diff --git a/veilid-cli/src/client_api_connection.rs b/veilid-cli/src/client_api_connection.rs
index bad5a1f8..2ae3de6c 100644
--- a/veilid-cli/src/client_api_connection.rs
+++ b/veilid-cli/src/client_api_connection.rs
@@ -195,19 +195,10 @@ impl ClientApiConnection {
         // object mapping from the server which we need for the update backchannel
 
         // Wait until rpc system completion or disconnect was requested
-
-        cfg_if! {
-            if #[cfg(feature="rt-async-std")] {
-                rpc_jh
-                    .await
-                    .map_err(|e| format!("client RPC system error: {}", e))
-            } else if #[cfg(feature="rt-tokio")] {
-                rpc_jh
-                    .await
-                    .map_err(|e| format!("join error: {}", e))?
-                    .map_err(|e| format!("client RPC system error: {}", e))
-            }
-        }
+        let res = rpc_jh.await;
+        #[cfg(feature="rt-tokio")]
+        let res = res.map_err(|e| format!("join error: {}", e))?;
+        res.map_err(|e| format!("client RPC system error: {}", e))  
     }
 
     async fn handle_connection(&mut self) -> Result<(), String> {
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/attachment_manager.rs b/veilid-core/src/attachment_manager.rs
index 4b372f7f..4d9fa1ab 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/attachment_manager.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/attachment_manager.rs
@@ -337,11 +337,11 @@ impl AttachmentManager {
         }
     }
 
-    async fn process_input(&self, input: &AttachmentInput) -> Result<(), String> {
+    async fn process_input(&self, input: &AttachmentInput) -> EyreResult<()> {
         let attachment_machine = self.inner.lock().attachment_machine.clone();
         let output = attachment_machine.consume(input).await;
         match output {
-            Err(e) => Err(format!(
+            Err(e) => Err(eyre!(
                 "invalid input '{:?}' for state machine in state '{:?}': {:?}",
                 input,
                 attachment_machine.state(),
@@ -357,17 +357,17 @@ impl AttachmentManager {
     }
 
     #[instrument(level = "trace", skip(self), err)]
-    pub async fn request_attach(&self) -> Result<(), String> {
+    pub async fn request_attach(&self) -> EyreResult<()> {
         self.process_input(&AttachmentInput::AttachRequested)
             .await
-            .map_err(|e| format!("Attach request failed: {}", e))
+            .map_err(|e| eyre!("Attach request failed: {}", e))
     }
 
     #[instrument(level = "trace", skip(self), err)]
-    pub async fn request_detach(&self) -> Result<(), String> {
+    pub async fn request_detach(&self) -> EyreResult<()> {
         self.process_input(&AttachmentInput::DetachRequested)
             .await
-            .map_err(|e| format!("Detach request failed: {}", e))
+            .map_err(|e| eyre!("Detach request failed: {}", e))
     }
 
     pub fn get_state(&self) -> AttachmentState {
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/dht/crypto.rs b/veilid-core/src/dht/crypto.rs
index 4040c1a7..dd681f5e 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/dht/crypto.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/dht/crypto.rs
@@ -232,13 +232,13 @@ impl Crypto {
         nonce: &Nonce,
         shared_secret: &SharedSecret,
         associated_data: Option<&[u8]>,
-    ) -> Result<(), String> {
+    ) -> Result<(), VeilidAPIError> {
         let key = ch::Key::from(*shared_secret);
         let xnonce = ch::XNonce::from(*nonce);
         let aead = ch::XChaCha20Poly1305::new(&key);
         aead.decrypt_in_place(&xnonce, associated_data.unwrap_or(b""), body)
             .map_err(map_to_string)
-            .map_err(logthru_crypto!())
+            .map_err(VeilidAPIError::generic)
     }
 
     pub fn decrypt_aead(
@@ -246,11 +246,11 @@ impl Crypto {
         nonce: &Nonce,
         shared_secret: &SharedSecret,
         associated_data: Option<&[u8]>,
-    ) -> Result<Vec<u8>, String> {
+    ) -> Result<Vec<u8>, VeilidAPIError> {
         let mut out = body.to_vec();
         Self::decrypt_in_place_aead(&mut out, nonce, shared_secret, associated_data)
             .map_err(map_to_string)
-            .map_err(logthru_crypto!())?;
+            .map_err(VeilidAPIError::generic)?;
         Ok(out)
     }
 
