Add `MsgTypeError` "bad msg" capture

Such that if caught by user code and/or the runtime we can introspect
the original msg which caused the type error. Previously this was kinda
half-baked with a `.msg_dict` which was delivered from an `Any`-decode
of the shuttle msg in `_mk_msg_type_err()` but now this more explicitly
refines the API and supports both `PayloadMsg`-instance or the msg-dict
style injection:
- allow passing either of `bad_msg: PayloadMsg|None` or
  `bad_msg_as_dict: dict|None` to `MsgTypeError.from_decode()`.
- expose public props for both ^ whilst dropping prior `.msgdict`.
- rework `.from_decode()` to explicitly accept `**extra_msgdata: dict`
  |_ only overriding it from any `bad_msg_as_dict` if the keys are found in
    `_ipcmsg_keys`, **except** for `_bad_msg` when `bad_msg` is passed.
  |_ drop `.ipc_msg` passthrough.
  |_ drop `msgdict` input.
- adjust `.cid` to only pull from the `.bad_msg` if set.

Related fixes/adjustments:
- `pack_from_raise()` should pull `boxed_type_str` from
  `boxed_type.__name__`, not the `type()` of it.. also add a
  `hide_tb: bool` flag.
- don't include `_msg_dict` and `_bad_msg` in the `_body_fields` set.
- allow more granular boxed traceback-str controls:
  |_ allow passing a `tb_str: str` explicitly in which case we use it
    verbatim and presume caller knows what they're doing.
  |_ when not provided, use the more explicit
    `traceback.format_exception(exc)` since the error instance is
    a required input (we still fail back to the old `.format_exc()` call
    if for some reason the caller passes `None`; but that should be
    a bug right?).
  |_ if a `tb: TracebackType` and a `tb_str` is passed, concat them.
- in `RemoteActorError.pformat()` don't indent the `._message` part used
  for the `body` when `with_type_header == False`.
- update `_mk_msg_type_err()` to use `bad_msg`/`bad_msg_as_dict`
  appropriately and drop passing `ipc_msg`.

