refactor: replace panic with error in rules (#1126)

Co-authored-by: chavacava <salvadorcavadini+github@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: Oleksandr Redko <oleksandr.red+github@gmail.com>

lint/linter.go

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func (l *Linter) Lint(packages [][]string, ruleSet []Rule, config Config) (<-cha
 	for n := range packages {
 		go func(pkg []string, gover *goversion.Version) {
 			if err := l.lintPackage(pkg, gover, ruleSet, config, failures); err != nil {
-				fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
+				fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "error during linting: "+err.Error())
 				os.Exit(1)
 			}
 			wg.Done()

rule/add_constant.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package rule
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"go/ast"
 	"regexp"
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ func (r *AddConstantRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lin
 	var configureErr error
 	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
 	if configureErr != nil {
-		return []lint.Failure{lint.NewInternalFailure(configureErr.Error())}
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
 	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
@@ -232,35 +233,35 @@ func (r *AddConstantRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 			}
 			list, ok := v.(string)
 			if !ok {
-				fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the add-constant rule, string expected. Got '%v' (%T)", v, v)
+				return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the add-constant rule, string expected. Got '%v' (%T)", v, v)
 			}
 			r.allowList.add(kind, list)
 		case "maxLitCount":
 			sl, ok := v.(string)
 			if !ok {
-				fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the add-constant rule, expecting string representation of an integer. Got '%v' (%T)", v, v)
+				return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the add-constant rule, expecting string representation of an integer. Got '%v' (%T)", v, v)
 			}
 
 			limit, err := strconv.Atoi(sl)
 			if err != nil {
-				fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the add-constant rule, expecting string representation of an integer. Got '%v'", v)
+				return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the add-constant rule, expecting string representation of an integer. Got '%v'", v)
 			}
 			r.strLitLimit = limit
 		case "ignoreFuncs":
 			excludes, ok := v.(string)
 			if !ok {
-				fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the ignoreFuncs parameter of add-constant rule, string expected. Got '%v' (%T)", v, v)
+				return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the ignoreFuncs parameter of add-constant rule, string expected. Got '%v' (%T)", v, v)
 			}
 
 			for _, exclude := range strings.Split(excludes, ",") {
 				exclude = strings.Trim(exclude, " ")
 				if exclude == "" {
-					fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the ignoreFuncs parameter of add-constant rule, expected regular expression must not be empty.")
+					return errors.New("invalid argument to the ignoreFuncs parameter of add-constant rule, expected regular expression must not be empty")
 				}
 
 				exp, err := regexp.Compile(exclude)
 				if err != nil {
-					fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the ignoreFuncs parameter of add-constant rule: regexp %q does not compile: %v", exclude, err)
+					return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the ignoreFuncs parameter of add-constant rule: regexp %q does not compile: %w", exclude, err)
 				}
 
 				r.ignoreFunctions = append(r.ignoreFunctions, exp)

rule/argument_limit.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package rule
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"go/ast"
 	"sync"
@@ -17,22 +18,28 @@ type ArgumentsLimitRule struct {
 
 const defaultArgumentsLimit = 8
 
-func (r *ArgumentsLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *ArgumentsLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) < 1 {
 		r.max = defaultArgumentsLimit
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	maxArguments, ok := arguments[0].(int64) // Alt. non panicking version
 	if !ok {
-		panic(`invalid value passed as argument number to the "argument-limit" rule`)
+		return errors.New(`invalid value passed as argument number to the "argument-limit" rule`)
 	}
 	r.max = int(maxArguments)
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *ArgumentsLimitRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 

rule/banned_characters.go

@@ -18,16 +18,30 @@ type BannedCharsRule struct {
 
 const bannedCharsRuleName = "banned-characters"
 
-func (r *BannedCharsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *BannedCharsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) > 0 {
-		checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, bannedCharsRuleName)
+		err := checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, bannedCharsRuleName)
-		r.bannedCharList = r.getBannedCharsList(arguments)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		list, err := r.getBannedCharsList(arguments)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		r.bannedCharList = list
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applied the rule to the given file.
 func (r *BannedCharsRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 	onFailure := func(failure lint.Failure) {
@@ -49,17 +63,17 @@ func (*BannedCharsRule) Name() string {
 }
 
 // getBannedCharsList converts arguments into the banned characters list
-func (r *BannedCharsRule) getBannedCharsList(args lint.Arguments) []string {
+func (r *BannedCharsRule) getBannedCharsList(args lint.Arguments) ([]string, error) {
 	var bannedChars []string
 	for _, char := range args {
 		charStr, ok := char.(string)
 		if !ok {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument for the %s rule: expecting a string, got %T", r.Name(), char))
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid argument for the %s rule: expecting a string, got %T", r.Name(), char)
 		}
 		bannedChars = append(bannedChars, charStr)
 	}
 
-	return bannedChars
+	return bannedChars, nil
 }
 
 type lintBannedCharsRule struct {

rule/cognitive_complexity.go

@@ -19,23 +19,29 @@ type CognitiveComplexityRule struct {
 
 const defaultMaxCognitiveComplexity = 7
 
-func (r *CognitiveComplexityRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *CognitiveComplexityRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) < 1 {
 		r.maxComplexity = defaultMaxCognitiveComplexity
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	complexity, ok := arguments[0].(int64)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid argument type for cognitive-complexity, expected int64, got %T", arguments[0]))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument type for cognitive-complexity, expected int64, got %T", arguments[0])
 	}
 
 	r.maxComplexity = int(complexity)
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *CognitiveComplexityRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 

rule/comment_spacings.go

@@ -16,20 +16,26 @@ type CommentSpacingsRule struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *CommentSpacingsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *CommentSpacingsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	r.allowList = []string{}
 	for _, arg := range arguments {
 		allow, ok := arg.(string) // Alt. non panicking version
 		if !ok {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid argument %v for %s; expected string but got %T", arg, r.Name(), arg))
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument %v for %s; expected string but got %T", arg, r.Name(), arg)
 		}
 		r.allowList = append(r.allowList, `//`+allow)
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply the rule.
-func (r *CommentSpacingsRule) Apply(file *lint.File, args lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
+func (r *CommentSpacingsRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(args) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 

rule/comments_density.go

@@ -18,23 +18,29 @@ type CommentsDensityRule struct {
 
 const defaultMinimumCommentsPercentage = 0
 
-func (r *CommentsDensityRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *CommentsDensityRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) < 1 {
 		r.minimumCommentsDensity = defaultMinimumCommentsPercentage
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	var ok bool
 	r.minimumCommentsDensity, ok = arguments[0].(int64)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid argument for %q rule: argument should be an int, got %T", r.Name(), arguments[0]))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument for %q rule: argument should be an int, got %T", r.Name(), arguments[0])
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *CommentsDensityRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
 