@@ -259,14 +259,14 @@ impl Crypto {
         nonce: &Nonce,
         shared_secret: &SharedSecret,
         associated_data: Option<&[u8]>,
-    ) -> Result<(), String> {
+    ) -> Result<(), VeilidAPIError> {
         let key = ch::Key::from(*shared_secret);
         let xnonce = ch::XNonce::from(*nonce);
         let aead = ch::XChaCha20Poly1305::new(&key);
 
         aead.encrypt_in_place(&xnonce, associated_data.unwrap_or(b""), body)
             .map_err(map_to_string)
-            .map_err(logthru_crypto!())
+            .map_err(VeilidAPIError::generic)
     }
 
     pub fn encrypt_aead(
@@ -274,11 +274,11 @@ impl Crypto {
         nonce: &Nonce,
         shared_secret: &SharedSecret,
         associated_data: Option<&[u8]>,
-    ) -> Result<Vec<u8>, String> {
+    ) -> Result<Vec<u8>, VeilidAPIError> {
         let mut out = body.to_vec();
         Self::encrypt_in_place_aead(&mut out, nonce, shared_secret, associated_data)
             .map_err(map_to_string)
-            .map_err(logthru_crypto!())?;
+            .map_err(VeilidAPIError::generic)?;
         Ok(out)
     }
 
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/dht/key.rs b/veilid-core/src/dht/key.rs
index ea890a5a..8a020a38 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/dht/key.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/dht/key.rs
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ macro_rules! byte_array_type {
                 let res = BASE64URL_NOPAD.decode_mut(input.as_bytes(), &mut bytes);
                 match res {
                     Ok(_) => Ok(Self::new(bytes)),
-                    Err(_) => apierr_generic!("Failed to decode"),
+                    Err(_) => apibail_generic!("Failed to decode"),
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ macro_rules! byte_array_type {
                         out.valid = true;
                         Ok(out)
                     }
-                    Err(err) => apierr_generic!(err),
+                    Err(err) => Err(VeilidAPIError::generic(err)),
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -382,7 +382,8 @@ pub fn sign(
 
     kpb[..DHT_KEY_SECRET_LENGTH].copy_from_slice(&dht_key_secret.bytes);
     kpb[DHT_KEY_SECRET_LENGTH..].copy_from_slice(&dht_key.bytes);
-    let keypair = Keypair::from_bytes(&kpb).map_err(mapapierr_parse!("Keypair is invalid"))?;
+    let keypair = Keypair::from_bytes(&kpb)
+        .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::parse_error("Keypair is invalid", e))?;
 
     let mut dig = Blake3Digest512::new();
     dig.update(data);
@@ -402,16 +403,16 @@ pub fn verify(
 ) -> Result<(), VeilidAPIError> {
     assert!(dht_key.valid);
     assert!(signature.valid);
-    let pk =
-        PublicKey::from_bytes(&dht_key.bytes).map_err(mapapierr_parse!("Public key is invalid"))?;
+    let pk = PublicKey::from_bytes(&dht_key.bytes)
+        .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::parse_error("Public key is invalid", e))?;
     let sig = Signature::from_bytes(&signature.bytes)
-        .map_err(mapapierr_parse!("Signature is invalid"))?;
+        .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::parse_error("Signature is invalid", e))?;
 
     let mut dig = Blake3Digest512::new();
     dig.update(data);
 
     pk.verify_prehashed(dig, None, &sig)
-        .map_err(mapapierr_parse!("Verification failed"))?;
+        .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::parse_error("Verification failed", e))?;
     Ok(())
 }
 
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/intf/wasm/system.rs b/veilid-core/src/intf/wasm/system.rs
index 5c93d416..021c94a5 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/intf/wasm/system.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/intf/wasm/system.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use crate::*;
 use async_executors::{Bindgen, LocalSpawnHandleExt, SpawnHandleExt, Timer};
 use futures_util::future::{select, Either};
 use js_sys::*;
-use wasm_bindgen_futures::*;
+//use wasm_bindgen_futures::*;
 //use web_sys::*;
 
 #[wasm_bindgen]
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/network_manager/native/protocol/mod.rs b/veilid-core/src/network_manager/native/protocol/mod.rs
index 77f95a0d..a40c03ca 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/network_manager/native/protocol/mod.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/network_manager/native/protocol/mod.rs
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ impl ProtocolNetworkConnection {
         }
     }
 
-    // pub async fn close(&self) -> Result<(), String> {
+    // pub async fn close(&self) -> io::Result<()> {
     //     match self {
     //         Self::Dummy(d) => d.close(),
     //         Self::RawTcp(t) => t.close().await,
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/network_manager/native/protocol/tcp.rs b/veilid-core/src/network_manager/native/protocol/tcp.rs
index 0b4feed5..0a997b3b 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/network_manager/native/protocol/tcp.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/network_manager/native/protocol/tcp.rs
@@ -23,21 +23,19 @@ impl RawTcpNetworkConnection {
     }
 
