rc-error-handling

Error Handling

Phase 1: Understand

With raw Google Play Billing you enumerate every BillingResponseCode, split them into retriable and non retriable groups, and build backoff retry logic. RevenueCat collapses this into a single type you deal with: PurchasesError.

public class PurchasesError(
    val code: PurchasesErrorCode,
    val underlyingErrorMessage: String? = null,
) {
    val message: String // technical description, for logs
}

Key facts you rely on:

• PurchasesErrorCode is a cross platform enum with stable, readable codes.
• error.message is a technical string. It belongs in logs, not in the UI.
• awaitPurchase() throws PurchasesTransactionException, which adds a userCancelled: Boolean flag.
• Every other await* call (awaitOfferings, awaitGetProducts, awaitCustomerInfo, awaitRestore) throws PurchasesException.
• The SDK already retries transient billing and network failures internally. Any error that reaches you has exhausted the SDK retry budget. You do not add your own backoff loop. The only retry you implement is a user triggered "Try Again" button.

Phase 2: Plan

Before writing a catch block, decide three things:

1. Which await* call are you wrapping? That picks the exception type.
2. Which codes have specific handling? Everything else falls into a generic branch.
3. What user facing string does each handled code map to?

Use this table to categorize PurchasesErrorCode values and pick the UX response.

Code	Meaning	Handling
PurchaseCancelledError	User backed out of the flow	Do nothing. userCancelled is also true.
ProductAlreadyPurchasedError	Product already active for the user	Refresh CustomerInfo and check entitlements.
PaymentPendingError	Purchase entered pending state	Show a pending message. Wait for UpdatedCustomerInfoListener.
NetworkError	Request failed due to connectivity	Prompt the user to retry.
StoreProblemError	Google Play issue	Prompt to retry or update Play Store.
PurchaseNotAllowedError	Device or account cannot purchase	Show an explanatory message.
IneligibleError	User not eligible for the offer	Show the base plan instead.