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
+	
 	commentsLines := countDocLines(file.AST.Comments)
 	statementsCount := countStatements(file.AST)
 	density := (float32(commentsLines) / float32(statementsCount+commentsLines)) * 100

rule/context_as_argument.go

@@ -17,8 +17,13 @@ type ContextAsArgumentRule struct {
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
-func (r *ContextAsArgumentRule) Apply(file *lint.File, args lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
+func (r *ContextAsArgumentRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(args) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 	for _, decl := range file.AST.Decls {
@@ -59,27 +64,32 @@ func (*ContextAsArgumentRule) Name() string {
 	return "context-as-argument"
 }
 
-func (r *ContextAsArgumentRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *ContextAsArgumentRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
-	r.allowTypes = r.getAllowTypesFromArguments(arguments)
+	types, err := r.getAllowTypesFromArguments(arguments)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	r.allowTypes = types
+	return nil
 }
 
-func (r *ContextAsArgumentRule) getAllowTypesFromArguments(args lint.Arguments) map[string]struct{} {
+func (r *ContextAsArgumentRule) getAllowTypesFromArguments(args lint.Arguments) (map[string]struct{}, error) {
 	allowTypesBefore := []string{}
 	if len(args) >= 1 {
 		argKV, ok := args[0].(map[string]any)
 		if !ok {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the context-as-argument rule. Expecting a k,v map, got %T", args[0]))
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the context-as-argument rule. Expecting a k,v map, got %T", args[0])
 		}
 		for k, v := range argKV {
 			switch k {
 			case "allowTypesBefore":
 				typesBefore, ok := v.(string)
 				if !ok {
-					panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the context-as-argument.allowTypesBefore rule. Expecting a string, got %T", v))
+					return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the context-as-argument.allowTypesBefore rule. Expecting a string, got %T", v)
 				}
 				allowTypesBefore = append(allowTypesBefore, strings.Split(typesBefore, ",")...)
 			default:
-				panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the context-as-argument rule. Unrecognized key %s", k))
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the context-as-argument rule. Unrecognized key %s", k)
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -90,5 +100,5 @@ func (r *ContextAsArgumentRule) getAllowTypesFromArguments(args lint.Arguments)
 	}
 
 	result["context.Context"] = struct{}{} // context.Context is always allowed before another context.Context
-	return result
+	return result, nil
 }

rule/cyclomatic.go

@@ -20,22 +20,28 @@ type CyclomaticRule struct {
 
 const defaultMaxCyclomaticComplexity = 10
 
-func (r *CyclomaticRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *CyclomaticRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) < 1 {
 		r.maxComplexity = defaultMaxCyclomaticComplexity
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	complexity, ok := arguments[0].(int64) // Alt. non panicking version
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid argument for cyclomatic complexity; expected int but got %T", arguments[0]))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument for cyclomatic complexity; expected int but got %T", arguments[0])
 	}
 	r.maxComplexity = int(complexity)
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *CyclomaticRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 	for _, decl := range file.AST.Decls {

rule/defer.go

@@ -15,13 +15,23 @@ type DeferRule struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *DeferRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *DeferRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
-	r.allow = r.allowFromArgs(arguments)
+	list, err := r.allowFromArgs(arguments)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	r.allow = list
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *DeferRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 	onFailure := func(failure lint.Failure) {
@@ -39,7 +49,7 @@ func (*DeferRule) Name() string {
 	return "defer"
 }
 
-func (*DeferRule) allowFromArgs(args lint.Arguments) map[string]bool {
+func (*DeferRule) allowFromArgs(args lint.Arguments) (map[string]bool, error) {
 	if len(args) < 1 {
 		allow := map[string]bool{
 			"loop":              true,
@@ -50,24 +60,24 @@ func (*DeferRule) allowFromArgs(args lint.Arguments) map[string]bool {
 			"immediate-recover": true,
 		}
 
-		return allow
+		return allow, nil
 	}
 
 	aa, ok := args[0].([]any)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument '%v' for 'defer' rule. Expecting []string, got %T", args[0], args[0]))
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid argument '%v' for 'defer' rule. Expecting []string, got %T", args[0], args[0])
 	}
 
 	allow := make(map[string]bool, len(aa))
 	for _, subcase := range aa {
 		sc, ok := subcase.(string)
 		if !ok {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument '%v' for 'defer' rule. Expecting string, got %T", subcase, subcase))
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid argument '%v' for 'defer' rule. Expecting string, got %T", subcase, subcase)
 		}
 		allow[sc] = true
 	}
 
-	return allow
+	return allow, nil
 }
 
 type lintDeferRule struct {

rule/dot_imports.go

@@ -17,7 +17,12 @@ type DotImportsRule struct {
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *DotImportsRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 
@@ -41,30 +46,31 @@ func (*DotImportsRule) Name() string {
 	return "dot-imports"
 }
 
-func (r *DotImportsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *DotImportsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	r.allowedPackages = allowPackages{}
 	if len(arguments) == 0 {
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	args, ok := arguments[0].(map[string]any)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the dot-imports rule. Expecting a k,v map, got %T", arguments[0]))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the dot-imports rule. Expecting a k,v map, got %T", arguments[0])
 	}
 
 	if allowedPkgArg, ok := args["allowedPackages"]; ok {
 		pkgs, ok := allowedPkgArg.([]any)
 		if !ok {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the dot-imports rule, []string expected. Got '%v' (%T)", allowedPkgArg, allowedPkgArg))
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the dot-imports rule, []string expected. Got '%v' (%T)", allowedPkgArg, allowedPkgArg)
 		}
 		for _, p := range pkgs {
 			pkg, ok := p.(string)
 			if !ok {
-				panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the dot-imports rule, string expected. Got '%v' (%T)", p, p))
+				return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the dot-imports rule, string expected. Got '%v' (%T)", p, p)
 			}
 			r.allowedPackages.add(pkg)
 		}
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 type lintImports struct {

rule/enforce_map_style.go

@@ -44,35 +44,40 @@ type EnforceMapStyleRule struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *EnforceMapStyleRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *EnforceMapStyleRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) < 1 {
 		r.enforceMapStyle = enforceMapStyleTypeAny
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	enforceMapStyle, ok := arguments[0].(string)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument '%v' for 'enforce-map-style' rule. Expecting string, got %T", arguments[0], arguments[0]))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument '%v' for 'enforce-map-style' rule. Expecting string, got %T", arguments[0], arguments[0])
 	}
 
 	var err error
 	r.enforceMapStyle, err = mapStyleFromString(enforceMapStyle)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the enforce-map-style rule: %v", err))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the enforce-map-style rule: %w", err)
 	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *EnforceMapStyleRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	if r.enforceMapStyle == enforceMapStyleTypeAny {
 		// this linter is not configured
 		return nil
 	}
-
 	var failures []lint.Failure
-
 	astFile := file.AST
 	ast.Inspect(astFile, func(n ast.Node) bool {
 		switch v := n.(type) {

rule/enforce_repeated_arg_type_style.go

@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ const (
 	enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeFull  enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleType = "full"
 )
 
