name `headerError` should conform to the `xxxError` format
go/src/context/context.go:157:5: the variable name `Canceled` should conform to the `ErrXxx` format
go/src/context/context.go:161:5: the variable name `DeadlineExceeded` should conform to the `ErrXxx` format
go/src/math/big/float.go:77:6: the type name `ErrNaN` should conform to the `XxxError` format
go/src/crypto/x509/internal/macos/security.go:39:6: the type name `OSStatus` should conform to the `XxxError` format
go/src/net/cgo_unix.go:34:6: the type name `addrinfoErrno` should conform to the `xxxError` format
go/src/crypto/x509/x509.go:875:6: the type name `UnhandledCriticalExtension` should conform to the `XxxError` format
go/src/crypto/x509/pem_decrypt.go:110:5: the variable name `IncorrectPasswordError` should conform to the `ErrXxx` format
go/src/crypto/x509/root.go:18:2: the variable name `systemRootsErr` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:18:2: the variable name `alertCloseNotify` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:19:2: the variable name `alertUnexpectedMessage` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:20:2: the variable name `alertBadRecordMAC` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:21:2: the variable name `alertDecryptionFailed` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:22:2: the variable name `alertRecordOverflow` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:23:2: the variable name `alertDecompressionFailure` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:24:2: the variable name `alertHandshakeFailure` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:25:2: the variable name `alertBadCertificate` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:26:2: the variable name `alertUnsupportedCertificate` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:27:2: the variable name `alertCertificateRevoked` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:28:2: the variable name `alertCertificateExpired` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:29:2: the variable name `alertCertificateUnknown` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:30:2: the variable name `alertIllegalParameter` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:31:2: the variable name `alertUnknownCA` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:32:2: the variable name `alertAccessDenied` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:33:2: the variable name `alertDecodeError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:34:2: the variable name `alertDecryptError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:35:2: the variable name `alertExportRestriction` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:36:2: the variable name `alertProtocolVersion` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:37:2: the variable name `alertInsufficientSecurity` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:38:2: the variable name `alertInternalError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:39:2: the variable name `alertInappropriateFallback` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:40:2: the variable name `alertUserCanceled` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:41:2: the variable name `alertNoRenegotiation` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:42:2: the variable name `alertMissingExtension` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:43:2: the variable name `alertUnsupportedExtension` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:44:2: the variable name `alertCertificateUnobtainable` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:45:2: the variable name `alertUnrecognizedName` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:46:2: the variable name `alertBadCertificateStatusResponse` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:47:2: the variable name `alertBadCertificateHashValue` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:48:2: the variable name `alertUnknownPSKIdentity` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:49:2: the variable name `alertCertificateRequired` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/alert.go:50:2: the variable name `alertNoApplicationProtocol` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/path/filepath/path.go:337:5: the variable name `SkipDir` should conform to the `ErrXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:1016:5: the variable name `http2errReadEmpty` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:1212:2: the variable name `http2errMixPseudoHeaderTypes` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:1213:2: the variable name `http2errPseudoAfterRegular` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:1712:5: the variable name `http2ErrFrameTooLarge` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:1866:2: the variable name `http2errStreamID` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:1867:2: the variable name `http2errDepStreamID` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:1868:2: the variable name `http2errPadLength` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:1869:2: the variable name `http2errPadBytes` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:3400:5: the variable name `http2errTimeout` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:3519:5: the variable name `http2errClosedPipeWrite` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:3629:2: the variable name `http2errClientDisconnected` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:3630:2: the variable name `http2errClosedBody` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:3631:2: the variable name `http2errHandlerComplete` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:3632:2: the variable name `http2errStreamClosed` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:4526:5: the variable name `http2errPrefaceTimeout` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:4746:5: the variable name `http2errHandlerPanicked` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:6287:2: the variable name `http2ErrRecursivePush` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:6288:2: the variable name `http2ErrPushLimitReached` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:6930:5: the variable name `http2ErrNoCachedConn` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:7016:2: the variable name `http2errClientConnClosed` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:7017:2: the variable name `http2errClientConnUnusable` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:7018:2: the variable name `http2errClientConnGotGoAway` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:7471:5: the variable name `http2errRequestCanceled` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:7803:2: the variable name `http2errStopReqBodyWrite` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:7806:2: the variable name `http2errStopReqBodyWriteAndCancel` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:7808:2: the variable name `http2errReqBodyTooLong` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:8667:5: the variable name `http2errClosedResponseBody` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:9021:2: the variable name `http2errResponseHeaderListSize` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/h2_bundle.go:9022:2: the variable name `http2errRequestHeaderListSize` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/go/scanner/errors.go:37:6: the type name `ErrorList` should conform to the `XxxError` format
go/src/html/template/template.go:34:5: the variable name `escapeOK` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/image/png/reader.go:128:5: the variable name `chunkOrderError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/bufio/scan_test.go:308:5: the variable name `testError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/crypto/tls/handshake_client_test.go:1993:5: the variable name `brokenConnErr` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/database/sql/sql_test.go:4281:5: the variable name `pingError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/errors/wrap_test.go:216:6: the type name `errorT` should conform to the `xxxError` format
go/src/errors/wrap_test.go:229:6: the type name `errorUncomparable` should conform to the `xxxError` format
go/src/fmt/errors_test.go:75:6: the type name `errString` should conform to the `xxxError` format
go/src/html/template/exec_test.go:233:5: the variable name `myError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/html/template/exec_test.go:1313:5: the variable name `alwaysError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/net/http/transport_test.go:6280:5: the variable name `timeoutProtoErr` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/text/template/exec_test.go:229:5: the variable name `myError` should conform to the `errXxx` format
go/src/text/template/exec_test.go:1305:5: the variable name `alwaysError` should conform to the `errXxx` format

Traefik

$ errname./...
# no issues

Terraform

$ errname./...
terraform/internal/getmodules/file_detector.go:59:6: the type name `MaybeRelativePathErr` should conform to the `XxxError` format
terraform/internal/getproviders/errors.go:13:6: the type name `ErrHostNoProviders` should conform to the `XxxError` format
terraform/internal/getproviders/errors.go:39:6: the type name `ErrHostUnreachable` should conform to the `XxxError` format
terraform/internal/getproviders/errors.go:57:6: the type name `ErrUnauthorized` should conform to the `XxxError` format
terraform/internal/getproviders/errors.go:80:6: the type name `ErrProviderNotFound` should conform to the `XxxError` format
terraform/internal/getproviders/errors.go:104:6: the type name `ErrRegistryProviderNotKnown` should conform to the `XxxError` format
terraform/internal/getproviders/errors.go:123:6: the type name `ErrPlatformNotSupported` should conform to the `XxxError` format
terraform/internal/getproviders/errors.go:159:6: the type name `ErrProtocolNotSupported` should conform to the `XxxError` format
terraform/internal/getproviders/errors.go:181:6: the type name `ErrQueryFailed` should conform to the `XxxError` format
terraform/internal/getproviders/errors.go:219:6: the type name `ErrRequestCanceled` should conform to the `XxxError` format
terraform/internal/registry/errors.go:10:6: the type name `errModuleNotFound` should conform to the `xxxError` format
terraform/internal/backend/remote-state/consul/client.go:36:5: the variable name `lostLockErr` should conform to the `errXxx` format
terraform/internal/command/cliconfig/credentials.go:408:6: the type name `ErrUnwritableHostCredentials` should conform to the `XxxError` format