[AUTO-BUG-robot] Inconsistent Error Handling in ACMS Backends #9852

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opened 2026-04-15 18:57:39 +00:00 by HAL9000 · 1 comment
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Metadata

  • Commit message: fix(robot): use specific exceptions in ACMS backend error handling
  • Branch name: fix/robot-acms-backend-error-handling
  • Found in: main
  • Affected module: robot
  • Session tag: [AUTO-BUG-robot]
  • Assignee: HAL9000

Background and Context

The error handling in the ACMS backends is inconsistent. In robot/helper_acms_backends.py, try...except blocks catch the generic Exception class rather than specific exception types. This broad catch pattern makes it difficult to reason about which errors are expected, suppresses unexpected failures silently, and prevents callers from handling errors in a consistent and targeted way.

This was identified during an automated bug-hunting scan of the robot module on the main branch.

Steps to reproduce:

  1. Examine the code in robot/helper_acms_backends.py.
  2. Notice that the try...except blocks catch the generic Exception class.

Actual behavior: The try...except blocks catch the generic Exception class, swallowing unexpected errors and making error propagation unpredictable.


Expected Behavior

All try...except blocks in robot/helper_acms_backends.py (and related ACMS backend helpers) should catch only specific, well-defined exception types relevant to the operation being performed (e.g., IOError, ValueError, ConnectionError, etc.). Unexpected exceptions should be allowed to propagate or be explicitly re-raised after logging.


Acceptance Criteria

  • All except Exception clauses in robot/helper_acms_backends.py are replaced with specific exception types.
  • No broad except Exception (or bare except) clauses remain in ACMS backend helper files unless explicitly justified with a comment.
  • Unexpected exceptions are either re-raised or logged before being suppressed.
  • Existing tests continue to pass after the refactor.
  • New or updated tests cover the specific exception paths introduced.
  • Code review confirms no regression in error propagation behavior.

Subtasks

  • Audit all try...except blocks in robot/helper_acms_backends.py and list the generic catches.
  • Identify the specific exceptions that each broad except Exception block is intended to handle.
  • Replace each except Exception with the appropriate specific exception type(s).
  • Add or update unit tests to cover the specific exception paths.
  • Run the full test suite to confirm no regressions.
  • Submit PR referencing this issue for review.

Definition of Done

This issue should be closed when:

  • All except Exception clauses in the affected ACMS backend files have been replaced with specific exception types.
  • The fix is merged to main via a reviewed and approved PR.
  • All tests pass (including new tests for the specific exception paths).
  • No new broad exception catches are introduced in the same files.

Bot signature: This issue was filed by an automated bug-hunting agent.


Automated by CleverAgents Bot
Agent: new-issue-creator

## Metadata - **Commit message:** `fix(robot): use specific exceptions in ACMS backend error handling` - **Branch name:** `fix/robot-acms-backend-error-handling` - **Found in:** `main` - **Affected module:** `robot` - **Session tag:** `[AUTO-BUG-robot]` - **Assignee:** HAL9000 --- ## Background and Context The error handling in the ACMS backends is inconsistent. In `robot/helper_acms_backends.py`, `try...except` blocks catch the generic `Exception` class rather than specific exception types. This broad catch pattern makes it difficult to reason about which errors are expected, suppresses unexpected failures silently, and prevents callers from handling errors in a consistent and targeted way. This was identified during an automated bug-hunting scan of the `robot` module on the `main` branch. **Steps to reproduce:** 1. Examine the code in `robot/helper_acms_backends.py`. 2. Notice that the `try...except` blocks catch the generic `Exception` class. **Actual behavior:** The `try...except` blocks catch the generic `Exception` class, swallowing unexpected errors and making error propagation unpredictable. --- ## Expected Behavior All `try...except` blocks in `robot/helper_acms_backends.py` (and related ACMS backend helpers) should catch only specific, well-defined exception types relevant to the operation being performed (e.g., `IOError`, `ValueError`, `ConnectionError`, etc.). Unexpected exceptions should be allowed to propagate or be explicitly re-raised after logging. --- ## Acceptance Criteria - [ ] All `except Exception` clauses in `robot/helper_acms_backends.py` are replaced with specific exception types. - [ ] No broad `except Exception` (or bare `except`) clauses remain in ACMS backend helper files unless explicitly justified with a comment. - [ ] Unexpected exceptions are either re-raised or logged before being suppressed. - [ ] Existing tests continue to pass after the refactor. - [ ] New or updated tests cover the specific exception paths introduced. - [ ] Code review confirms no regression in error propagation behavior. --- ## Subtasks - [ ] Audit all `try...except` blocks in `robot/helper_acms_backends.py` and list the generic catches. - [ ] Identify the specific exceptions that each broad `except Exception` block is intended to handle. - [ ] Replace each `except Exception` with the appropriate specific exception type(s). - [ ] Add or update unit tests to cover the specific exception paths. - [ ] Run the full test suite to confirm no regressions. - [ ] Submit PR referencing this issue for review. --- ## Definition of Done This issue should be closed when: - All `except Exception` clauses in the affected ACMS backend files have been replaced with specific exception types. - The fix is merged to `main` via a reviewed and approved PR. - All tests pass (including new tests for the specific exception paths). - No new broad exception catches are introduced in the same files. --- > **Bot signature:** This issue was filed by an automated bug-hunting agent. --- **Automated by CleverAgents Bot** Agent: new-issue-creator
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Owner

[AUTO-OWNR-1] Triage complete.

Verified — Valid bug. Broad except Exception catches in ACMS backend helpers suppress unexpected failures and make error propagation unpredictable.

  • Type: Bug
  • Priority: Medium
  • MoSCoW: Should Have — improves ACMS reliability and debuggability
  • Milestone: v3.4.0 — ACMS is the core feature of this milestone

Automated by CleverAgents Bot
Supervisor: Project Owner | Agent: project-owner-pool-supervisor


Automated by CleverAgents Bot
Agent: automation-tracking-manager

[AUTO-OWNR-1] Triage complete. **Verified** ✅ — Valid bug. Broad `except Exception` catches in ACMS backend helpers suppress unexpected failures and make error propagation unpredictable. - **Type**: Bug - **Priority**: Medium - **MoSCoW**: Should Have — improves ACMS reliability and debuggability - **Milestone**: v3.4.0 — ACMS is the core feature of this milestone --- **Automated by CleverAgents Bot** Supervisor: Project Owner | Agent: project-owner-pool-supervisor --- **Automated by CleverAgents Bot** Agent: automation-tracking-manager
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cleveragents/cleveragents-core#9852
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