-func repeatedArgTypeStyleFromString(s string) enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleType {
+func repeatedArgTypeStyleFromString(s string) (enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleType, error) {
 	switch s {
 	case string(enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeAny), "":
-		return enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeAny
+		return enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeAny, nil
 	case string(enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeShort):
-		return enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeShort
+		return enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeShort, nil
 	case string(enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeFull):
-		return enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeFull
+		return enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeFull, nil
 	default:
 		err := fmt.Errorf(
 			"invalid repeated arg type style: %s (expecting one of %v)",
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func repeatedArgTypeStyleFromString(s string) enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleType {
 			},
 		)
 
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the enforce-repeated-arg-type-style rule: %v", err))
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the enforce-repeated-arg-type-style rule: %w", err)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -47,45 +47,67 @@ type EnforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleRule struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *EnforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *EnforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	r.funcArgStyle = enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeAny
 	r.funcRetValStyle = enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeAny
 
 	if len(arguments) == 0 {
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	switch funcArgStyle := arguments[0].(type) {
 	case string:
-		r.funcArgStyle = repeatedArgTypeStyleFromString(funcArgStyle)
+		argstyle, err := repeatedArgTypeStyleFromString(funcArgStyle)
-		r.funcRetValStyle = repeatedArgTypeStyleFromString(funcArgStyle)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		r.funcArgStyle = argstyle
+		valstyle, err := repeatedArgTypeStyleFromString(funcArgStyle)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		r.funcRetValStyle = valstyle
 	case map[string]any: // expecting map[string]string
 		for k, v := range funcArgStyle {
 			switch k {
 			case "funcArgStyle":
 				val, ok := v.(string)
 				if !ok {
-					panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid map value type for 'enforce-repeated-arg-type-style' rule. Expecting string, got %T", v))
+					return fmt.Errorf("invalid map value type for 'enforce-repeated-arg-type-style' rule. Expecting string, got %T", v)
 				}
-				r.funcArgStyle = repeatedArgTypeStyleFromString(val)
+				valstyle, err := repeatedArgTypeStyleFromString(val)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				r.funcArgStyle = valstyle
 			case "funcRetValStyle":
 				val, ok := v.(string)
 				if !ok {
-					panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid map value '%v' for 'enforce-repeated-arg-type-style' rule. Expecting string, got %T", v, v))
+					return fmt.Errorf("invalid map value '%v' for 'enforce-repeated-arg-type-style' rule. Expecting string, got %T", v, v)
 				}
-				r.funcRetValStyle = repeatedArgTypeStyleFromString(val)
+				argstyle, err := repeatedArgTypeStyleFromString(val)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				r.funcRetValStyle = argstyle
 			default:
-				panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid map key for 'enforce-repeated-arg-type-style' rule. Expecting 'funcArgStyle' or 'funcRetValStyle', got %v", k))
+				return fmt.Errorf("invalid map key for 'enforce-repeated-arg-type-style' rule. Expecting 'funcArgStyle' or 'funcRetValStyle', got %v", k)
 			}
 		}
 	default:
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument '%v' for 'import-alias-naming' rule. Expecting string or map[string]string, got %T", arguments[0], arguments[0]))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument '%v' for 'import-alias-naming' rule. Expecting string or map[string]string, got %T", arguments[0], arguments[0])
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to a given file.
 func (r *EnforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	if r.funcArgStyle == enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeAny && r.funcRetValStyle == enforceRepeatedArgTypeStyleTypeAny {
 		// This linter is not configured, return no failures.

rule/enforce_slice_style.go

@@ -48,27 +48,33 @@ type EnforceSliceStyleRule struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *EnforceSliceStyleRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *EnforceSliceStyleRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) < 1 {
 		r.enforceSliceStyle = enforceSliceStyleTypeAny
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	enforceSliceStyle, ok := arguments[0].(string)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument '%v' for 'enforce-slice-style' rule. Expecting string, got %T", arguments[0], arguments[0]))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument '%v' for 'enforce-slice-style' rule. Expecting string, got %T", arguments[0], arguments[0])
 	}
 
 	var err error
 	r.enforceSliceStyle, err = sliceStyleFromString(enforceSliceStyle)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the enforce-slice-style rule: %v", err))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the enforce-slice-style rule: %w", err)
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *EnforceSliceStyleRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	if r.enforceSliceStyle == enforceSliceStyleTypeAny {
 		// this linter is not configured

rule/error_strings.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package rule
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"go/ast"
 	"go/token"
 	"strconv"
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ type ErrorStringsRule struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *ErrorStringsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *ErrorStringsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	r.errorFunctions = map[string]map[string]struct{}{
 		"fmt": {
 			"Errorf": {},
@@ -46,15 +47,21 @@ func (r *ErrorStringsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 		}
 	}
 	if len(invalidCustomFunctions) != 0 {
-		panic("found invalid custom function: " + strings.Join(invalidCustomFunctions, ","))
+		return fmt.Errorf("found invalid custom function: " + strings.Join(invalidCustomFunctions, ","))
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *ErrorStringsRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	var failures []lint.Failure
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
 
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
+
+	var failures []lint.Failure
 
 	fileAst := file.AST
 	walker := lintErrorStrings{

rule/exported.go

@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ type ExportedRule struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *ExportedRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *ExportedRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	r.disabledChecks = disabledChecks{PrivateReceivers: true, PublicInterfaces: true}
 	r.stuttersMsg = "stutters"
 	for _, flag := range arguments {
@@ -96,17 +96,24 @@ func (r *ExportedRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 			case "disableChecksOnVariables":
 				r.disabledChecks.Var = true
 			default:
-				panic(fmt.Sprintf("Unknown configuration flag %s for %s rule", flag, r.Name()))
+				return fmt.Errorf("unknown configuration flag %s for %s rule", flag, r.Name())
 			}
 		default:
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument for the %s rule: expecting a string, got %T", r.Name(), flag))
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument for the %s rule: expecting a string, got %T", r.Name(), flag)
 		}
 	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
-func (r *ExportedRule) Apply(file *lint.File, args lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
+func (r *ExportedRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(args) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 	if file.IsTest() {

rule/file_header.go

@@ -20,21 +20,27 @@ var (
 	singleRegexp = regexp.MustCompile("^//")
 )
 
-func (r *FileHeaderRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *FileHeaderRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) < 1 {
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	var ok bool
 	r.header, ok = arguments[0].(string)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid argument for \"file-header\" rule: argument should be a string, got %T", arguments[0]))
+		return fmt.Errorf(`invalid argument for "file-header" rule: argument should be a string, got %T`, arguments[0])
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *FileHeaderRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	if r.header == "" {
 		return nil
@@ -69,7 +75,7 @@ func (r *FileHeaderRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint
 
 	regex, err := regexp.Compile(r.header)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(err.Error())
+		return newInternalFailureError(err)
 	}
 
 	if !regex.MatchString(comment) {

rule/file_length_limit.go

@@ -26,7 +26,12 @@ type FileLengthLimitRule struct {
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *FileLengthLimitRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	if r.max <= 0 {
 		// when max is negative or 0 the rule is disabled
@@ -44,7 +49,7 @@ func (r *FileLengthLimitRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) [
 	}
 
 	if err := scanner.Err(); err != nil {
-		panic(err.Error())
+		return newInternalFailureError(err)
 	}
 
 	lines := all
@@ -75,37 +80,38 @@ func (r *FileLengthLimitRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) [
 	}
 }
 