     // #[instrument(level = "trace", err, skip(self))]
-    // pub async fn close(&mut self) -> Result<(), String> {
+    // pub async fn close(&mut self) -> io::Result<()> {
     //     // Make an attempt to flush the stream
-    //     self.stream.clone().close().await.map_err(map_to_string)?;
+    //     self.stream.clone().close().await?;
     //     // Then shut down the write side of the socket to effect a clean close
     //     cfg_if! {
     //         if #[cfg(feature="rt-async-std")] {
     //             self.tcp_stream
     //                 .shutdown(async_std::net::Shutdown::Write)
-    //                 .map_err(map_to_string)
     //         } else if #[cfg(feature="rt-tokio")] {
     //             use tokio::io::AsyncWriteExt;
     //             self.tcp_stream.get_mut()
     //                 .shutdown()
     //                 .await
-    //                 .map_err(map_to_string)
     //         }
     //     }
     // }
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/network_manager/native/protocol/ws.rs b/veilid-core/src/network_manager/native/protocol/ws.rs
index b2b5092d..b10bf53e 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/network_manager/native/protocol/ws.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/network_manager/native/protocol/ws.rs
@@ -71,13 +71,13 @@ where
     }
 
     // #[instrument(level = "trace", err, skip(self))]
-    // pub async fn close(&self) -> Result<(), String> {
+    // pub async fn close(&self) -> io::Result<()> {
     //     // Make an attempt to flush the stream
-    //     self.stream.clone().close().await.map_err(map_to_string)?;
+    //     self.stream.clone().close().await.map_err(to_io)?;
     //     // Then forcibly close the socket
     //     self.tcp_stream
     //         .shutdown(Shutdown::Both)
-    //         .map_err(map_to_string)
+    //         .map_err(to_io)
     // }
 
     #[instrument(level = "trace", err, skip(self, message), fields(message.len = message.len()))]
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/network_manager/network_connection.rs b/veilid-core/src/network_manager/network_connection.rs
index c83c3de3..50b36d8c 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/network_manager/network_connection.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/network_manager/network_connection.rs
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ impl DummyNetworkConnection {
     pub fn descriptor(&self) -> ConnectionDescriptor {
         self.descriptor.clone()
     }
-    // pub fn close(&self) -> Result<(), String> {
+    // pub fn close(&self) -> io::Result<()> {
     //     Ok(())
     // }
     pub fn send(&self, _message: Vec<u8>) -> io::Result<()> {
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/network_manager/wasm/mod.rs b/veilid-core/src/network_manager/wasm/mod.rs
index 03547b2b..0e51fe89 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/network_manager/wasm/mod.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/network_manager/wasm/mod.rs
@@ -10,11 +10,9 @@ pub use protocol::*;
 
 struct NetworkInner {
     network_manager: NetworkManager,
-    stop_network: Eventual,
     network_started: bool,
     network_needs_restart: bool,
     protocol_config: Option<ProtocolConfig>,
-    //join_handle: TryJoin?
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
@@ -27,7 +25,6 @@ impl Network {
     fn new_inner(network_manager: NetworkManager) -> NetworkInner {
         NetworkInner {
             network_manager,
-            stop_network: Eventual::new(),
             network_started: false,
             network_needs_restart: false,
             protocol_config: None, //join_handle: None,
@@ -248,7 +245,7 @@ impl Network {
         f(&[])
     }
 
-    pub async fn check_interface_addresses(&self) -> Result<bool, String> {
+    pub async fn check_interface_addresses(&self) -> EyreResult<bool> {
         Ok(false)
     }
 
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/network_manager/wasm/protocol/ws.rs b/veilid-core/src/network_manager/wasm/protocol/ws.rs
index db23d0b6..bf47db12 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/network_manager/wasm/protocol/ws.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/network_manager/wasm/protocol/ws.rs
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ impl WebsocketNetworkConnection {
     }
 
     // #[instrument(level = "trace", err, skip(self))]
-    // pub async fn close(&self) -> Result<(), String> {
-    //     self.inner.ws_meta.close().await.map_err(map_to_string).map(drop)
+    // pub async fn close(&self) -> io::Result<()> {
+    //     self.inner.ws_meta.close().await.map_err(to_io).map(drop)
     // }
 
     #[instrument(level = "trace", err, skip(self, message), fields(message.len = message.len()))]
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ impl WebsocketNetworkConnection {
     pub async fn recv(&self) -> io::Result<Vec<u8>> {
         let out = match SendWrapper::new(self.inner.ws_stream.clone().next()).await {
             Some(WsMessage::Binary(v)) => v,
-            Some(x) => {
+            Some(_) => {
                 bail_io_error_other!("Unexpected WS message type");
             }
             None => {
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/find_nodes.rs b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/find_nodes.rs
index acf64c6f..327e9893 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/find_nodes.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/find_nodes.rs
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ impl RoutingTable {
     }
 