tests/test_pldrx_limiting.py

@@ -0,0 +1,316 @@
+'''
+Audit sub-sys APIs from `.msg._ops`
+mostly for ensuring correct `contextvars`
+related settings around IPC contexts.
+
+'''
+from contextlib import (
+    asynccontextmanager as acm,
+    contextmanager as cm,
+)
+# import typing
+from typing import (
+    # Any,
+    TypeAlias,
+    # Union,
+)
+from contextvars import (
+    Context,
+)
+
+from msgspec import (
+    # structs,
+    # msgpack,
+    Struct,
+    # ValidationError,
+)
+import pytest
+import trio
+
+import tractor
+from tractor import (
+    # _state,
+    MsgTypeError,
+    current_ipc_ctx,
+    Portal,
+)
+from tractor.msg import (
+    _ops as msgops,
+    Return,
+)
+from tractor.msg import (
+    _codec,
+    # _ctxvar_MsgCodec,
+
+    # NamespacePath,
+    # MsgCodec,
+    # mk_codec,
+    # apply_codec,
+    # current_codec,
+)
+from tractor.msg.types import (
+    log,
+    # _payload_msgs,
+    # PayloadMsg,
+    # Started,
+    # mk_msg_spec,
+)
+
+
+class PldMsg(Struct):
+    field: str
+
+
+maybe_msg_spec = PldMsg|None
+
+
+@cm
+def custom_spec(
+    ctx: Context,
+    spec: TypeAlias,
+) -> _codec.MsgCodec:
+    '''
+    Apply a custom payload spec, remove on exit.
+
+    '''
+    rx: msgops.PldRx = ctx._pld_rx
+
+
+@acm
+async def maybe_expect_raises(
+    raises: BaseException|None = None,
+    ensure_in_message: list[str]|None = None,
+
+    reraise: bool = False,
+    timeout: int = 3,
+) -> None:
+    '''
+    Async wrapper for ensuring errors propagate from the inner scope.
+
+    '''
+    with trio.fail_after(timeout):
+        try:
+            yield
+        except BaseException as _inner_err:
+            inner_err = _inner_err
+            # wasn't-expected to error..
+            if raises is None:
+                raise
+
+            else:
+                assert type(inner_err) is raises
+
+                # maybe check for error txt content
+                if ensure_in_message:
+                    part: str
+                    for part in ensure_in_message:
+                        for i, arg in enumerate(inner_err.args):
+                            if part in arg:
+                                break
+                        # if part never matches an arg, then we're
+                        # missing a match.
+                        else:
+                            raise ValueError(
+                                'Failed to find error message content?\n\n'
+                                f'expected: {ensure_in_message!r}\n'
+                                f'part: {part!r}\n\n'
+                                f'{inner_err.args}'
+                        )
+
+                if reraise:
+                    raise inner_err
+
+        else:
+            if raises:
+                raise RuntimeError(
+                    f'Expected a {raises.__name__!r} to be raised?'
+                )
+
+
+@tractor.context
+async def child(
+    ctx: Context,
+    started_value: int|PldMsg|None,
+    return_value: str|None,
+    validate_pld_spec: bool,
+    raise_on_started_mte: bool = True,
+
+) -> None:
+    '''
+    Call ``Context.started()`` more then once (an error).
+
+    '''
+    expect_started_mte: bool = started_value == 10
+
+    # sanaity check that child RPC context is the current one
+    curr_ctx: Context = current_ipc_ctx()
+    assert ctx is curr_ctx
+
+    rx: msgops.PldRx = ctx._pld_rx
+    orig_pldec: _codec.MsgDec = rx.pld_dec
+    # senity that default pld-spec should be set
+    assert (
+        rx.pld_dec
+        is
+        msgops._def_any_pldec
+    )
+
+    try:
+        with msgops.limit_plds(
+            spec=maybe_msg_spec,
+        ) as pldec:
+            # sanity on `MsgDec` state
+            assert rx.pld_dec is pldec
+            assert pldec.spec is maybe_msg_spec
+
+            # 2 cases: hdndle send-side and recv-only validation
+            # - when `raise_on_started_mte == True`, send validate
+            # - else, parent-recv-side only validation
+            try:
+                await ctx.started(
+                    value=started_value,
+                    validate_pld_spec=validate_pld_spec,
+                )
+
+            except MsgTypeError:
+                log.exception('started()` raised an MTE!\n')
+                if not expect_started_mte:
+                    raise RuntimeError(
+                        'Child-ctx-task SHOULD NOT HAVE raised an MTE for\n\n'
+                        f'{started_value!r}\n'
+                    )
+
+                # propagate to parent?
+                if raise_on_started_mte:
+                    raise
+            else:
+                if expect_started_mte:
+                    raise RuntimeError(
+                        'Child-ctx-task SHOULD HAVE raised an MTE for\n\n'
+                        f'{started_value!r}\n'
+                    )
+
+            # XXX should always fail on recv side since we can't
+            # really do much else beside terminate and relay the
+            # msg-type-error from this RPC task ;)
+            return return_value
+
+    finally:
+        # sanity on `limit_plds()` reversion
+        assert (
+            rx.pld_dec
+            is
+            msgops._def_any_pldec
+        )
+        log.runtime(
+            'Reverted to previous pld-spec\n\n'
+            f'{orig_pldec}\n'
+        )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    'return_value',
+    [
+        None,
+        'yo',
+    ],
+    ids=[
+        'return[invalid-"yo"]',
+        'return[valid-None]',
+    ],
+)
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    'started_value',
+    [
+        10,
+        PldMsg(field='yo'),
+    ],
+    ids=[
+        'Started[invalid-10]',
+        'Started[valid-PldMsg]',
+    ],
+)
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    'pld_check_started_value',
+    [
+        True,
+        False,
+    ],
+    ids=[
+        'check-started-pld',
+        'no-started-pld-validate',
+    ],
+)
+def test_basic_payload_spec(
+    debug_mode: bool,
+    loglevel: str,
+    return_value: str|None,
+    started_value: int|PldMsg,
+    pld_check_started_value: bool,
+):
+    '''
+    Validate the most basic `PldRx` msg-type-spec semantics around
+    a IPC `Context` endpoint start, started-sync, and final return
+    value depending on set payload types and the currently applied
+    pld-spec.
+
+    '''
+    invalid_return: bool = return_value == 'yo'
+    invalid_started: bool = started_value == 10
+
+    async def main():
+        async with tractor.open_nursery(
+            debug_mode=debug_mode,
+            loglevel=loglevel,
+        ) as an:
+            p: Portal = await an.start_actor(
+                'child',
+                enable_modules=[__name__],
+            )
+
+            # since not opened yet.
+            assert current_ipc_ctx() is None
+
+            async with (
+                maybe_expect_raises(
+                    raises=MsgTypeError if (
+                        invalid_return
+                        or
+                        invalid_started
+                    ) else None,
+                    ensure_in_message=[
+                        "invalid `Return` payload",
+                        "value: `'yo'` does not match type-spec: `Return.pld: PldMsg|NoneType`",
+                    ],
+                ),
+                p.open_context(
+                    child,
+                    return_value=return_value,
+                    started_value=started_value,
+                    pld_spec=maybe_msg_spec,
+                    validate_pld_spec=pld_check_started_value,
+                ) as (ctx, first),
+            ):
+                # now opened with 'child' sub
+                assert current_ipc_ctx() is ctx
+
+                assert type(first) is PldMsg
+                assert first.field == 'yo'
+
+                try:
+                    assert (await ctx.result()) is None
+                except MsgTypeError as mte:
+                    if not invalid_return:
+                        raise
+
+                    else:  # expected this invalid `Return.pld`
+                        assert mte.cid == ctx.cid
+
+                        # verify expected remote mte deats
+                        await tractor.pause()
+                        assert ctx._remote_error is mte
+                        assert mte.expected_msg_type is Return
+
+            await p.cancel_actor()
+
+    trio.run(main)

