pcottle/learnGitBranching · info · CommandResult

help-vague-builder

Error message

help-vague-builder

What it means

Thrown by Levels.getInstantCommands in level/builder.js when the user types 'help' or '?' during a level built with the builder. Because builder-based levels define their own goal/command surface, the generic per-level help string is unavailable, so a vague 'here is the builder, try things' message (help-vague-builder) is returned as a CommandResult.

Source

Thrown at src/js/level/builder.js:179

    );
    this.parseWaterfall.addFirst(
      'instantWaterfall',
      this.getInstantCommands()
    );
  }

  buildLevel(command, deferred) {
    this.exitLevel();

    setTimeout(function() {
      Main.getSandbox().buildLevel(command, deferred);
    }, this.getAnimationTime() * 1.5);
  }

  getInstantCommands() {
    return [
      [/^help$|^\?$/, function() {
        throw new Errors.CommandResult({
          msg: intl.str('help-vague-builder')
        });
      }]
    ];
  }

  takeControl() {
    Main.getEventBaton().stealBaton('processLevelBuilderCommand', this.processLevelBuilderCommand, this);

    super.takeControl();
  }

  releaseControl() {
    Main.getEventBaton().releaseBaton('processLevelBuilderCommand', this.processLevelBuilderCommand, this);

    super.releaseControl();
  }

View on GitHub (pinned to 5b09d0ff96)

Solutions

  1. No fix needed — this is the intended help output for builder levels
  2. Use 'hint' or the level goal panel for level-specific guidance
  3. Type command names directly; builder levels do not enumerate commands in help
Defensive patterns

Strategy: try-catch

Try / catch

try { dispatch(input); } catch (e) { if (e instanceof CommandResult) { display(e.msg); } else throw e; }

Prevention

When it happens

Trigger: Entering 'help' or '?' at the command line while a builder-constructed level is active; the instant-command regex /^help$|^\?$/ matches before any git parsing happens.

Common situations: Users exploring available commands in custom/builder levels; expected informational behavior, not a crash.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of pcottle/learnGitBranching@5b09d0ff96 (2026-08-27). Data as JSON: /api/errors/7465ed26daeacbbf. Report an issue: GitHub.