id: python-empty-except
name: Empty Except Block
severity: warning
category: reliability
defect_class: silent-error
inline_tier: blocking
language: python

message: "Except block only contains 'pass' — handle or re-raise the exception"

description: |
  An except block that only does 'pass' silently swallows the exception.
  This makes debugging impossible and can hide serious errors.
  
  ✅ FIX (choose one):
    except Exception as e:
        logger.error("Failed: %s", e)   # log it
        raise                            # re-raise
        return default_value             # return safe default

query: |
  (try_statement
    (except_clause
      body: (block) @BODY))

metavars:
  - BODY

post_filter: python_empty_except

has_fix: false

tags:
  - reliability
  - error-handling
  - debugging

examples:
  bad: |
    try:
        result = risky_operation()
    except Exception:
        pass    # error silently swallowed
  
  good: |
    try:
        result = risky_operation()
    except Exception as e:
        logger.error("Operation failed: %s", e)
        raise