tractor/_context.py

@@ -15,12 +15,22 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 '''
-The fundamental cross process SC abstraction: an inter-actor,
+The fundamental cross-process SC abstraction: an inter-actor,
-cancel-scope linked task "context".
+transitively cancel-scope linked, (dual) task IPC coupled "context".
 
-A ``Context`` is very similar to the ``trio.Nursery.cancel_scope`` built
+A `Context` is very similar to the look and feel of the
-into each ``trio.Nursery`` except it links the lifetimes of memory space
+`.cancel_scope: trio.CancelScope` built into each `trio.Nursery`
-disjoint, parallel executing tasks in separate actors.
+except that it links the lifetimes of 2 memory space disjoint,
+parallel executing, tasks scheduled in separate "actors".
+
+So while a `trio.Nursery` has a `.parent_task` which exists both
+before (open) and then inside the body of the `async with` of the
+nursery's scope (/block), a `Context` contains 2 tasks, a "parent"
+and a "child" side, where both execute independently in separate
+memory domains of different (host's) processes linked through
+a SC-transitive IPC "shuttle dialog protocol". The underlying IPC
+dialog-(un)protocol allows for the maintainance of SC properties
+end-2-end between the tasks.
 
 '''
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -71,13 +81,11 @@ from .msg import (
     MsgCodec,
     NamespacePath,
     PayloadT,
-    Return,
     Started,
     Stop,
     Yield,
     current_codec,
     pretty_struct,
-    types as msgtypes,
     _ops as msgops,
 )
 from ._ipc import (
@@ -90,7 +98,7 @@ from ._state import (
     debug_mode,
     _ctxvar_Context,
 )
-
+# ------ - ------
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from ._portal import Portal
     from ._runtime import Actor
@@ -1598,16 +1606,15 @@ class Context:
     async def started(
         self,
 
-        # TODO: how to type this so that it's the
-        # same as the payload type? Is this enough?
         value: PayloadT|None = None,
+        validate_pld_spec: bool = True,
+        strict_pld_parity: bool = False,
 
-        strict_parity: bool = False,
+        # TODO: this will always emit for msgpack for any () vs. []
+        # inside the value.. do we want to offer warnings on that?
+        # complain_no_parity: bool = False,
 
-        # TODO: this will always emit now that we do `.pld: Raw`
+        hide_tb: bool = True,
-        # passthrough.. so maybe just only complain when above strict
-        # flag is set?
-        complain_no_parity: bool = False,
 