-func (r *FileLengthLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *FileLengthLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) < 1 {
-		return // use default
+		return nil // use default
 	}
 
 	argKV, ok := arguments[0].(map[string]any)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf(`invalid argument to the "file-length-limit" rule. Expecting a k,v map, got %T`, arguments[0]))
+		return fmt.Errorf(`invalid argument to the "file-length-limit" rule. Expecting a k,v map, got %T`, arguments[0])
 	}
 	for k, v := range argKV {
 		switch k {
 		case "max":
 			maxLines, ok := v.(int64)
 			if !ok || maxLines < 0 {
-				panic(fmt.Sprintf(`invalid configuration value for max lines in "file-length-limit" rule; need positive int64 but got %T`, arguments[0]))
+				return fmt.Errorf(`invalid configuration value for max lines in "file-length-limit" rule; need positive int64 but got %T`, arguments[0])
 			}
 			r.max = int(maxLines)
 		case "skipComments":
 			skipComments, ok := v.(bool)
 			if !ok {
-				panic(fmt.Sprintf(`invalid configuration value for skip comments in "file-length-limit" rule; need bool but got %T`, arguments[1]))
+				return fmt.Errorf(`invalid configuration value for skip comments in "file-length-limit" rule; need bool but got %T`, arguments[1])
 			}
 			r.skipComments = skipComments
 		case "skipBlankLines":
 			skipBlankLines, ok := v.(bool)
 			if !ok {
-				panic(fmt.Sprintf(`invalid configuration value for skip blank lines in "file-length-limit" rule; need bool but got %T`, arguments[2]))
+				return fmt.Errorf(`invalid configuration value for skip blank lines in "file-length-limit" rule; need bool but got %T`, arguments[2])
 			}
 			r.skipBlankLines = skipBlankLines
 		}
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Name returns the rule name.

rule/filename_format.go

@@ -19,7 +19,12 @@ type FilenameFormatRule struct {
 
 // Apply applies the rule to the given file.
 func (r *FilenameFormatRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	filename := filepath.Base(file.Name)
 	if r.format.MatchString(filename) {
@@ -55,27 +60,29 @@ func (*FilenameFormatRule) Name() string {
 
 var defaultFormat = regexp.MustCompile(`^[_A-Za-z0-9][_A-Za-z0-9-]*\.go$`)
 
-func (r *FilenameFormatRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *FilenameFormatRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	argsCount := len(arguments)
 	if argsCount == 0 {
 		r.format = defaultFormat
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	if argsCount > 1 {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("rule %q expects only one argument, got %d %v", r.Name(), argsCount, arguments))
+		return fmt.Errorf("rule %q expects only one argument, got %d %v", r.Name(), argsCount, arguments)
 	}
 
 	arg := arguments[0]
 	str, ok := arg.(string)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("rule %q expects a string argument, got %v of type %T", r.Name(), arg, arg))
+		return fmt.Errorf("rule %q expects a string argument, got %v of type %T", r.Name(), arg, arg)
 	}
 
 	format, err := regexp.Compile(str)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("rule %q expects a valid regexp argument, got %v for %s", r.Name(), err, arg))
+		return fmt.Errorf("rule %q expects a valid regexp argument, got error for %s: %w", r.Name(), str, err)
 	}
 
 	r.format = format
+
+	return nil
 }

rule/function_length.go

@@ -17,15 +17,24 @@ type FunctionLength struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *FunctionLength) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *FunctionLength) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
-	maxStmt, maxLines := r.parseArguments(arguments)
+	maxStmt, maxLines, err := r.parseArguments(arguments)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	r.maxStmt = int(maxStmt)
 	r.maxLines = int(maxLines)
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *FunctionLength) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 	for _, decl := range file.AST.Decls {
@@ -74,33 +83,33 @@ func (*FunctionLength) Name() string {
 const defaultFuncStmtsLimit = 50
 const defaultFuncLinesLimit = 75
 
-func (*FunctionLength) parseArguments(arguments lint.Arguments) (maxStmt, maxLines int64) {
+func (*FunctionLength) parseArguments(arguments lint.Arguments) (maxStmt, maxLines int64, err error) {
 	if len(arguments) == 0 {
-		return defaultFuncStmtsLimit, defaultFuncLinesLimit
+		return defaultFuncStmtsLimit, defaultFuncLinesLimit, nil
 	}
 
 	const minArguments = 2
 	if len(arguments) != minArguments {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf(`invalid configuration for "function-length" rule, expected %d arguments but got %d`, minArguments, len(arguments)))
+		return 0, 0, fmt.Errorf(`invalid configuration for "function-length" rule, expected %d arguments but got %d`, minArguments, len(arguments))
 	}
 
 	maxStmt, maxStmtOk := arguments[0].(int64)
 	if !maxStmtOk {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf(`invalid configuration value for max statements in "function-length" rule; need int64 but got %T`, arguments[0]))
+		return 0, 0, fmt.Errorf(`invalid configuration value for max statements in "function-length" rule; need int64 but got %T`, arguments[0])
 	}
 	if maxStmt < 0 {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf(`the configuration value for max statements in "function-length" rule cannot be negative, got %d`, maxStmt))
+		return 0, 0, fmt.Errorf(`the configuration value for max statements in "function-length" rule cannot be negative, got %d`, maxStmt)
 	}
 
 	maxLines, maxLinesOk := arguments[1].(int64)
 	if !maxLinesOk {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf(`invalid configuration value for max lines in "function-length" rule; need int64 but got %T`, arguments[1]))
+		return 0, 0, fmt.Errorf(`invalid configuration value for max lines in "function-length" rule; need int64 but got %T`, arguments[1])
 	}
 	if maxLines < 0 {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf(`the configuration value for max statements in "function-length" rule cannot be negative, got %d`, maxLines))
+		return 0, 0, fmt.Errorf(`the configuration value for max statements in "function-length" rule cannot be negative, got %d`, maxLines)
 	}
 
-	return maxStmt, maxLines
+	return maxStmt, maxLines, nil
 }
 
 func (*FunctionLength) countLines(b *ast.BlockStmt, file *lint.File) int {

rule/function_result_limit.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package rule
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"go/ast"
 	"sync"
@@ -17,7 +18,12 @@ type FunctionResultsLimitRule struct {
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *FunctionResultsLimitRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 	for _, decl := range file.AST.Decls {
@@ -53,19 +59,20 @@ func (*FunctionResultsLimitRule) Name() string {
 
 const defaultResultsLimit = 3
 
-func (r *FunctionResultsLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *FunctionResultsLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) < 1 {
 		r.max = defaultResultsLimit
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	maxResults, ok := arguments[0].(int64) // Alt. non panicking version
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf(`invalid value passed as return results number to the "function-result-limit" rule; need int64 but got %T`, arguments[0]))
+		return fmt.Errorf(`invalid value passed as return results number to the "function-result-limit" rule; need int64 but got %T`, arguments[0])
 	}
 	if maxResults < 0 {
-		panic(`the value passed as return results number to the "function-result-limit" rule cannot be negative`)
+		return errors.New(`the value passed as return results number to the "function-result-limit" rule cannot be negative`)
 	}
 
 	r.max = int(maxResults)
+	return nil
 }

rule/import_alias_naming.go

@@ -20,38 +20,54 @@ const defaultImportAliasNamingAllowRule = "^[a-z][a-z0-9]{0,}$"
 
 var defaultImportAliasNamingAllowRegexp = regexp.MustCompile(defaultImportAliasNamingAllowRule)
 
