When handling errors in your code, always provide detailed context in error messages to aid debugging. Use Kotlin’s standard error handling functions instead of directly throwing exceptions or using non-null assertions.

  1. Use error() function with descriptive messages instead of throwing exceptions directly: ```kotlin // Bad if (companion.isCompanion == false) { throw AssertionError() // Unhelpful message }

// Good if (companion.isCompanion == false) { error(“Expected $companion to be a companion object”) }


2. When reporting errors from caught exceptions, preserve cause information:
```kotlin
// Bad
catch (e: IllegalStateException) {
    reportError(e.message!!)
    throw CompilationErrorException()
}

// Good
catch (e: IllegalStateException) {
    reportError("${e.message}\nCaused by: ${e.cause?.javaClass?.name}: ${e.cause?.message}")
    throw CompilationErrorException()
}
  1. Use null-safe operators with descriptive error messages instead of non-null assertions: ```kotlin // Bad val fieldName = getterCall.symbol.owner.name.getFieldName()!!

// Good val fieldName = getterCall.symbol.owner.name.getFieldName() ?: error(“Expected getter call to have a field name”)


4. Include relevant context in assertion messages:
```kotlin
// Bad
assert(companion.isCompanion)

// Good
assert(companion.isCompanion) { "Expected $companion to be a companion object" }

By following these practices, you’ll make your code more maintainable and debugging much easier when errors inevitably occur.