     ) -> None:
         '''
@@ -1648,63 +1655,54 @@ class Context:
         #
         # https://zguide.zeromq.org/docs/chapter7/#The-Cheap-or-Nasty-Pattern
         #
+        __tracebackhide__: bool = hide_tb
+        if validate_pld_spec:
+            # __tracebackhide__: bool = False
             codec: MsgCodec = current_codec()
             msg_bytes: bytes = codec.encode(started_msg)
             try:
-            # be a "cheap" dialog (see above!)
+                roundtripped: Started = codec.decode(msg_bytes)
+                # pld: PayloadT = await self.pld_rx.recv_pld(
+                pld: PayloadT = self.pld_rx.dec_msg(
+                    msg=roundtripped,
+                    ipc=self,
+                    expect_msg=Started,
+                    hide_tb=hide_tb,
+                    is_started_send_side=True,
+                )
                 if (
-                strict_parity
+                    strict_pld_parity
-                or
+                    and
-                complain_no_parity
+                    pld != value
                 ):
-                rt_started: Started = codec.decode(msg_bytes)
-
-                # XXX something is prolly totes cucked with the
-                # codec state!
-                if isinstance(rt_started, dict):
-                    rt_started = msgtypes.from_dict_msg(
-                        dict_msg=rt_started,
-                    )
-                    raise RuntimeError(
-                        'Failed to roundtrip `Started` msg?\n'
-                        f'{pretty_struct.pformat(rt_started)}\n'
-                    )
-
-                if rt_started != started_msg:
                     # TODO: make that one a mod func too..
                     diff = pretty_struct.Struct.__sub__(
-                        rt_started,
+                        roundtripped,
                         started_msg,
                     )
                     complaint: str = (
                         'Started value does not match after roundtrip?\n\n'
                         f'{diff}'
                     )
-
+                    raise ValidationError(complaint)
-                    # TODO: rn this will pretty much always fail with
-                    # any other sequence type embeded in the
-                    # payload...
-                    if (
-                        self._strict_started
-                        or
-                        strict_parity
-                    ):
-                        raise ValueError(complaint)
-                    else:
-                        log.warning(complaint)
-
-            await self.chan.send(started_msg)
 
             # raise any msg type error NO MATTER WHAT!
             except ValidationError as verr:
+                # always show this src frame in the tb
+                # __tracebackhide__: bool = False
                 raise _mk_msg_type_err(
-                msg=msg_bytes,
+                    msg=roundtripped,
                     codec=codec,
                     src_validation_error=verr,
-                verb_header='Trying to send payload'
+                    verb_header='Trying to send ',
-                # > 'invalid `Started IPC msgs\n'
+                    is_invalid_payload=True,
                 ) from verr
 
+        # TODO: maybe a flag to by-pass encode op if already done
+        # here in caller?
+        await self.chan.send(started_msg)
+
+        # set msg-related internal runtime-state
         self._started_called = True
         self._started_msg = started_msg
         self._started_pld = value
@@ -1997,12 +1995,7 @@ async def open_context_from_portal(
 
     pld_spec: TypeAlias|None = None,
     allow_overruns: bool = False,
-
+    hide_tb: bool = True,
-    # TODO: if we set this the wrapping `@acm` body will
-    # still be shown (awkwardly) on pdb REPL entry. Ideally
-    # we can similarly annotate that frame to NOT show? for now
-    # we DO SHOW this frame since it's awkward ow..
-    hide_tb: bool = False,
 
     # proxied to RPC
     **kwargs,
@@ -2115,6 +2108,7 @@ async def open_context_from_portal(
                 ipc=ctx,
                 expect_msg=Started,
                 passthrough_non_pld_msgs=False,
+                hide_tb=hide_tb,
             )
 
             # from .devx import pause

tractor/_exceptions.py

@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import builtins
 import importlib
 from pprint import pformat
+from types import (
+    TracebackType,
+)
 from typing import (
     Any,
     Callable,
@@ -92,26 +95,30 @@ _ipcmsg_keys: list[str] = [
     fi.name
     for fi, k, v
     in iter_fields(Error)
-
 ]
 
 _body_fields: list[str] = list(
     set(_ipcmsg_keys)
 
-    # NOTE: don't show fields that either don't provide
+    # XXX NOTE: DON'T-SHOW-FIELDS
-    # any extra useful info or that are already shown
+    # - don't provide any extra useful info or,
-    # as part of `.__repr__()` output.
+    # - are already shown as part of `.__repr__()` or,
+    # - are sub-type specific.
     - {
         'src_type_str',
         'boxed_type_str',
         'tb_str',
         'relay_path',
-        '_msg_dict',
         'cid',
 
-        # since only ctxc should show it but `Error` does
+        # only ctxc should show it but `Error` does
         # have it as an optional field.
         'canceller',
+
+        # only for MTEs and generally only used
+        # when devving/testing/debugging.
+        '_msg_dict',
+        '_bad_msg',
     }
 )
 
@@ -146,6 +153,7 @@ def pack_from_raise(
         |MsgTypeError
     ),
     cid: str,
+    hide_tb: bool = True,
 
     **rae_fields,
 
@@ -156,7 +164,7 @@ def pack_from_raise(
     `Error`-msg using `pack_error()` to extract the tb info.
 
