Error Code Reference

Every failed transaction receipt carries a structured error with a stable numeric code, a machine-readable slug, and human-authored remediation hints.

Error Format

When a transaction fails, the receipt includes a structured error object:

{
  "code": 1202,
  "slug": "E1202",
  "category": "validation",
  "what": "PVM execution error: Invalid input",
  "why": "Address argument was not exactly 20 bytes.",
  "fix": "Pass a 20-byte address (bytes or hex).",
  "docs_url": "https://docs.cowboy.inc/errors/E1202",
  "context": {
    "exception_type": "AddressError",
    "traceback": "..."
  }
}

Field	Description
`code`	Stable numeric identifier (never re-used)
`slug`	Human-friendly shorthand (`E` + code)
`category`	One of: `validation`, `runtime`, `gas`, `entitlement`, `token`, `timer`, `commit_reveal`, `runner`, `internal`
`what`	One-line description of the error
`why`	Root cause (SDK-authored if available, else Python exception message)
`fix`	Actionable remediation hint
`docs_url`	Link to this documentation page
`context`	Additional key-value pairs (e.g., `traceback`, `expected`, `actual`)

Code Ranges

The registry contains 66 codes across 8 categories:

Range	Category	Count
E1000–E1099	Transaction pre-checks	9
E1100–E1199	PVM static validation	1
E1200–E1299	PVM runtime / host API	21
E1300–E1399	Entitlements / manifest	3
E1400–E1499	CIP-20 tokens	11
E1500–E1599	Timers / deferred / commit-reveal	8
E1600–E1699	Runner / consensus / job	12
E1900–E1999	Internal / fallback	1

All Error Codes

E1000–E1099: Transaction Pre-checks

Signature, nonce, basefee, and balance checks that run before the actor handler executes.

Code	Description	Category
`E1001`	Invalid transaction signature	`validation`
`E1002`	Nonce mismatch	`validation`
`E1003`	Insufficient balance for value transfer	`validation`
`E1004`	Insufficient balance for gas	`gas`
`E1005`	Out of cycles	`gas`
`E1006`	Out of cells	`gas`
`E1007`	Gas calculation overflow	`gas`
`E1008`	Basefee too low	`gas`
`E1009`	Missing required signer	`validation`

E1100–E1199: PVM Static Validation

Compile-time determinism checks enforced at actor deploy.

Code	Description	Category
`E1101`	Non-deterministic actor code	`validation`

E1200–E1299: PVM Runtime / Host API

Errors during actor execution — host calls, state access, and messaging.

Code	Description	Category
`E1201`	Out of gas inside the PVM	`gas`
`E1202`	Invalid input to host API call	`validation`
`E1203`	Host lookup not found	`runtime`
`E1204`	Backend storage error	`runtime`
`E1205`	Operation forbidden	`runtime`
`E1206`	Unclassified PVM-internal failure	`internal`
`E1207`	Missing entitlement	`entitlement`
`E1208`	Entitlement quota exceeded	`entitlement`
`E1210`	Generic PVM execution error	`runtime`
`E1211`	Caller is not authorized	`validation`
`E1212`	Unsupported instruction/opcode	`validation`
`E1213`	Input bytes failed schema validation	`validation`
`E1214`	Serialization failure	`internal`
`E1220`	Target actor does not exist	`runtime`
`E1221`	Actor already exists at target address	`runtime`
`E1222`	Target account does not exist	`runtime`
`E1223`	Account already exists at target address	`runtime`
`E1224`	Referenced message id does not exist	`runtime`
`E1225`	Duplicate message id	`runtime`
`E1226`	Target mailbox is full	`runtime`
`E1227`	Persistent store error	`internal`

E1300–E1399: Entitlements / Manifest

Entitlement declaration and grant errors.

Code	Description	Category
`E1302`	Invalid manifest	`entitlement`
`E1303`	Non-system actor declared a system-only entitlement	`entitlement`
`E1304`	Entitlement conflict	`entitlement`

E1400–E1499: CIP-20 Tokens

Fungible token operations — create, transfer, approve, hooks.

Code	Description	Category
`E1401`	Token not found	`token`
`E1402`	Token already exists	`token`
`E1403`	Insufficient token balance	`token`
`E1404`	Insufficient token allowance	`token`
`E1405`	Token account is frozen	`token`
`E1406`	Not authorized for this token operation	`token`
`E1407`	Mint would exceed max_supply	`token`
`E1408`	Transfer hook rejected the transfer	`token`
`E1409`	Transfer hook attempted reentrancy	`token`
`E1410`	Transfer hook execution failed	`token`
`E1411`	Transfer hook exceeded gas cap	`gas`

E1500–E1599: Timers / Deferred / Commit-Reveal

Scheduled execution and commit-reveal protocol errors.

