/**
 * Converts an unknown caught value to an Error. Useful for catch blocks.
 *
 * Kept local because published embed packages cannot import private `@foxglove/common`.
 *
 * @param err - The caught value to convert
 * @param defaultMessage - Fallback message if `err` is not an Error instance
 * @returns The original Error if `err` is an Error, otherwise a new Error with `defaultMessage`
 */
export function toError(err, defaultMessage = "Unknown error") {
    if (err instanceof Error) {
        return err;
    }
    return new Error(defaultMessage);
}