     '''
-    __tracebackhide__: bool = True
+    __tracebackhide__: bool = hide_tb
     try:
         raise local_err
     except type(local_err) as local_err:
@@ -231,7 +239,8 @@ class RemoteActorError(Exception):
 
         if (
             extra_msgdata
-            and ipc_msg
+            and
+            ipc_msg
         ):
             # XXX mutate the orig msg directly from
             # manually provided input params.
@@ -261,17 +270,16 @@ class RemoteActorError(Exception):
         # either by customizing `ContextCancelled.__init__()` or
         # through a special factor func?
         elif boxed_type:
-            boxed_type_str: str = type(boxed_type).__name__
+            boxed_type_str: str = boxed_type.__name__
             if (
                 ipc_msg
-                and not self._ipc_msg.boxed_type_str
+                and
+                self._ipc_msg.boxed_type_str != boxed_type_str
             ):
                 self._ipc_msg.boxed_type_str = boxed_type_str
                 assert self.boxed_type_str == self._ipc_msg.boxed_type_str
 
-            else:
+            # ensure any roundtripping evals to the input value
-                self._extra_msgdata['boxed_type_str'] = boxed_type_str
-
             assert self.boxed_type is boxed_type
 
     @property
@@ -309,7 +317,9 @@ class RemoteActorError(Exception):
             if self._ipc_msg
             else {}
         )
-        return self._extra_msgdata | msgdata
+        return {
+            k: v for k, v in self._extra_msgdata.items()
+        } | msgdata
 
     @property
     def src_type_str(self) -> str:
@@ -502,6 +512,8 @@ class RemoteActorError(Exception):
 
         '''
         header: str = ''
+        body: str = ''
+
         if with_type_header:
             header: str = f'<{type(self).__name__}(\n'
 
@@ -525,24 +537,22 @@ class RemoteActorError(Exception):
             )
             if not with_type_header:
                 body = '\n' + body
-        else:
-            first: str = ''
-            message: str = self._message
 
+        elif message := self._message:
             # split off the first line so it isn't indented
             # the same like the "boxed content".
             if not with_type_header:
                 lines: list[str] = message.splitlines()
-                first = lines[0]
+                first: str = lines[0]
-                message = ''.join(lines[1:])
+                message: str = message.removeprefix(first)
+
+            else:
+                first: str = ''
 
             body: str = (
                 first
                 +
-                textwrap.indent(
+                message
-                    message,
-                    prefix='  ',
-                )
                 +
                 '\n'
             )
@@ -708,52 +718,72 @@ class MsgTypeError(
     ]
 
     @property
-    def msg_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    def bad_msg(self) -> PayloadMsg|None:
         '''
-        If the underlying IPC `MsgType` was received from a remote
+        Ref to the the original invalid IPC shuttle msg which failed
-        actor but was unable to be decoded to a native
+        to decode thus providing for the reason for this error.
-        `Yield`|`Started`|`Return` struct, the interchange backend
-        native format decoder can be used to stash a `dict`
-        version for introspection by the invalidating RPC task.
 
         '''
-        return self.msgdata.get('_msg_dict')
+        if (
+            (_bad_msg := self.msgdata.get('_bad_msg'))
+            and
+            isinstance(_bad_msg, PayloadMsg)
+        ):
+            return _bad_msg
 
-    @property
+        elif bad_msg_dict := self.bad_msg_as_dict:
-    def expected_msg(self) -> MsgType|None:
-        '''
-        Attempt to construct what would have been the original
-        `MsgType`-with-payload subtype (i.e. an instance from the set
-        of msgs in `.msg.types._payload_msgs`) which failed
-        validation.
-
-        '''
-        if msg_dict := self.msg_dict.copy():
             return msgtypes.from_dict_msg(
-                dict_msg=msg_dict,
+                dict_msg=bad_msg_dict.copy(),
                 # use_pretty=True,
                 # ^-TODO-^ would luv to use this BUT then the
                 # `field_prefix` in `pformat_boxed_tb()` cucks it
                 # all up.. XD
             )
+
         return None
 
