[tor-bugs] #17494 [Tor Messenger]: "Unknown error" reported by Tor Messenger without further info

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#17494: "Unknown error" reported by Tor Messenger without further info
-------------------------------+-----------------
     Reporter:  blaisorblade   |      Owner:
         Type:  defect         |     Status:  new
     Priority:  Medium         |  Milestone:
    Component:  Tor Messenger  |    Version:
     Severity:  Normal         |   Keywords:
Actual Points:                 |  Parent ID:
       Points:                 |    Sponsor:
-------------------------------+-----------------
 Observed behavior: Tor Messenger just gave me an error message saying just
 "Unknown error".
 Expected behavior: for proper usability, all error messages include
 details or instructions for figuring them out. In this case, I'm guessing
 Tor Messenger should tell me that I can't start a private conversation
 without first being accepted by the other user (if that's the problem),
 but I don't know.

 I probably did not use Tor Messenger as I should, and I have a very
 limited understanding of OTR, but I still should get a better error — the
 current one is unsuitable even for a programmer like me.

 === Details ===
 In this particular case, for the reference, I was more-or-less following
 instructions on http://arstechnica.co.uk/security/2015/10/how-to-use-tor-
 messenger-the-most-secure-chat-program-around/.
 After creating a Jabber account on the jabber.calyxinstitute.org server, I
 added the author of that article (as he suggests to readers!), and he
 didn't authorize me yet (and might as well be offline). I opened a
 conversation with him, and got

 {{{
 12:49:45 - The current conversation is not private.
 }}}
 Meanwhile, two new errors/warnings appeared in the Error Console (see
 below).
 Then, I pressed "Start private conversation" with his contact, and I got
 these new messages, but no new error on the Error Console.

 {{{
 12:49:49 - Attempting to start a private conversation with
 cyrus.farivar!arstechnica.com at my.onsip.com.
 12:49:49 - Unknown error
 }}}

 Looking at the first exception shows an uncaught exception during
 `requestRoomInfo`; so probably the later error happens because the
 connection-state is not in a state where I can start a private
 conversation. Consistently with this hypothesis, my "Known fingerprints"
 window shows no entry.

 ==== Error Console warnings ====
 {{{
 Timestamp: 1/11/2015, 13:24:23
 Error: uncaught exception: 2147500033
 Source File:
 jar:file:///Applications/Tor%20Messenger.app/Contents/Resources/omni.ja!/components/ibConvStatsService.js
 Line: 378

 Timestamp: 1/11/2015, 13:24:32
 Error: DEPRECATION WARNING: The arguments you're passing to viewSource.xul
 are using an out-of-date API.
 You may find more details about this deprecation at:
 https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-
 ons/Code_snippets/View_Source_for_XUL_Applications
 chrome://global/content/viewSource.js 316 _loadViewSourceDeprecated
 chrome://global/content/viewSource.js 302 onXULLoaded
 chrome://global/content/viewSource.js 175 handleEvent
 null 0 null

 Source File: resource://gre/modules/Deprecated.jsm
 Line: 79
 }}}

--
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/17494>
Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki <https://trac.torproject.org/>
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