diff --git a/developer/bake_config.py b/developer/bake_config.py
index a5459359fe..83a45b51d9 100644
--- a/developer/bake_config.py
+++ b/developer/bake_config.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 from tank.descriptor import create_descriptor, is_descriptor_version_missing
 from tank.descriptor.errors import TankDescriptorError
 from tank.bootstrap import constants as bootstrap_constants
+from shotgun_api3 import ShotgunError
 import functools
 
 from utils import (
@@ -293,7 +294,7 @@ def main():
     # make sure we are properly connected
     try:
         sg_connection.find_one("HumanUser", [])
-    except Exception as e:
+    except ShotgunError as e:
         logger.error("Could not communicate with Flow Production Tracking: %s" % e)
         return 3
 
diff --git a/hooks/get_current_login.py b/hooks/get_current_login.py
index 78870b5aec..9169c71ecd 100644
--- a/hooks/get_current_login.py
+++ b/hooks/get_current_login.py
@@ -54,5 +54,6 @@ def execute(self, **kwargs):
 
                 pwd_entry = pwd.getpwuid(os.geteuid())
                 return pwd_entry[0]
-            except:
+            except Exception:
+                self.logger.debug("GetCurrentLogin hook failed.", exc_info=True)
                 return None
diff --git a/python/tank/api.py b/python/tank/api.py
index 3f84cc6b23..1b135c8daa 100644
--- a/python/tank/api.py
+++ b/python/tank/api.py
@@ -296,7 +296,8 @@ def documentation_url(self):
             data = str(data.get("documentation_url"))
             if data == "":
                 data = None
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception as e:
+            log.debug("Cant get documentation url: %s" % e)
             data = None
 
         return data
diff --git a/python/tank/authentication/interactive_authentication.py b/python/tank/authentication/interactive_authentication.py
index 3e1df9f8b4..1fcaa4ecd8 100644
--- a/python/tank/authentication/interactive_authentication.py
+++ b/python/tank/authentication/interactive_authentication.py
@@ -41,13 +41,14 @@
 # something usually done by the Toolkit. The worry is that the import may fail
 # in the context of a DCC, but occur too early for the Toolkit logging to be
 # fully in place to record it.
+logger = LogManager.get_logger(__name__)
+
 try:
     from .ui.qt_abstraction import QtGui
-except Exception:
+except ImportError as e:
+    logger.debug("Cant import QtGui: %s" % e)
     QtGui = None
 
-logger = LogManager.get_logger(__name__)
-
 
 ###############################################################################################
 # internal classes and methods
@@ -68,7 +69,8 @@ def _get_current_os_user():
 
             pwd_entry = pwd.getpwuid(os.geteuid())
             return pwd_entry[0]
-        except:
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.debug("Cant get current user: %s" % e)
             return None
 
 
diff --git a/python/tank/authentication/invoker.py b/python/tank/authentication/invoker.py
index 09b2f85323..de24b1ca6f 100644
--- a/python/tank/authentication/invoker.py
+++ b/python/tank/authentication/invoker.py
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@
 # fully in place to record it.
 try:
     from .ui.qt_abstraction import QtCore, QtGui
-except Exception:
+except ImportError as e:
+    logger.debug("Cant import QtCore/QtGui: %s" % e)
     QtCore, QtGui = None, None
 
 
diff --git a/python/tank/authentication/session_cache.py b/python/tank/authentication/session_cache.py
index a96e8d40f2..10fd5370a0 100644
--- a/python/tank/authentication/session_cache.py
+++ b/python/tank/authentication/session_cache.py
@@ -654,6 +654,6 @@ def generate_session_token(hostname, login, password, http_proxy, auth_token=Non
         # If the error message is empty, like httplib.HTTPException, convert
         # the class name to a string
         if len(str(e)) == 0:
-            raise Exception("Unknown error: %s" % type(e).__name__)
+            raise type(e)("Unknown error: %s" % type(e).__name__)
         else:
             raise
diff --git a/python/tank/authentication/sso_saml2/core/username_password_dialog.py b/python/tank/authentication/sso_saml2/core/username_password_dialog.py
index ef2856942f..86029e0f99 100644
--- a/python/tank/authentication/sso_saml2/core/username_password_dialog.py
+++ b/python/tank/authentication/sso_saml2/core/username_password_dialog.py
@@ -13,12 +13,10 @@
 
 from __future__ import print_function
 
-# pylint: disable=import-error
-from ...ui.qt_abstraction import QtCore, QtGui
-
-# No point in proceeding if QtGui is None.
-if QtGui is None:
-    raise ImportError("Unable to import QtGui")
+try:
+    from ...ui.qt_abstraction import QtCore, QtGui
+except ImportError:
+    raise
 
 
 class UsernamePasswordDialog(QtGui.QDialog):
diff --git a/python/tank/authentication/ui_authentication.py b/python/tank/authentication/ui_authentication.py
index 486262e6a3..6f68effffc 100644
--- a/python/tank/authentication/ui_authentication.py
+++ b/python/tank/authentication/ui_authentication.py
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@
 # fully in place to record it.
 try:
     from .login_dialog import LoginDialog
-except Exception:
+except ImportError as e:
+    logger.debug("Cant import LoginDialog: %s" % e)
     LoginDialog = None
 
 
diff --git a/python/tank/bootstrap/async_bootstrap.py b/python/tank/bootstrap/async_bootstrap.py
index 39abebb9d6..22bd12377d 100644
--- a/python/tank/bootstrap/async_bootstrap.py
+++ b/python/tank/bootstrap/async_bootstrap.py
@@ -11,12 +11,13 @@
 # Import Qt without having to worry about the version to use.
 from ..util.qt_importer import QtImporter
 
