Error when started chat

[RayManD]

{"level":"debug","user_id":"@RayManD:mx.grupotd.nat.cu","action":"start chat","method":"ids lookup","cache_result":{"tel:[phone]":{"has_cache":true,"cache_time":"2024-01-23T15:30:48.538-05:00","identity_count":0,"will_lookup":false}},"server_lookup":null,"time":"2024-01-23T15:34:23.478367351-05:00","message":"Got lookup results from cache"}
{"level":"error","event_id":"$BuPGNfrjIfD1EPurfHwN9apz3aZ5T6-ZXZEugRVeV_A","room_id":"!EdfKVCUpniCoSkGqjk:mx.grupotd.nat.cu","sender":"@RayManD:mx.grupotd.nat.cu","mx_command":"start-chat","stack":"goroutine 215 [running]:\nruntime/debug.Stack()\n\t/usr/local/go/src/runtime/debug/stack.go:24 +0x5e\nmaunium.net/go/mautrix/bridge/commands.(*Processor).Handle.func1()\n\t/builds/mautrix/imessagego/.cache/pkg/mod/maunium.net/go/mautrix@v0.16.3-0.20231117160133-4784d6d09fe2/bridge/commands/processor.go:67 +0x5f\npanic({0xe8a840?, 0x17e4a50?})\n\t/usr/local/go/src/runtime/panic.go:914 +0x21f\nmain.(*User).startChat(0xc000586000, {{0xc0000744d0?, 0x7f4265e78e78?, 0x7f4265e6d108?}})\n\t/builds/mautrix/imessagego/user.go:596 +0x32f\nmain.fnStartChat(0xc0000745a0)\n\t/builds/mautrix/imessagego/commands.go:204 +0x50\nmain.init.wrapCommand.func4(0xc000586380)\n\t/builds/mautrix/imessagego/commands.go:43 +0xec\nmaunium.net/go/mautrix/bridge/commands.(*FullHandler).Run(0x17f4f20, 0xc000586380)\n\t/builds/mautrix/imessagego/.cache/pkg/mod/maunium.net/go/mautrix@v0.16.3-0.20231117160133-4784d6d09fe2/bridge/commands/handler.go:98 +0xfb\nmaunium.net/go/mautrix/bridge/commands.(*Processor).Handle(0xc00015ef20, {0x1270698, 0xc000708e40}, {0xc0005be480, 0x25}, {0xc0005be450, 0x2c}, {0x1273c58?, 0xc000586000}, {0xc000464c78, ...}, ...)\n\t/builds/mautrix/imessagego/.cache/pkg/mod/maunium.net/go/mautrix@v0.16.3-0.20231117160133-4784d6d09fe2/bridge/commands/processor.go:121 +0x99e\ncreated by maunium.net/go/mautrix/bridge.(*MatrixHandler).HandleMessage in goroutine 214\n\t/builds/mautrix/imessagego/.cache/pkg/mod/maunium.net/go/mautrix@v0.16.3-0.20231117160133-4784d6d09fe2/bridge/matrix.go:579 +0xa0c\n","error":"invalid memory address or nil pointer dereference","time":"2024-01-23T15:34:23.482065389-05:00","message":"Panic in Matrix command handler"}

[Rishabh Singhvi]

The error one's encountering is caused by a "nil pointer dereference" in the startChat function. This means that the code is trying to access or use a part of memory that hasn't been allocated or initialized, leading to a runtime panic.

In simpler terms, somewhere in the startChat function or its related code, there is an attempt to use a variable or a pointer that is nil (i.e., it doesn't point to any valid data). This could be due to various reasons, such as an uninitialized variable, a failed assignment, or a function that returns nil under certain conditions without proper handling.

To fix this, one would need to:

1. Identify the Nil Pointer: Locate the variable or pointer that is nil and causing the error.
2. Add Checks: Ensure that the variable or pointer is not nil before using it. Add conditional checks to handle nil cases appropriately.
3. Initialize Properly: Make sure all necessary variables and pointers are properly initialized before use.

By addressing these points, one may prevent the "nil pointer dereference" error and ensure the function runs smoothly.

@raymand211092 what are your views?