-func (r *ImportAliasNamingRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *ImportAliasNamingRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) == 0 {
 		r.allowRegexp = defaultImportAliasNamingAllowRegexp
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	switch namingRule := arguments[0].(type) {
 	case string:
-		r.setAllowRule(namingRule)
+		err := r.setAllowRule(namingRule)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	case map[string]any: // expecting map[string]string
 		for k, v := range namingRule {
 			switch k {
 			case "allowRegex":
-				r.setAllowRule(v)
+				err := r.setAllowRule(v)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
 			case "denyRegex":
-				r.setDenyRule(v)
+				err := r.setDenyRule(v)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+
 			default:
-				panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid map key for 'import-alias-naming' rule. Expecting 'allowRegex' or 'denyRegex', got %v", k))
+				return fmt.Errorf("invalid map key for 'import-alias-naming' rule. Expecting 'allowRegex' or 'denyRegex', got %v", k)
 			}
 		}
 	default:
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument '%v' for 'import-alias-naming' rule. Expecting string or map[string]string, got %T", arguments[0], arguments[0]))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument '%v' for 'import-alias-naming' rule. Expecting string or map[string]string, got %T", arguments[0], arguments[0])
 	}
 
 	if r.allowRegexp == nil && r.denyRegexp == nil {
 		r.allowRegexp = defaultImportAliasNamingAllowRegexp
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *ImportAliasNamingRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 
@@ -93,28 +109,30 @@ func (*ImportAliasNamingRule) Name() string {
 	return "import-alias-naming"
 }
 
-func (r *ImportAliasNamingRule) setAllowRule(value any) {
+func (r *ImportAliasNamingRule) setAllowRule(value any) error {
 	namingRule, ok := value.(string)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument '%v' for import-alias-naming allowRegexp rule. Expecting string, got %T", value, value))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument '%v' for import-alias-naming allowRegexp rule. Expecting string, got %T", value, value)
 	}
 
 	namingRuleRegexp, err := regexp.Compile(namingRule)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the import-alias-naming allowRegexp rule. Expecting %q to be a valid regular expression, got: %v", namingRule, err))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the import-alias-naming allowRegexp rule. Expecting %q to be a valid regular expression, got: %w", namingRule, err)
 	}
 	r.allowRegexp = namingRuleRegexp
+	return nil
 }
 
-func (r *ImportAliasNamingRule) setDenyRule(value any) {
+func (r *ImportAliasNamingRule) setDenyRule(value any) error {
 	namingRule, ok := value.(string)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument '%v' for import-alias-naming denyRegexp rule. Expecting string, got %T", value, value))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument '%v' for import-alias-naming denyRegexp rule. Expecting string, got %T", value, value)
 	}
 
 	namingRuleRegexp, err := regexp.Compile(namingRule)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the import-alias-naming denyRegexp rule. Expecting %q to be a valid regular expression, got: %v", namingRule, err))
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the import-alias-naming denyRegexp rule. Expecting %q to be a valid regular expression, got: %w", namingRule, err)
 	}
 	r.denyRegexp = namingRuleRegexp
+	return nil
 }

rule/imports_blocklist.go

@@ -17,19 +17,20 @@ type ImportsBlocklistRule struct {
 
 var replaceImportRegexp = regexp.MustCompile(`/?\*\*/?`)
 
-func (r *ImportsBlocklistRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *ImportsBlocklistRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	r.blocklist = []*regexp.Regexp{}
 	for _, arg := range arguments {
 		argStr, ok := arg.(string)
 		if !ok {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the imports-blocklist rule. Expecting a string, got %T", arg))
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the imports-blocklist rule. Expecting a string, got %T", arg)
 		}
 		regStr, err := regexp.Compile(fmt.Sprintf(`(?m)"%s"$`, replaceImportRegexp.ReplaceAllString(argStr, `(\W|\w)*`)))
 		if err != nil {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the imports-blocklist rule. Expecting %q to be a valid regular expression, got: %v", argStr, err))
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the imports-blocklist rule. Expecting %q to be a valid regular expression, got: %w", argStr, err)
 		}
 		r.blocklist = append(r.blocklist, regStr)
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (r *ImportsBlocklistRule) isBlocklisted(path string) bool {
@@ -43,7 +44,12 @@ func (r *ImportsBlocklistRule) isBlocklisted(path string) bool {
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *ImportsBlocklistRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 

rule/line_length_limit.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package rule
 import (
 	"bufio"
 	"bytes"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"go/token"
 	"strings"
@@ -21,23 +22,29 @@ type LineLengthLimitRule struct {
 
 const defaultLineLengthLimit = 80
 
-func (r *LineLengthLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *LineLengthLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) < 1 {
 		r.max = defaultLineLengthLimit
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	maxLength, ok := arguments[0].(int64) // Alt. non panicking version
 	if !ok || maxLength < 0 {
-		panic(`invalid value passed as argument number to the "line-length-limit" rule`)
+		return errors.New(`invalid value passed as argument number to the "line-length-limit" rule`)
 	}
 
 	r.max = int(maxLength)
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *LineLengthLimitRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 

rule/max_control_nesting.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package rule
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"go/ast"
 	"sync"
@@ -19,7 +20,12 @@ const defaultMaxControlNesting = 5
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *MaxControlNestingRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 
@@ -107,17 +113,21 @@ func (w *lintMaxControlNesting) walkControlledBlock(b ast.Node) {
 	w.nestingLevelAcc = oldNestingLevel
 }
 