     #[instrument(level = "trace", skip(self), ret, err)]
-    pub fn register_find_node_answer(&self, peers: Vec<PeerInfo>) -> Result<Vec<NodeRef>, String> {
+    pub fn register_find_node_answer(&self, peers: Vec<PeerInfo>) -> EyreResult<Vec<NodeRef>> {
         let node_id = self.node_id();
 
         // register nodes we'd found
@@ -403,24 +403,14 @@ impl RoutingTable {
 
             // register the node if it's new
             let nr = self
-                .register_node_with_signed_node_info(p.node_id.key, p.signed_node_info.clone())
-                .map_err(map_to_string)
-                .map_err(logthru_rtab!(
-                    "couldn't register node {} at {:?}",
-                    p.node_id.key,
-                    &p.signed_node_info
-                ))?;
+                .register_node_with_signed_node_info(p.node_id.key, p.signed_node_info.clone())?;
             out.push(nr);
         }
         Ok(out)
     }
 
     #[instrument(level = "trace", skip(self), ret, err)]
-    pub async fn find_node(
-        &self,
-        node_ref: NodeRef,
-        node_id: DHTKey,
-    ) -> Result<Vec<NodeRef>, String> {
+    pub async fn find_node(&self, node_ref: NodeRef, node_id: DHTKey) -> EyreResult<Vec<NodeRef>> {
         let rpc_processor = self.rpc_processor();
 
         let res = rpc_processor
@@ -431,22 +421,20 @@ impl RoutingTable {
                 None,
                 rpc_processor.make_respond_to_sender(node_ref.clone()),
             )
-            .await
-            .map_err(map_to_string)
-            .map_err(logthru_rtab!())?;
+            .await?;
 
         // register nodes we'd found
         self.register_find_node_answer(res.answer)
     }
 
     #[instrument(level = "trace", skip(self), ret, err)]
-    pub async fn find_self(&self, node_ref: NodeRef) -> Result<Vec<NodeRef>, String> {
+    pub async fn find_self(&self, node_ref: NodeRef) -> EyreResult<Vec<NodeRef>> {
         let node_id = self.node_id();
         self.find_node(node_ref, node_id).await
     }
 
     #[instrument(level = "trace", skip(self), ret, err)]
-    pub async fn find_target(&self, node_ref: NodeRef) -> Result<Vec<NodeRef>, String> {
+    pub async fn find_target(&self, node_ref: NodeRef) -> EyreResult<Vec<NodeRef>> {
         let node_id = node_ref.node_id();
         self.find_node(node_ref, node_id).await
     }
@@ -460,7 +448,7 @@ impl RoutingTable {
         let closest_nodes = match self.find_self(node_ref.clone()).await {
             Err(e) => {
                 log_rtab!(error
-                    "reverse_find_node: find_self failed for {:?}: {}",
+                    "reverse_find_node: find_self failed for {:?}: {:?}",
                     &node_ref, e
                 );
                 return;
@@ -473,7 +461,7 @@ impl RoutingTable {
             for closest_nr in closest_nodes {
                 if let Err(e) = self.find_self(closest_nr.clone()).await {
                     log_rtab!(error
-                        "reverse_find_node: closest node find_self failed for {:?}: {}",
+                        "reverse_find_node: closest node find_self failed for {:?}: {:?}",
                         &closest_nr, e
                     );
                 }
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/tests/common/test_veilid_config.rs b/veilid-core/src/tests/common/test_veilid_config.rs
index 9b88206f..cbf30d1b 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/tests/common/test_veilid_config.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/tests/common/test_veilid_config.rs
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ fn config_callback(key: String) -> ConfigCallbackReturn {
         _ => {
             let err = format!("config key '{}' doesn't exist", key);
             debug!("{}", err);
-            apierr_internal!(err)
+            Err(VeilidAPIError::internal(err))
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/mod.rs b/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/mod.rs
index c911b294..78dd3447 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/mod.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/mod.rs
@@ -31,43 +31,11 @@ use xx::*;
 
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-#[allow(unused_macros)]
-#[macro_export]
-macro_rules! apierr_generic {
-    ($x:expr) => {
-        Err(VeilidAPIError::generic($x))
-    };
-}
-
-#[allow(unused_macros)]
-#[macro_export]
-macro_rules! apierr_internal {
-    ($x:expr) => {
-        Err(VeilidAPIError::internal($x))
-    };
-}
-
-#[allow(unused_macros)]
-#[macro_export]
-macro_rules! apierr_parse {
-    ($x:expr, $y:expr) => {
-        Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error($x, $y))
-    };
-}
-
-#[allow(unused_macros)]
-#[macro_export]
-macro_rules! mapapierr_parse {
-    ($x:expr) => {
-        |e| VeilidAPIError::parse_error($x, e)
-    };
-}
-
 #[allow(unused_macros)]
 #[macro_export]
 macro_rules! apibail_generic {
     ($x:expr) => {
-        return Err(VeilidAPIError::generic($x));
+        return Err(VeilidAPIError::generic($x))
     };
 }
 
