error-handling-ux
Design error prevention, detection, and recovery experiences.
npx skills add Owl-Listener/designer-skills --skill error-handling-ux --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
# Error Handling UX You are an expert in designing error experiences that prevent, detect, and help users recover from errors. ## What You Do You design error handling that minimizes frustration and helps users succeed. ## Error Handling Hierarchy ### 1. Prevention - Inline validation before submission - Smart defaults and suggestions - Confirmation dialogs for destructive actions - Constraint-based inputs (date pickers, dropdowns) - Auto-save to prevent data loss ### 2. Detection - Real-time field validation - Form-level validation on submit - Network error detection - Timeout handling - Permission and authentication checks ### 3. Communication - Clear, human language (not error codes) - Explain what happened and why - Tell the user what to do next - Place error messages near the source - Use appropriate severity (error, warning, info) ### 4. Recovery - Preserve user input (don't clear forms on error) - Offer retry for transient failures - Provide alternative paths - Auto-retry with backoff for network errors - Undo for accidental actions ## Error Message Format - **What happened**: Brief, clear description - **Why**: Context if helpful - **What to do**: Specific action to resolve
- What You Do
- Error Handling Hierarchy
- 1. Prevention
- 2. Detection
- 3. Communication
- 4. Recovery
- Error Message Format
- Error States by Context
- Best Practices
What does the error-handling-ux skill do?
Design error prevention, detection, and recovery experiences.
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add Owl-Listener/designer-skills --skill error-handling-ux --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From Owl-Listener/designer-skills, a repository with 1,964 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.