+    @property
+    def bad_msg_as_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        '''
+        If the underlying IPC `MsgType` was received from a remote
+        actor but was unable to be decoded to a native `PayloadMsg`
+        (`Yield`|`Started`|`Return`) struct, the interchange backend
+        native format decoder can be used to stash a `dict` version
+        for introspection by the invalidating RPC task.
+
+        Optionally when this error is constructed from
+        `.from_decode()` the caller can attempt to construct what
+        would have been the original `MsgType`-with-payload subtype
+        (i.e. an instance from the set of msgs in
+        `.msg.types._payload_msgs`) which failed validation.
+
+        '''
+        return self.msgdata.get('_bad_msg_as_dict')
+
     @property
     def expected_msg_type(self) -> Type[MsgType]|None:
-        return type(self.expected_msg)
+        return type(self.bad_msg)
 
     @property
     def cid(self) -> str:
-        # pre-packed using `.from_decode()` constructor
+        # pull from required `.bad_msg` ref (or src dict)
-        return self.msgdata.get('cid')
+        if bad_msg := self.bad_msg:
+            return bad_msg.cid
+
+        return self.msgdata['cid']
 
     @classmethod
     def from_decode(
         cls,
         message: str,
 
-        ipc_msg: PayloadMsg|None = None,
+        bad_msg: PayloadMsg|None = None,
-        msgdict: dict|None = None,
+        bad_msg_as_dict: dict|None = None,
+
+        # if provided, expand and pack all RAE compat fields into the
+        # `._extra_msgdata` auxillary data `dict` internal to
+        # `RemoteActorError`.
+        **extra_msgdata,
 
     ) -> MsgTypeError:
         '''
@@ -763,25 +793,44 @@ class MsgTypeError(
         (which is normally the caller of this).
 
         '''
-        # if provided, expand and pack all RAE compat fields into the
+        if bad_msg_as_dict:
-        # `._extra_msgdata` auxillary data `dict` internal to
-        # `RemoteActorError`.
-        extra_msgdata: dict = {}
-        if msgdict:
-            extra_msgdata: dict = {
-                k: v
-                for k, v in msgdict.items()
-                if k in _ipcmsg_keys
-            }
             # NOTE: original "vanilla decode" of the msg-bytes
             # is placed inside a value readable from
             # `.msgdata['_msg_dict']`
-            extra_msgdata['_msg_dict'] = msgdict
+            extra_msgdata['_bad_msg_as_dict'] = bad_msg_as_dict
+
+            # scrape out any underlying fields from the
+            # msg that failed validation.
+            for k, v in bad_msg_as_dict.items():
+                if (
+                    # always skip a duplicate entry
+                    # if already provided as an arg
+                    k == '_bad_msg' and bad_msg
+                    or
+                    # skip anything not in the default msg-field set.
+                    k not in _ipcmsg_keys
+                    # k not in _body_fields
+                ):
+                    continue
+
+                extra_msgdata[k] = v
+
+
+        elif bad_msg:
+            if not isinstance(bad_msg, PayloadMsg):
+                raise TypeError(
+                    'The provided `bad_msg` is not a `PayloadMsg` type?\n\n'
+                    f'{bad_msg}'
+                )
+            extra_msgdata['_bad_msg'] = bad_msg
+            extra_msgdata['cid'] = bad_msg.cid
+
+        if 'cid' not in extra_msgdata:
+            import pdbp; pdbp.set_trace()
 
         return cls(
             message=message,
             boxed_type=cls,
-            ipc_msg=ipc_msg,
             **extra_msgdata,
         )
 
@@ -836,9 +885,10 @@ class MessagingError(Exception):
 def pack_error(
     exc: BaseException|RemoteActorError,
 
-    tb: str|None = None,
     cid: str|None = None,
     src_uid: tuple[str, str]|None = None,
+    tb: TracebackType|None = None,
+    tb_str: str = '',
 
 ) -> Error:
     '''
@@ -848,10 +898,28 @@ def pack_error(
     the receiver side using `unpack_error()` below.
 