-func (r *MaxControlNestingRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *MaxControlNestingRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) < 1 {
 		r.max = defaultMaxControlNesting
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
-	checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, r.Name())
+	check := checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, r.Name())
+	if check != nil {
+		return check
+	}
 
 	maxNesting, ok := arguments[0].(int64) // Alt. non panicking version
 	if !ok {
-		panic(`invalid value passed as argument number to the "max-control-nesting" rule`)
+		return errors.New(`invalid value passed as argument number to the "max-control-nesting" rule`)
 	}
 	r.max = maxNesting
+	return nil
 }

rule/max_public_structs.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package rule
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"go/ast"
 	"strings"
@@ -18,24 +19,33 @@ type MaxPublicStructsRule struct {
 
 const defaultMaxPublicStructs = 5
 
-func (r *MaxPublicStructsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *MaxPublicStructsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) < 1 {
 		r.max = defaultMaxPublicStructs
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
-	checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, r.Name())
+	err := checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, r.Name())
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	maxStructs, ok := arguments[0].(int64) // Alt. non panicking version
 	if !ok {
-		panic(`invalid value passed as argument number to the "max-public-structs" rule`)
+		return errors.New(`invalid value passed as argument number to the "max-public-structs" rule`)
 	}
 	r.max = maxStructs
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *MaxPublicStructsRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 

rule/receiver_naming.go

@@ -18,15 +18,15 @@ type ReceiverNamingRule struct {
 
 const defaultReceiverNameMaxLength = -1 // thus will not check
 
-func (r *ReceiverNamingRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *ReceiverNamingRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	r.receiverNameMaxLength = defaultReceiverNameMaxLength
 	if len(arguments) < 1 {
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	args, ok := arguments[0].(map[string]any)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Unable to get arguments for rule %s. Expected object of key-value-pairs.", r.Name()))
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to get arguments for rule %s. Expected object of key-value-pairs", r.Name())
 	}
 
 	for k, v := range args {
@@ -34,18 +34,24 @@ func (r *ReceiverNamingRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 		case "maxLength":
 			value, ok := v.(int64)
 			if !ok {
-				panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid value %v for argument %s of rule %s, expected integer value got %T", v, k, r.Name(), v))
+				return fmt.Errorf("invalid value %v for argument %s of rule %s, expected integer value got %T", v, k, r.Name(), v)
 			}
 			r.receiverNameMaxLength = int(value)
 		default:
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Unknown argument %s for %s rule.", k, r.Name()))
+			return fmt.Errorf("unknown argument %s for %s rule", k, r.Name())
 		}
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
-func (r *ReceiverNamingRule) Apply(file *lint.File, args lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
+func (r *ReceiverNamingRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(args) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	typeReceiver := map[string]string{}
 	var failures []lint.Failure

rule/string_format.go

@@ -23,7 +23,11 @@ func (*StringFormatRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint
 	}
 
 	w := lintStringFormatRule{onFailure: onFailure}
-	w.parseArguments(arguments)
+	err := w.parseArguments(arguments)
+	if err != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(err)
+	}
+
 	ast.Walk(w, file.AST)
 
 	return failures
@@ -41,10 +45,9 @@ func (StringFormatRule) ParseArgumentsTest(arguments lint.Arguments) *string {
 	// Parse the arguments in a goroutine, defer a recover() call, return the error encountered (or nil if there was no error)
 	go func() {
 		defer func() {
-			err := recover()
+			err := w.parseArguments(arguments)
 			c <- err
 		}()
-		w.parseArguments(arguments)
 	}()
 	err := <-c
 	if err != nil {
@@ -81,9 +84,12 @@ const identRegex = "[_A-Za-z][_A-Za-z0-9]*"
 var parseStringFormatScope = regexp.MustCompile(
 	fmt.Sprintf("^(%s(?:\\.%s)?)(?:\\[([0-9]+)\\](?:\\.(%s))?)?$", identRegex, identRegex, identRegex))
 
-func (w *lintStringFormatRule) parseArguments(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (w *lintStringFormatRule) parseArguments(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	for i, argument := range arguments {
-		scopes, regex, negated, errorMessage := w.parseArgument(argument, i)
+		scopes, regex, negated, errorMessage, err := w.parseArgument(argument, i)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 		w.rules = append(w.rules, stringFormatSubrule{
 			parent:       w,
 			scopes:       scopes,
@@ -92,30 +98,31 @@ func (w *lintStringFormatRule) parseArguments(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 			errorMessage: errorMessage,
 		})
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
-func (w lintStringFormatRule) parseArgument(argument any, ruleNum int) (scopes stringFormatSubruleScopes, regex *regexp.Regexp, negated bool, errorMessage string) {
+func (w lintStringFormatRule) parseArgument(argument any, ruleNum int) (scopes stringFormatSubruleScopes, regex *regexp.Regexp, negated bool, errorMessage string, err error) {
 	g, ok := argument.([]any) // Cast to generic slice first
 	if !ok {
-		w.configError("argument is not a slice", ruleNum, 0)
+		return stringFormatSubruleScopes{}, regex, false, "", w.configError("argument is not a slice", ruleNum, 0)
 	}
 	if len(g) < 2 {
-		w.configError("less than two slices found in argument, scope and regex are required", ruleNum, len(g)-1)
+		return stringFormatSubruleScopes{}, regex, false, "", w.configError("less than two slices found in argument, scope and regex are required", ruleNum, len(g)-1)
 	}
 	rule := make([]string, len(g))
 	for i, obj := range g {
 		val, ok := obj.(string)
 		if !ok {
-			w.configError("unexpected value, string was expected", ruleNum, i)
+			return stringFormatSubruleScopes{}, regex, false, "", w.configError("unexpected value, string was expected", ruleNum, i)
 		}
 		rule[i] = val
 	}
 
 	// Validate scope and regex length
 	if rule[0] == "" {
-		w.configError("empty scope provided", ruleNum, 0)
+		return stringFormatSubruleScopes{}, regex, false, "", w.configError("empty scope provided", ruleNum, 0)
 	} else if len(rule[1]) < 2 {
-		w.configError("regex is too small (regexes should begin and end with '/')", ruleNum, 1)
+		return stringFormatSubruleScopes{}, regex, false, "", w.configError("regex is too small (regexes should begin and end with '/')", ruleNum, 1)
 	}
 
 	// Parse rule scopes
@@ -126,24 +133,24 @@ func (w lintStringFormatRule) parseArgument(argument any, ruleNum int) (scopes s
 		rawScope = strings.TrimSpace(rawScope)
 
 		if len(rawScope) == 0 {
-			w.parseScopeError("empty scope in rule scopes:", ruleNum, 0, scopeNum)
+			return stringFormatSubruleScopes{}, regex, false, "", w.parseScopeError("empty scope in rule scopes:", ruleNum, 0, scopeNum)
 		}
 
 		scope := stringFormatSubruleScope{}
 		matches := parseStringFormatScope.FindStringSubmatch(rawScope)
 		if matches == nil {
 			// The rule's scope didn't match the parsing regex at all, probably a configuration error
-			w.parseScopeError("unable to parse rule scope", ruleNum, 0, scopeNum)
+			return stringFormatSubruleScopes{}, regex, false, "", w.parseScopeError("unable to parse rule scope", ruleNum, 0, scopeNum)
 		} else if len(matches) != 4 {
 			// The rule's scope matched the parsing regex, but an unexpected number of submatches was returned, probably a bug
-			w.parseScopeError(fmt.Sprintf("unexpected number of submatches when parsing scope: %d, expected 4", len(matches)), ruleNum, 0, scopeNum)
+			return stringFormatSubruleScopes{}, regex, false, "", w.parseScopeError(fmt.Sprintf("unexpected number of submatches when parsing scope: %d, expected 4", len(matches)), ruleNum, 0, scopeNum)
 		}
 		scope.funcName = matches[1]
 		if len(matches[2]) > 0 {
 			var err error
 			scope.argument, err = strconv.Atoi(matches[2])
 			if err != nil {
-				w.parseScopeError("unable to parse argument number in rule scope", ruleNum, 0, scopeNum)
+				return stringFormatSubruleScopes{}, regex, false, "", w.parseScopeError("unable to parse argument number in rule scope", ruleNum, 0, scopeNum)
 			}
 		}
 		if len(matches[3]) > 0 {
@@ -159,31 +166,31 @@ func (w lintStringFormatRule) parseArgument(argument any, ruleNum int) (scopes s
 	if negated {
 		offset++
 	}
-	regex, err := regexp.Compile(rule[1][offset : len(rule[1])-1])
+	regex, errr := regexp.Compile(rule[1][offset : len(rule[1])-1])
-	if err != nil {
+	if errr != nil {
-		w.parseError(fmt.Sprintf("unable to compile %s as regexp", rule[1]), ruleNum, 1)
+		return stringFormatSubruleScopes{}, regex, false, "", w.parseError(fmt.Sprintf("unable to compile %s as regexp", rule[1]), ruleNum, 1)
 	}
 
