friendly error system preferences item

[lmccart]

@almchung has implemented the "friendly error system" in the p5.js, that is, functionality that will (optionally) check the parameters passed into p5 functions when they're called and send helpful messages to console. we're about to merge it this week. this feature can be toggled on and off by setting a boolean variable (p5.disableFriendlyErrors = true/false;) in the sketch. is it possible to add this as a preferences item that can be toggled from there, too?

if it sounds ok, I can work on implementing this.

[lmccart]

I guess one point for debate --
only the p5.js library has this functionality included in it, p5.min.js doesn't. if the user updated the index.html file to link to p5.min.js, the preferences item would no longer have an effect. would this be ok? or would we need to do some detection and auto-hide the item? or is this a reason it shouldn't be in preferences at all?

[catarak]

I think it would make sense to, by default, add the non-minified p5.js to a project and include the friendly errors in preferences. Maybe the preference could be removed or unable to be changed if the non-minified version of p5 isn't included in the project?

[catarak]

@lmccart for this to work as expected, do p5.dom.js and p5.sound.js need to be included as the non-minified versions as well?

[lmccart]

no, just p5.js.

[catarak]

i'm having trouble disabling the friendly errors using p5.disableFriendlyErrors = true. does this need to be called in a specific place?

[lmccart]

using version 0.6.0, both of these are working for me:

p5.disableFriendlyErrors = true;

function setup() {
  ellipse(3, 3);
}

function setup() {
  p5.disableFriendlyErrors = true;
  ellipse(3, 3);
}

[himanshuc3]

Is this feature already implemented in the web editor?

[catarak]

it is not! there's not a design for it but it can look similar to the "autosave" option. it should be under the tab "general settings".