@@ -75,7 +43,7 @@ macro_rules! apibail_generic {
 #[macro_export]
 macro_rules! apibail_internal {
     ($x:expr) => {
-        return Err(VeilidAPIError::internal($x));
+        return Err(VeilidAPIError::internal($x))
     };
 }
 
@@ -83,7 +51,7 @@ macro_rules! apibail_internal {
 #[macro_export]
 macro_rules! apibail_parse {
     ($x:expr, $y:expr) => {
-        return Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error($x, $y));
+        return Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error($x, $y))
     };
 }
 
@@ -123,6 +91,18 @@ pub enum VeilidAPIError {
 }
 
 impl VeilidAPIError {
+    pub fn not_initialized() -> Self {
+        Self::NotInitialized
+    }
+    pub fn already_initialized() -> Self {
+        Self::AlreadyInitialized
+    }
+    pub fn timeout() -> Self {
+        Self::Timeout
+    }
+    pub fn shutdown() -> Self {
+        Self::Shutdown
+    }
     pub fn node_not_found(node_id: NodeId) -> Self {
         Self::NodeNotFound { node_id }
     }
@@ -172,15 +152,6 @@ impl VeilidAPIError {
     }
 }
 
-macro_rules! parse_error {
-    ($msg:expr, $val:expr) => {
-        VeilidAPIError::ParseError {
-            message: $msg.to_string(),
-            value: $val.to_string(),
-        }
-    };
-}
-
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Copy, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -676,7 +647,10 @@ impl FromStr for Address {
         } else if let Ok(addr) = Ipv6Addr::from_str(host) {
             Ok(Address::IPV6(addr))
         } else {
-            Err(parse_error!("Address::from_str failed", host))
+            Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
+                "Address::from_str failed",
+                host,
+            ))
         }
     }
 }
@@ -732,7 +706,7 @@ impl FromStr for SocketAddress {
     type Err = VeilidAPIError;
     fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<SocketAddress, VeilidAPIError> {
         let sa = SocketAddr::from_str(s)
-            .map_err(|e| parse_error!("Failed to parse SocketAddress", e))?;
+            .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::parse_error("Failed to parse SocketAddress", e))?;
         Ok(SocketAddress::from_socket_addr(sa))
     }
 }
@@ -898,9 +872,9 @@ impl fmt::Display for DialInfo {
 impl FromStr for DialInfo {
     type Err = VeilidAPIError;
     fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<DialInfo, VeilidAPIError> {
-        let (proto, rest) = s
-            .split_once('|')
-            .ok_or_else(|| parse_error!("DialInfo::from_str missing protocol '|' separator", s))?;
+        let (proto, rest) = s.split_once('|').ok_or_else(|| {
+            VeilidAPIError::parse_error("DialInfo::from_str missing protocol '|' separator", s)
+        })?;
         match proto {
             "udp" => {
                 let socket_address = SocketAddress::from_str(rest)?;
@@ -912,10 +886,14 @@ impl FromStr for DialInfo {
             }
             "ws" => {
                 let url = format!("ws://{}", rest);
-                let split_url = SplitUrl::from_str(&url)
-                    .map_err(|e| parse_error!(format!("unable to split WS url: {}", e), url))?;
+                let split_url = SplitUrl::from_str(&url).map_err(|e| {
+                    VeilidAPIError::parse_error(format!("unable to split WS url: {}", e), &url)
+                })?;
                 if split_url.scheme != "ws" || !url.starts_with("ws://") {
-                    return Err(parse_error!("incorrect scheme for WS dialinfo", url));
+                    return Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
+                        "incorrect scheme for WS dialinfo",
+                        url,
+                    ));
                 }
                 let url_port = split_url.port.unwrap_or(80u16);
 
@@ -939,15 +917,22 @@ impl FromStr for DialInfo {
             }
             "wss" => {
                 let url = format!("wss://{}", rest);
-                let split_url = SplitUrl::from_str(&url)
-                    .map_err(|e| parse_error!(format!("unable to split WSS url: {}", e), url))?;
+                let split_url = SplitUrl::from_str(&url).map_err(|e| {
+                    VeilidAPIError::parse_error(format!("unable to split WSS url: {}", e), &url)
+                })?;
                 if split_url.scheme != "wss" || !url.starts_with("wss://") {
-                    return Err(parse_error!("incorrect scheme for WSS dialinfo", url));
+                    return Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
+                        "incorrect scheme for WSS dialinfo",
+                        url,
+                    ));
                 }
                 let url_port = split_url.port.unwrap_or(443u16);
 
