[MOBY-dev] how to handle errors in a biomoby service?

[Martin Senger]

This question is meant primarily for Java-based biomoby services, but a
suggestion from Perl people can help me as well.

I wonder what are the general rules for handling errors in biomoby
services. The API is silent about it, and the only thing I remember from
the discussions is that if there is an error the service will return an
empty output object (still, of course, wrapped in a biomoby XML
envelope). Is this really the only way how to handle all kinds of
errors?

I understand that this behaviour is reasonable when my input data does not
produce any result (wrong id, non-existing id, etc.). But should I use the
same mechanism for things like:
   * the input data does not come as String or base64 type,
   * the input XML does not conform to the Biomoby API,
   * my service cannot respond because of some limited internal resources,
   * etc.

Any advise how you deal with these situations will be appreciated, and I
thank you very much.

   With regards,
   Martin

PS. Of course, you noticed that in my main email body above I have not
mentioned how dissapointing the Biomoby API is if it does not deal with
error handling :-)

M.


-- 
Martin Senger
   email: martin.senger at gmail.com
   skype: martinsenger
International Rice Research Institute
Biometrics and Bioinformatics Unit
DAPO BOX 7777, Metro Manila
Philippines, phone: +63-2-580-5600 (ext.2324)