     '''
-    if tb:
+    if not tb_str:
-        tb_str = ''.join(traceback.format_tb(tb))
+        tb_str: str = (
+            ''.join(traceback.format_exception(exc))
+
+            # TODO: can we remove this is `exc` is required?
+            or
+            # NOTE: this is just a shorthand for the "last error" as
+            # provided by `sys.exeception()`, see:
+            # - https://docs.python.org/3/library/traceback.html#traceback.print_exc
+            # - https://docs.python.org/3/library/traceback.html#traceback.format_exc
+            traceback.format_exc()
+        )
     else:
-        tb_str = traceback.format_exc()
+        if tb_str[-2:] != '\n':
+            tb_str += '\n'
+
+    # when caller provides a tb instance (say pulled from some other
+    # src error's `.__traceback__`) we use that as the "boxed"
+    # tb-string instead.
+    if tb:
+        # https://docs.python.org/3/library/traceback.html#traceback.format_list
+        tb_str: str = ''.join(traceback.format_tb(tb)) + tb_str
 
     error_msg: dict[  # for IPC
         str,
@@ -1115,7 +1183,7 @@ def _mk_msg_type_err(
     src_validation_error: ValidationError|None = None,
     src_type_error: TypeError|None = None,
     is_invalid_payload: bool = False,
-    src_err_msg: Error|None = None,
+    # src_err_msg: Error|None = None,
 
     **mte_kwargs,
 
@@ -1164,10 +1232,10 @@ def _mk_msg_type_err(
                     '|_ https://jcristharif.com/msgspec/extending.html#defining-a-custom-extension-messagepack-only\n'
                 )
 
-
         msgtyperr = MsgTypeError(
             message=message,
             ipc_msg=msg,
+            bad_msg=msg,
         )
         # ya, might be `None`
         msgtyperr.__cause__ = src_type_error
@@ -1175,6 +1243,9 @@ def _mk_msg_type_err(
 
     # `Channel.recv()` case
     else:
+        msg_dict: dict|None = None
+        bad_msg: PayloadMsg|None = None
+
         if is_invalid_payload:
             msg_type: str = type(msg)
             any_pld: Any = msgpack.decode(msg.pld)
@@ -1186,19 +1257,20 @@ def _mk_msg_type_err(
                 # f' |_pld: {codec.pld_spec_str}\n'# != {any_pld!r}\n'
                 # f')>\n\n'
             )
+            # src_err_msg = msg
+            bad_msg = msg
             # TODO: should we just decode the msg to a dict despite
             # only the payload being wrong?
             # -[ ] maybe the better design is to break this construct
             #   logic into a separate explicit helper raiser-func?
-            msg_dict = None
 
         else:
-            msg: bytes
             # decode the msg-bytes using the std msgpack
-            # interchange-prot (i.e. without any
+            # interchange-prot (i.e. without any `msgspec.Struct`
-            # `msgspec.Struct` handling) so that we can
+            # handling) so that we can determine what
-            # determine what `.msg.types.Msg` is the culprit
+            # `.msg.types.PayloadMsg` is the culprit by reporting the
-            # by reporting the received value.
+            # received value.
+            msg: bytes
             msg_dict: dict = msgpack.decode(msg)
             msg_type_name: str = msg_dict['msg_type']
             msg_type = getattr(msgtypes, msg_type_name)
@@ -1235,9 +1307,13 @@ def _mk_msg_type_err(
         if verb_header:
             message = f'{verb_header} ' + message
 
+        # if not isinstance(bad_msg, PayloadMsg):
+        #     import pdbp; pdbp.set_trace()
+
         msgtyperr = MsgTypeError.from_decode(
             message=message,
-            msgdict=msg_dict,
+            bad_msg=bad_msg,
+            bad_msg_as_dict=msg_dict,
 
             # NOTE: for the send-side `.started()` pld-validate
             # case we actually set the `._ipc_msg` AFTER we return
@@ -1245,7 +1321,7 @@ def _mk_msg_type_err(
             # want to emulate the `Error` from the mte we build here
             # Bo
             # so by default in that case this is set to `None`
-            ipc_msg=src_err_msg,
+            # ipc_msg=src_err_msg,
         )
         msgtyperr.__cause__ = src_validation_error
         return msgtyperr

tractor/msg/_ops.py

@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ from tractor._exceptions import (
     _raise_from_unexpected_msg,
     MsgTypeError,
     _mk_msg_type_err,
-    pack_from_raise,
+    pack_error,
 )
 from tractor._state import current_ipc_ctx
 from ._codec import (
@@ -203,7 +203,6 @@ class PldRx(Struct):
         msg: MsgType = (
             ipc_msg
             or
-
             # async-rx msg from underlying IPC feeder (mem-)chan
             await ipc._rx_chan.receive()
         )
@@ -223,6 +222,10 @@ class PldRx(Struct):
         raise_error: bool = True,
         hide_tb: bool = True,
 