Code	Description	Category
`E1501`	Timer limit exceeded for actor	`timer`
`E1502`	Invalid deferred transaction	`validation`
`E1510`	Commitment mismatch	`commit_reveal`
`E1511`	Commit window closed	`commit_reveal`
`E1512`	Reveal window not yet open	`commit_reveal`
`E1513`	Reveal window closed	`commit_reveal`
`E1514`	Runner already committed for this job	`commit_reveal`
`E1515`	No commitment found for this runner	`commit_reveal`

E1600–E1699: Runner / Consensus / Job

Off-chain compute runner registration, job dispatch, and verification.

Code	Description	Category
`E1601`	Runner already registered	`runner`
`E1602`	Runner not found	`runner`
`E1603`	Insufficient stake	`runner`
`E1604`	Invalid job schema	`validation`
`E1605`	Job not found	`runner`
`E1606`	Runner not assigned to job	`runner`
`E1607`	Insufficient runners available	`runner`
`E1608`	No consensus reached	`runner`
`E1609`	Threshold not met	`runner`
`E1610`	Non-deterministic results	`runner`
`E1611`	Unsupported verification mode	`runner`
`E1612`	TEE required for deterministic mode	`runner`

E1900–E1999: Internal / Fallback

Unclassified errors — report with tx hash.

Code	Description	Category
`E1900`	Unclassified error / fallback	`internal`

Reading Errors

From the CLI / RPC

curl -s http://localhost:4000/v1/transactions/<TX_HASH>/receipt | jq '.status'

From a Python Actor

import pvm_host

try:
    pvm_host.set_state(b"key", b"value")
except pvm_host.HostError as e:
    if e.name == "missing_entitlement":    # → E1207
        ...
    elif e.name == "entitlement_quota_exceeded":  # → E1208
        ...
    else:
        raise

Raising Structured Errors

Use SDK exception classes for automatic structured error population:

from cowboy_sdk.errors import AddressError, CodecError

def transfer(self, payload):
    if len(target) != 20:
        raise AddressError(f"expected 20 bytes, got {len(target)}")
    # → receipt: code=1202, slug=E1202, category=validation

Introduction

Overview

Whitepaper

Getting Started

Architecture

Security

Economics

Ethereum Interoperability

Developer Guide

CLI Specifications

Protocol Specifications

Error Reference

Style & Documentation

Contributing

Versioning & Updates

References

Error Codes

Error Code Reference

Error Format

Code Ranges

All Error Codes

E1000–E1099: Transaction Pre-checks

E1100–E1199: PVM Static Validation

E1200–E1299: PVM Runtime / Host API

E1300–E1399: Entitlements / Manifest

E1400–E1499: CIP-20 Tokens

E1500–E1599: Timers / Deferred / Commit-Reveal

E1600–E1699: Runner / Consensus / Job

E1900–E1999: Internal / Fallback

Reading Errors

From the CLI / RPC

From a Python Actor

Raising Structured Errors

Introduction

Overview

Whitepaper

Getting Started

Architecture

Security

Economics

Ethereum Interoperability

Developer Guide

CLI Specifications

Protocol Specifications

Error Reference

Style & Documentation

Contributing

Versioning & Updates

References

​Error Code Reference

​Error Format

​Code Ranges

​All Error Codes

​E1000–E1099: Transaction Pre-checks

​E1100–E1199: PVM Static Validation

​E1200–E1299: PVM Runtime / Host API

​E1300–E1399: Entitlements / Manifest

​E1400–E1499: CIP-20 Tokens

​E1500–E1599: Timers / Deferred / Commit-Reveal

​E1600–E1699: Runner / Consensus / Job

​E1900–E1999: Internal / Fallback

​Reading Errors

​From the CLI / RPC

​From a Python Actor

​Raising Structured Errors

Error Code Reference

Error Format

Code Ranges

All Error Codes

E1000–E1099: Transaction Pre-checks

E1100–E1199: PVM Static Validation

E1200–E1299: PVM Runtime / Host API

E1300–E1399: Entitlements / Manifest

E1400–E1499: CIP-20 Tokens

E1500–E1599: Timers / Deferred / Commit-Reveal

E1600–E1699: Runner / Consensus / Job

E1900–E1999: Internal / Fallback

Reading Errors

From the CLI / RPC

From a Python Actor

Raising Structured Errors