Read the error message

Why have I been given this link?

Someone who is trying to help answer your question will give you this link if you have posted an error log which they believe would let you know the error - if you take the time to read it carefully.

While they could have told you exactly what the problem is, this will not help you as a developer as much as learning to to find and read error messages for yourself. Developing this skill will allow you to find and fix your own problems in future - this is a fundamental skill in software development.

You will get much better help (and respect) if you do this.

Also, it is considered a basic sign of respect towards those who are volunteering their time to help you, for you invest the time to really try to read and look for clues in an error report, before asking for help.

So, what should I do?

• Take your time

• Read the error message(s) from start to finish

• You maybe won't understand all of it - this is normal.

• Make sure you are looking through ALL of it

• Look for clues:

  • keywords,

  • sections of your code

  • names of YOUR files and line numbers of them

  • timestamps (if any) that tell you WHEN something happened

• Spend at least 5 minutes doing this

• Make notes of clues, if you do not find your answer immediately

• Once you DO understand the problem, take the time to record some information about it (e.g. in a Google Doc "My JavaScript learning notes"):

  • What the error was

  • What the relevant part of the error message was that describes the error, so that you are more likely to recognise it in future. You will find that the same error messages come up time and time and time again.