                 let (a, rest) = rest.split_once('|').ok_or_else(|| {
-                    parse_error!("DialInfo::from_str missing socket address '|' separator", s)
+                    VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
+                        "DialInfo::from_str missing socket address '|' separator",
+                        s,
+                    )
                 })?;
 
                 let address = Address::from_str(a)?;
@@ -956,7 +941,10 @@ impl FromStr for DialInfo {
                     format!("wss://{}", rest),
                 )
             }
-            _ => Err(parse_error!("DialInfo::from_str has invalid scheme", s)),
+            _ => Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
+                "DialInfo::from_str has invalid scheme",
+                s,
+            )),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -983,23 +971,27 @@ impl DialInfo {
         })
     }
     pub fn try_ws(socket_address: SocketAddress, url: String) -> Result<Self, VeilidAPIError> {
-        let split_url = SplitUrl::from_str(&url)
-            .map_err(|e| parse_error!(format!("unable to split WS url: {}", e), url))?;
+        let split_url = SplitUrl::from_str(&url).map_err(|e| {
+            VeilidAPIError::parse_error(format!("unable to split WS url: {}", e), &url)
+        })?;
         if split_url.scheme != "ws" || !url.starts_with("ws://") {
-            return Err(parse_error!("incorrect scheme for WS dialinfo", url));
+            return Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
+                "incorrect scheme for WS dialinfo",
+                url,
+            ));
         }
         let url_port = split_url.port.unwrap_or(80u16);
         if url_port != socket_address.port() {
-            return Err(parse_error!(
+            return Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
                 "socket address port doesn't match url port",
-                url
+                url,
             ));
         }
         if let SplitUrlHost::IpAddr(a) = split_url.host {
             if socket_address.to_ip_addr() != a {
-                return Err(parse_error!(
+                return Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
                     format!("request address does not match socket address: {}", a),
-                    socket_address
+                    socket_address,
                 ));
             }
         }
@@ -1009,22 +1001,26 @@ impl DialInfo {
         }))
     }
     pub fn try_wss(socket_address: SocketAddress, url: String) -> Result<Self, VeilidAPIError> {
-        let split_url = SplitUrl::from_str(&url)
-            .map_err(|e| parse_error!(format!("unable to split WSS url: {}", e), url))?;
+        let split_url = SplitUrl::from_str(&url).map_err(|e| {
+            VeilidAPIError::parse_error(format!("unable to split WSS url: {}", e), &url)
+        })?;
         if split_url.scheme != "wss" || !url.starts_with("wss://") {
-            return Err(parse_error!("incorrect scheme for WSS dialinfo", url));
+            return Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
+                "incorrect scheme for WSS dialinfo",
+                url,
+            ));
         }
         let url_port = split_url.port.unwrap_or(443u16);
         if url_port != socket_address.port() {
-            return Err(parse_error!(
+            return Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
                 "socket address port doesn't match url port",
-                url
+                url,
             ));
         }
         if !matches!(split_url.host, SplitUrlHost::Hostname(_)) {
-            return Err(parse_error!(
+            return Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
                 "WSS url can not use address format, only hostname format",
-                url
+                url,
             ));
         }
         Ok(Self::WSS(DialInfoWSS {
@@ -1144,7 +1140,10 @@ impl DialInfo {
         let hostname = hostname.as_ref();
 
         if short.len() < 2 {
-            return Err(parse_error!("invalid short url length", short));
+            return Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
+                "invalid short url length",
+                short,
+            ));
         }
         let url = match &short[0..1] {
             "U" => {
@@ -1160,7 +1159,7 @@ impl DialInfo {
                 format!("wss://{}:{}", hostname, &short[1..])
             }
             _ => {
-                return Err(parse_error!("invalid short url type", short));
+                return Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error("invalid short url type", short));
             }
         };
         Self::try_vec_from_url(url)
@@ -1169,18 +1168,18 @@ impl DialInfo {
     pub fn try_vec_from_url<S: AsRef<str>>(url: S) -> Result<Vec<Self>, VeilidAPIError> {
         let url = url.as_ref();
         let split_url = SplitUrl::from_str(url)
-            .map_err(|e| parse_error!(format!("unable to split url: {}", e), url))?;
+            .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::parse_error(format!("unable to split url: {}", e), url))?;
 