 	// Use custom error message if provided
 	if len(rule) == 3 {
 		errorMessage = rule[2]
 	}
-	return scopes, regex, negated, errorMessage
+	return scopes, regex, negated, errorMessage, nil
 }
 
 // Report an invalid config, this is specifically the user's fault
-func (lintStringFormatRule) configError(msg string, ruleNum, option int) {
+func (lintStringFormatRule) configError(msg string, ruleNum, option int) error {
-	panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid configuration for string-format: %s [argument %d, option %d]", msg, ruleNum, option))
+	return fmt.Errorf("invalid configuration for string-format: %s [argument %d, option %d]", msg, ruleNum, option)
 }
 
 // Report a general config parsing failure, this may be the user's fault, but it isn't known for certain
-func (lintStringFormatRule) parseError(msg string, ruleNum, option int) {
+func (lintStringFormatRule) parseError(msg string, ruleNum, option int) error {
-	panic(fmt.Sprintf("failed to parse configuration for string-format: %s [argument %d, option %d]", msg, ruleNum, option))
+	return fmt.Errorf("failed to parse configuration for string-format: %s [argument %d, option %d]", msg, ruleNum, option)
 }
 
 // Report a general scope config parsing failure, this may be the user's fault, but it isn't known for certain
-func (lintStringFormatRule) parseScopeError(msg string, ruleNum, option, scopeNum int) {
+func (lintStringFormatRule) parseScopeError(msg string, ruleNum, option, scopeNum int) error {
-	panic(fmt.Sprintf("failed to parse configuration for string-format: %s [argument %d, option %d, scope index %d]", msg, ruleNum, option, scopeNum))
+	return fmt.Errorf("failed to parse configuration for string-format: %s [argument %d, option %d, scope index %d]", msg, ruleNum, option, scopeNum)
 }
 
 func (w lintStringFormatRule) Visit(node ast.Node) ast.Visitor {

rule/struct_tag.go

@@ -18,21 +18,24 @@ type StructTagRule struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *StructTagRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *StructTagRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) == 0 {
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
-	checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, r.Name())
+	err := checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, r.Name())
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	r.userDefined = make(map[string][]string, len(arguments))
 	for _, arg := range arguments {
 		item, ok := arg.(string)
 		if !ok {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the %s rule. Expecting a string, got %v (of type %T)", r.Name(), arg, arg))
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the %s rule. Expecting a string, got %v (of type %T)", r.Name(), arg, arg)
 		}
 		parts := strings.Split(item, ",")
 		if len(parts) < 2 {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the %s rule. Expecting a string of the form key[,option]+, got %s", r.Name(), item))
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the %s rule. Expecting a string of the form key[,option]+, got %s", r.Name(), item)
 		}
 		key := strings.TrimSpace(parts[0])
 		for i := 1; i < len(parts); i++ {
@@ -40,11 +43,17 @@ func (r *StructTagRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 			r.userDefined[key] = append(r.userDefined[key], option)
 		}
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
-func (r *StructTagRule) Apply(file *lint.File, args lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
+func (r *StructTagRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(args) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 	onFailure := func(failure lint.Failure) {

rule/unchecked_type_assertion.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package rule
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"go/ast"
 	"sync"
@@ -20,14 +21,14 @@ type UncheckedTypeAssertionRule struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *UncheckedTypeAssertionRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *UncheckedTypeAssertionRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) == 0 {
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	args, ok := arguments[0].(map[string]any)
 	if !ok {
-		panic("Unable to get arguments. Expected object of key-value-pairs.")
+		return errors.New("unable to get arguments. Expected object of key-value-pairs")
 	}
 
 	for k, v := range args {
@@ -35,17 +36,23 @@ func (r *UncheckedTypeAssertionRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 		case "acceptIgnoredAssertionResult":
 			r.acceptIgnoredAssertionResult, ok = v.(bool)
 			if !ok {
-				panic(fmt.Sprintf("Unable to parse argument '%s'. Expected boolean.", k))
+				return fmt.Errorf("unable to parse argument '%s'. Expected boolean", k)
 			}
 		default:
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Unknown argument: %s", k))
+			return fmt.Errorf("unknown argument: %s", k)
 		}
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
-func (r *UncheckedTypeAssertionRule) Apply(file *lint.File, args lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
+func (r *UncheckedTypeAssertionRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(args) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 

rule/unhandled_error.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package rule
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"go/ast"
 	"go/types"
@@ -18,30 +19,36 @@ type UnhandledErrorRule struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *UnhandledErrorRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *UnhandledErrorRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	for _, arg := range arguments {
 		argStr, ok := arg.(string)
 		if !ok {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the unhandled-error rule. Expecting a string, got %T", arg))
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the unhandled-error rule. Expecting a string, got %T", arg)
 		}
 
 		argStr = strings.Trim(argStr, " ")
 		if argStr == "" {
-			panic("Invalid argument to the unhandled-error rule, expected regular expression must not be empty.")
+			return errors.New("invalid argument to the unhandled-error rule, expected regular expression must not be empty")
 		}
 
 		exp, err := regexp.Compile(argStr)
 		if err != nil {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the unhandled-error rule: regexp %q does not compile: %v", argStr, err))
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the unhandled-error rule: regexp %q does not compile: %w", argStr, err)
 		}
 
 		r.ignoreList = append(r.ignoreList, exp)
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
-func (r *UnhandledErrorRule) Apply(file *lint.File, args lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
+func (r *UnhandledErrorRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(args) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 

rule/unused_param.go

@@ -20,20 +20,20 @@ type UnusedParamRule struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *UnusedParamRule) configure(args lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *UnusedParamRule) configure(args lint.Arguments) error {
 	// while by default args is an array, i think it's good to provide structures inside it by default, not arrays or primitives
 	// it's more compatible to JSON nature of configurations
 	r.allowRegex = allowBlankIdentifierRegex
 	r.failureMsg = "parameter '%s' seems to be unused, consider removing or renaming it as _"
 	if len(args) == 0 {
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 	// Arguments = [{}]
 	options := args[0].(map[string]any)
 