+        # XXX for special (default?) case of send side call with
+        # `Context.started(validate_pld_spec=True)`
+        is_started_send_side: bool = False,
+
     ) -> PayloadT|Raw:
         '''
         Decode a msg's payload field: `MsgType.pld: PayloadT|Raw` and
@@ -230,8 +233,6 @@ class PldRx(Struct):
 
         '''
         __tracebackhide__: bool = hide_tb
-
-        _src_err = None
         src_err: BaseException|None = None
         match msg:
             # payload-data shuttle msg; deliver the `.pld` value
@@ -256,18 +257,58 @@ class PldRx(Struct):
                     # pack mgterr into error-msg for
                     # reraise below; ensure remote-actor-err
                     # info is displayed nicely?
-                    msgterr: MsgTypeError = _mk_msg_type_err(
+                    mte: MsgTypeError = _mk_msg_type_err(
                         msg=msg,
                         codec=self.pld_dec,
                         src_validation_error=valerr,
                         is_invalid_payload=True,
+                        expected_msg=expect_msg,
+                        # ipc_msg=msg,
                     )
-                    msg: Error = pack_from_raise(
+                    # NOTE: override the `msg` passed to
-                        local_err=msgterr,
+                    # `_raise_from_unexpected_msg()` (below) so so that
+                    # we're effectively able to use that same func to
+                    # unpack and raise an "emulated remote `Error`" of
+                    # this local MTE.
+                    err_msg: Error = pack_error(
+                        exc=mte,
                         cid=msg.cid,
-                        src_uid=ipc.chan.uid,
+                        src_uid=(
+                            ipc.chan.uid
+                            if not is_started_send_side
+                            else ipc._actor.uid
+                        ),
+                        # tb=valerr.__traceback__,
+                        tb_str=mte._message,
                     )
+                    # ^-TODO-^ just raise this inline instead of all the
+                    # pack-unpack-repack non-sense!
+
+                    mte._ipc_msg = err_msg
+                    msg = err_msg
+
+                    # set emulated remote error more-or-less as the
+                    # runtime would
+                    ctx: Context = getattr(ipc, 'ctx', ipc)
+
+                    # TODO: should we instead make this explicit and
+                    # use the above masked `is_started_send_decode`,
+                    # expecting the `Context.started()` caller to set
+                    # it? Rn this is kinda, howyousayyy, implicitly
+                    # edge-case-y..
+                    if (
+                        expect_msg is not Started
+                        and not is_started_send_side
+                    ):
+                        ctx._maybe_cancel_and_set_remote_error(mte)
+
+                    # XXX NOTE: so when the `_raise_from_unexpected_msg()`
+                    # raises the boxed `err_msg` from above it raises
+                    # it from `None`.
                     src_err = valerr
+                    # if is_started_send_side:
+                    #     src_err = None
+
 
                 # XXX some other decoder specific failure?
                 # except TypeError as src_error:
@@ -379,6 +420,7 @@ class PldRx(Struct):
         # NOTE: generally speaking only for handling `Stop`-msgs that
         # arrive during a call to `drain_to_final_msg()` above!
         passthrough_non_pld_msgs: bool = True,
+        hide_tb: bool = True,
         **kwargs,
 
     ) -> tuple[MsgType, PayloadT]:
@@ -387,6 +429,7 @@ class PldRx(Struct):
         the pair of refs.
 
         '''
+        __tracebackhide__: bool = hide_tb
         msg: MsgType = await ipc._rx_chan.receive()
 
         if passthrough_non_pld_msgs:
@@ -401,6 +444,7 @@ class PldRx(Struct):
             msg,
             ipc=ipc,
             expect_msg=expect_msg,
+            hide_tb=hide_tb,
             **kwargs,
         )
         return msg, pld
@@ -414,7 +458,7 @@ def limit_plds(
 ) -> MsgDec:
     '''
     Apply a `MsgCodec` that will natively decode the SC-msg set's
-    `Msg.pld: Union[Type[Struct]]` payload fields using
+    `PayloadMsg.pld: Union[Type[Struct]]` payload fields using
     tagged-unions of `msgspec.Struct`s from the `payload_types`
     for all IPC contexts in use by the current `trio.Task`.
 
@@ -691,3 +735,11 @@ async def drain_to_final_msg(
         result_msg,
         pre_result_drained,
     )
+
+
+# TODO: factor logic from `.Context.started()` for send-side
+# validate raising!
+def validate_payload_msg(
+    msg: Started|Yield|Return,
+) -> MsgTypeError|None:
+    ...