         let port = match split_url.scheme.as_str() {
             "udp" | "tcp" => split_url
                 .port
-                .ok_or_else(|| parse_error!("Missing port in udp url", url))?,
+                .ok_or_else(|| VeilidAPIError::parse_error("Missing port in udp url", url))?,
             "ws" => split_url.port.unwrap_or(80u16),
             "wss" => split_url.port.unwrap_or(443u16),
             _ => {
-                return Err(parse_error!(
+                return Err(VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
                     "Invalid dial info url scheme",
-                    split_url.scheme
+                    split_url.scheme,
                 ));
             }
         };
@@ -1197,7 +1196,7 @@ impl DialInfo {
                         SplitUrlHost::Hostname(_) => split_url
                             .host_port(port)
                             .to_socket_addrs()
-                            .map_err(|_| parse_error!("couldn't resolve hostname in url", url))?
+                            .map_err(|_| VeilidAPIError::parse_error("couldn't resolve hostname in url", url))?
                             .collect(),
                         SplitUrlHost::IpAddr(a) => vec![SocketAddr::new(a, port)],
                     }
@@ -1359,9 +1358,9 @@ impl SignedNodeInfo {
         timestamp: u64,
     ) -> Result<Self, VeilidAPIError> {
         let mut node_info_bytes = serde_cbor::to_vec(&node_info)
-            .map_err(mapapierr_parse!("failed to encode node info as cbor"))?;
+            .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::parse_error("failed to encode node info as cbor", e))?;
         let mut timestamp_bytes = serde_cbor::to_vec(&timestamp)
-            .map_err(mapapierr_parse!("failed to encode timestamp as cbor"))?;
+            .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::parse_error("failed to encode timestamp as cbor", e))?;
 
         node_info_bytes.append(&mut timestamp_bytes);
 
@@ -1381,9 +1380,9 @@ impl SignedNodeInfo {
         let timestamp = intf::get_timestamp();
 
         let mut node_info_bytes = serde_cbor::to_vec(&node_info)
-            .map_err(mapapierr_parse!("failed to encode node info as cbor"))?;
+            .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::parse_error("failed to encode node info as cbor", e))?;
         let mut timestamp_bytes = serde_cbor::to_vec(&timestamp)
-            .map_err(mapapierr_parse!("failed to encode timestamp as cbor"))?;
+            .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::parse_error("failed to encode timestamp as cbor", e))?;
 
         node_info_bytes.append(&mut timestamp_bytes);
 
@@ -1532,15 +1531,15 @@ impl FromStr for NodeDialInfo {
     type Err = VeilidAPIError;
     fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<NodeDialInfo, VeilidAPIError> {
         // split out node id from the dial info
-        let (node_id_str, rest) = s
-            .split_once('@')
-            .ok_or_else(|| parse_error!("NodeDialInfo::from_str missing @ node id separator", s))?;
+        let (node_id_str, rest) = s.split_once('@').ok_or_else(|| {
+            VeilidAPIError::parse_error("NodeDialInfo::from_str missing @ node id separator", s)
+        })?;
 
         // parse out node id
         let node_id = NodeId::new(DHTKey::try_decode(node_id_str).map_err(|e| {
-            parse_error!(
+            VeilidAPIError::parse_error(
                 format!("NodeDialInfo::from_str couldn't parse node id: {}", e),
-                s
+                s,
             )
         })?);
         // parse out dial info
@@ -1851,35 +1850,35 @@ impl VeilidAPI {
         if let Some(context) = &inner.context {
             return Ok(context.table_store.clone());
         }
-        Err(VeilidAPIError::NotInitialized)
+        Err(VeilidAPIError::not_initialized())
     }
     pub fn block_store(&self) -> Result<BlockStore, VeilidAPIError> {
         let inner = self.inner.lock();
         if let Some(context) = &inner.context {
             return Ok(context.block_store.clone());
         }
-        Err(VeilidAPIError::NotInitialized)
+        Err(VeilidAPIError::not_initialized())
     }
     pub fn protected_store(&self) -> Result<ProtectedStore, VeilidAPIError> {
         let inner = self.inner.lock();
         if let Some(context) = &inner.context {
             return Ok(context.protected_store.clone());
         }
-        Err(VeilidAPIError::NotInitialized)
+        Err(VeilidAPIError::not_initialized())
     }
     pub fn attachment_manager(&self) -> Result<AttachmentManager, VeilidAPIError> {
         let inner = self.inner.lock();
         if let Some(context) = &inner.context {
             return Ok(context.attachment_manager.clone());
         }
-        Err(VeilidAPIError::NotInitialized)
+        Err(VeilidAPIError::not_initialized())
     }
     pub fn network_manager(&self) -> Result<NetworkManager, VeilidAPIError> {
         let inner = self.inner.lock();
         if let Some(context) = &inner.context {
             return Ok(context.attachment_manager.network_manager());
         }
-        Err(VeilidAPIError::NotInitialized)
+        Err(VeilidAPIError::not_initialized())
     }
 
     // pub fn rpc_processor(&self) -> Result<RPCProcessor, VeilidAPIError> {
@@ -1916,7 +1915,7 @@ impl VeilidAPI {
         attachment_manager
             .request_attach()
             .await
-            .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::Internal { message: e })
+            .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::internal(e))
     }
 