 	allowRegexParam, ok := options["allowRegex"]
 	if !ok {
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 	// Arguments = [{allowRegex="^_"}]
 	allowRegexStr, ok := allowRegexParam.(string)
@@ -43,14 +43,21 @@ func (r *UnusedParamRule) configure(args lint.Arguments) {
 	var err error
 	r.allowRegex, err = regexp.Compile(allowRegexStr)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Errorf("error configuring %s rule: allowRegex is not valid regex [%s]: %v", r.Name(), allowRegexStr, err))
+		return fmt.Errorf("error configuring %s rule: allowRegex is not valid regex [%s]: %w", r.Name(), allowRegexStr, err)
 	}
 	r.failureMsg = "parameter '%s' seems to be unused, consider removing or renaming it to match " + r.allowRegex.String()
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
-func (r *UnusedParamRule) Apply(file *lint.File, args lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
+func (r *UnusedParamRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(args) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
+
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 
 	onFailure := func(failure lint.Failure) {

rule/unused_receiver.go

@@ -18,20 +18,20 @@ type UnusedReceiverRule struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *UnusedReceiverRule) configure(args lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *UnusedReceiverRule) configure(args lint.Arguments) error {
 	// while by default args is an array, i think it's good to provide structures inside it by default, not arrays or primitives
 	// it's more compatible to JSON nature of configurations
 	r.allowRegex = allowBlankIdentifierRegex
 	r.failureMsg = "method receiver '%s' is not referenced in method's body, consider removing or renaming it as _"
 	if len(args) == 0 {
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 	// Arguments = [{}]
 	options := args[0].(map[string]any)
 
 	allowRegexParam, ok := options["allowRegex"]
 	if !ok {
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 	// Arguments = [{allowRegex="^_"}]
 	allowRegexStr, ok := allowRegexParam.(string)
@@ -41,14 +41,21 @@ func (r *UnusedReceiverRule) configure(args lint.Arguments) {
 	var err error
 	r.allowRegex, err = regexp.Compile(allowRegexStr)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Errorf("error configuring [unused-receiver] rule: allowRegex is not valid regex [%s]: %v", allowRegexStr, err))
+		return fmt.Errorf("error configuring [unused-receiver] rule: allowRegex is not valid regex [%s]: %w", allowRegexStr, err)
 	}
 	r.failureMsg = "method receiver '%s' is not referenced in method's body, consider removing or renaming it to match " + r.allowRegex.String()
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
-func (r *UnusedReceiverRule) Apply(file *lint.File, args lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
+func (r *UnusedReceiverRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(args) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
+
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 
 	for _, decl := range file.AST.Decls {

rule/utils.go

@@ -105,10 +105,11 @@ func gofmt(x any) string {
 }
 
 // checkNumberOfArguments fails if the given number of arguments is not, at least, the expected one
-func checkNumberOfArguments(expected int, args lint.Arguments, ruleName string) {
+func checkNumberOfArguments(expected int, args lint.Arguments, ruleName string) error {
 	if len(args) < expected {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("not enough arguments for %s rule, expected %d, got %d. Please check the rule's documentation", ruleName, expected, len(args)))
+		return fmt.Errorf("not enough arguments for %s rule, expected %d, got %d. Please check the rule's documentation", ruleName, expected, len(args))
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 var directiveCommentRE = regexp.MustCompile("^//(line |extern |export |[a-z0-9]+:[a-z0-9])") // see https://go-review.googlesource.com/c/website/+/442516/1..2/_content/doc/comment.md#494
@@ -121,3 +122,8 @@ func isDirectiveComment(line string) bool {
 func isCallToExitFunction(pkgName, functionName string) bool {
 	return exitFunctions[pkgName] != nil && exitFunctions[pkgName][functionName]
 }
+
+// newInternalFailureError returns an slice of Failure with a single internal failure in it
+func newInternalFailureError(e error) []lint.Failure {
+	return []lint.Failure{lint.NewInternalFailure(e.Error())}
+}

rule/var_naming.go

@@ -33,13 +33,21 @@ type VarNamingRule struct {
 	configureOnce sync.Once
 }
 
-func (r *VarNamingRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
+func (r *VarNamingRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) error {
 	if len(arguments) >= 1 {
-		r.allowList = getList(arguments[0], "allowlist")
+		list, err := getList(arguments[0], "allowlist")
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		r.allowList = list
 	}
 
 	if len(arguments) >= 2 {
-		r.blockList = getList(arguments[1], "blocklist")
+		list, err := getList(arguments[1], "blocklist")
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		r.blockList = list
 	}
 
 	if len(arguments) >= 3 {
@@ -47,18 +55,19 @@ func (r *VarNamingRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 		thirdArgument := arguments[2]
 		asSlice, ok := thirdArgument.([]any)
 		if !ok {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid third argument to the var-naming rule. Expecting a %s of type slice, got %T", "options", arguments[2]))
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid third argument to the var-naming rule. Expecting a %s of type slice, got %T", "options", arguments[2])
 		}
 		if len(asSlice) != 1 {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid third argument to the var-naming rule. Expecting a %s of type slice, of len==1, but %d", "options", len(asSlice)))
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid third argument to the var-naming rule. Expecting a %s of type slice, of len==1, but %d", "options", len(asSlice))
 		}
 		args, ok := asSlice[0].(map[string]any)
 		if !ok {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid third argument to the var-naming rule. Expecting a %s of type slice, of len==1, with map, but %T", "options", asSlice[0]))
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid third argument to the var-naming rule. Expecting a %s of type slice, of len==1, with map, but %T", "options", asSlice[0])
 		}
 		r.allowUpperCaseConst = fmt.Sprint(args["upperCaseConst"]) == "true"
 		r.skipPackageNameChecks = fmt.Sprint(args["skipPackageNameChecks"]) == "true"
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (r *VarNamingRule) applyPackageCheckRules(walker *lintNames) {
@@ -83,7 +92,12 @@ func (r *VarNamingRule) applyPackageCheckRules(walker *lintNames) {
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *VarNamingRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
-	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { r.configure(arguments) })
+	var configureErr error
+	r.configureOnce.Do(func() { configureErr = r.configure(arguments) })
+
+	if configureErr != nil {
+		return newInternalFailureError(configureErr)
+	}
 
 	var failures []lint.Failure
 
@@ -263,18 +277,18 @@ func (w *lintNames) Visit(n ast.Node) ast.Visitor {
 	return w
 }
 
-func getList(arg any, argName string) []string {
+func getList(arg any, argName string) ([]string, error) {
 	args, ok := arg.([]any)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid argument to the var-naming rule. Expecting a %s of type slice with initialisms, got %T", argName, arg))
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid argument to the var-naming rule. Expecting a %s of type slice with initialisms, got %T", argName, arg)
 	}
 	var list []string
 	for _, v := range args {
 		val, ok := v.(string)
 		if !ok {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid %s values of the var-naming rule. Expecting slice of strings but got element of type %T", val, arg))
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid %s values of the var-naming rule. Expecting slice of strings but got element of type %T", val, arg)
 		}
 		list = append(list, val)
 	}
-	return list
+	return list, nil
 }