     // disconnect from the network
@@ -1926,7 +1925,7 @@ impl VeilidAPI {
         attachment_manager
             .request_detach()
             .await
-            .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::Internal { message: e })
+            .map_err(|e| VeilidAPIError::internal(e))
     }
 
     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/xx/bump_port.rs b/veilid-core/src/xx/bump_port.rs
index 60619928..487b2d20 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/xx/bump_port.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/xx/bump_port.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,14 @@ cfg_if! {
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(ThisError, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum BumpPortError {
+    #[error("Unsupported architecture")]
+    Unsupported,
+    #[error("Failure: {0}")]
+    Failed(String),
+}
+
 pub enum BumpPortType {
     UDP,
     TCP,
@@ -38,10 +46,10 @@ pub fn udp_port_available(addr: &SocketAddr) -> bool {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn bump_port(addr: &mut SocketAddr, bpt: BumpPortType) -> Result<bool, String> {
+pub fn bump_port(addr: &mut SocketAddr, bpt: BumpPortType) -> Result<bool, BumpPortError> {
     cfg_if! {
         if #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")] {
-            Err("unsupported architecture".to_owned())
+            Err(BumpPortError::Unsupported)
         }
         else
         {
@@ -65,25 +73,25 @@ pub fn bump_port(addr: &mut SocketAddr, bpt: BumpPortType) -> Result<bool, Strin
                 bumped = true;
             }
 
-            Err("no ports remaining".to_owned())
+            Err(BumpPortError::Failure("no ports remaining".to_owned()))
         }
     }
 }
 
-pub fn bump_port_string(addr: &mut String, bpt: BumpPortType) -> Result<bool, String> {
+pub fn bump_port_string(addr: &mut String, bpt: BumpPortType) -> Result<bool, BumpPortError> {
     cfg_if! {
         if #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")] {
-            return Err("unsupported architecture".to_owned());
+            return Err(BumpPortError::Unsupported);
         }
         else
         {
             let savec: Vec<SocketAddr> = addr
                 .to_socket_addrs()
-                .map_err(|x| format!("failed to resolve socket address: {}", x))?
+                .map_err(|x| BumpPortError::Failure(format!("failed to resolve socket address: {}", x)))?
                 .collect();
 
             if savec.len() == 0 {
-                return Err("No socket addresses resolved".to_owned());
+                return Err(BumpPortError::Failure("No socket addresses resolved".to_owned()));
             }
             let mut sa = savec.first().unwrap().clone();
 
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/xx/eventual_base.rs b/veilid-core/src/xx/eventual_base.rs
index 77be0d56..5564cfe6 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/xx/eventual_base.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/xx/eventual_base.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 use super::*;
 
+#[derive(ThisError, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum EventualError {
+    #[error("Try failed: {0}")]
+    TryFailed(String),
+}
+
 pub struct EventualBaseInner<T> {
     resolved: Option<T>,
     wakers: BTreeMap<usize, task::Waker>,
@@ -92,12 +98,16 @@ impl<T> EventualBaseInner<T> {
         self.resolved_freelist.clear();
     }
 
-    pub(super) fn try_reset(&mut self) -> Result<(), String> {
+    pub(super) fn try_reset(&mut self) -> Result<(), EventualError> {
         if !self.wakers.is_empty() {
-            return Err("Wakers not empty during reset".to_owned());
+            return Err(EventualError::TryFailed(
+                "wakers not empty during reset".to_owned(),
+            ));
         }
         if !self.resolved_wakers.is_empty() {
-            return Err("Resolved wakers not empty during reset".to_owned());
+            return Err(EventualError::TryFailed(
+                "Resolved wakers not empty during reset".to_owned(),
+            ));
         }
         self.reset();
         Ok(())
@@ -199,7 +209,7 @@ pub trait EventualCommon: EventualBase {
         self.base_inner().reset()
     }
 
-    fn try_reset(&self) -> Result<(), String> {
+    fn try_reset(&self) -> Result<(), EventualError> {
         self.base_inner().try_reset()
     }
 }
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/xx/tools.rs b/veilid-core/src/xx/tools.rs
index 8ad0cba2..2ca3b11c 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/xx/tools.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/xx/tools.rs
@@ -30,13 +30,11 @@ macro_rules! bail_io_error_other {
     };
 }
 
-pub fn split_port(name: &str) -> Result<(String, Option<u16>), String> {
+pub fn split_port(name: &str) -> EyreResult<(String, Option<u16>)> {
     if let Some(split) = name.rfind(':') {
         let hoststr = &name[0..split];
         let portstr = &name[split + 1..];
-        let port: u16 = portstr
-            .parse::<u16>()
-            .map_err(|e| format!("Invalid port: {}", e))?;
+        let port: u16 = portstr.parse::<u16>().wrap_err("invalid port")?;
 
         Ok((hoststr.to_string(), Some(port)))
     } else {