-importer = QtImporter()
-QtCore = importer.QtCore
-QtGui = importer.QtGui
-if QtCore is None:
-    # Raise an exception when Qt is not available.
-    raise ImportError
+try:
+    importer = QtImporter()
+except ImportError:
+    raise
+else:
+    QtCore = importer.QtCore
+    QtGui = importer.QtGui
 
 
 class AsyncBootstrapWrapper(QtCore.QObject):
diff --git a/python/tank/commands/cache_yaml.py b/python/tank/commands/cache_yaml.py
index b299f4c093..c653b7b0ab 100644
--- a/python/tank/commands/cache_yaml.py
+++ b/python/tank/commands/cache_yaml.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def _run(self, log):
 
         try:
             fh = open(pickle_path, "wb")
-        except Exception as e:
+        except OSError as e:
             raise TankError("Unable to open '%s' for writing: %s" % (pickle_path, e))
 
         try:
diff --git a/python/tank/commands/clone_configuration.py b/python/tank/commands/clone_configuration.py
index bed03b0d90..dfb069b0be 100644
--- a/python/tank/commands/clone_configuration.py
+++ b/python/tank/commands/clone_configuration.py
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ def _do_clone(
         fh.write("# End of file.\n")
         fh.close()
 
-    except Exception as e:
+    except OSError as e:
         raise TankError("Could not create file system structure: %s" % e)
 
     # lastly, update the pipeline_configuration.yml file
diff --git a/python/tank/commands/console_utils.py b/python/tank/commands/console_utils.py
index 4aee97d8d0..9b18753c7d 100644
--- a/python/tank/commands/console_utils.py
+++ b/python/tank/commands/console_utils.py
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ def _get_configuration_recursive(
                                 param_name,
                                 answer,
                             )
-                        except Exception as e:
+                        except TankError as e:
                             log.error("Validation failed: %s" % e)
                         else:
                             input_valid = True
diff --git a/python/tank/commands/dump_config.py b/python/tank/commands/dump_config.py
index f6eeaa86e3..02e11fc153 100644
--- a/python/tank/commands/dump_config.py
+++ b/python/tank/commands/dump_config.py
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ def _run(self, log, params):
                 log.info(
                     "Environment written to: %s" % (os.path.abspath(params["file"]))
                 )
-        except Exception as e:
+        except TankError as e:
             import traceback
 
             traceback.print_exc()
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ def _get_file_handle(self, params):
                     )
             try:
                 fh = open(path, "w")
-            except Exception as e:
+            except OSError as e:
                 raise TankError(
                     "Unable to open file: %s\n" "  Error reported: %s" % (path, e)
                 )
diff --git a/python/tank/commands/install.py b/python/tank/commands/install.py
index 858619946c..63a3076e09 100644
--- a/python/tank/commands/install.py
+++ b/python/tank/commands/install.py
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ def _run(self, log, env_name, engine_instance_name, app_name, preserve_yaml):
                 env_name, writable=True
             )
             env.set_yaml_preserve_mode(preserve_yaml)
-        except Exception as e:
+        except TankError as e:
             raise TankError(
                 "Environment '%s' could not be loaded! Error reported: %s"
                 % (env_name, e)
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ def _run(self, log, env_name, engine_name, preserve_yaml):
                 env_name, writable=True
             )
             env.set_yaml_preserve_mode(preserve_yaml)
-        except Exception as e:
+        except TankError as e:
             raise TankError(
                 "Environment '%s' could not be loaded! Error reported: %s"
                 % (env_name, e)
diff --git a/python/tank/commands/misc.py b/python/tank/commands/misc.py
index f4d1b911a0..869472e70f 100644
--- a/python/tank/commands/misc.py
+++ b/python/tank/commands/misc.py
@@ -70,8 +70,10 @@ def _run(self, log):
                 log.debug("Deleting cache file %s..." % full_path)
                 try:
                     os.remove(full_path)
-                except:
-                    log.warning("Could not delete cache file '%s'!" % full_path)
+                except OSError as e:
+                    log.warning(
+                        "Could not delete cache file '%s'! // %s" % (full_path, e)
+                    )
 
         log.info("The PTR menu cache has been cleared.")
 
@@ -137,7 +139,7 @@ def run_interactive(self, log, args):
                 readline.parse_and_bind("bind ^I rl_complete")
             else:
                 readline.parse_and_bind("tab: complete")
-        except:
-            pass
+        except Exception as e:
+            msg.append(e)
 
         code.interact(banner="\n".join(msg), local=tk_locals)
diff --git a/python/tank/commands/move_pc.py b/python/tank/commands/move_pc.py
index 20454dd2fb..f23c2ed676 100644
--- a/python/tank/commands/move_pc.py
+++ b/python/tank/commands/move_pc.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def _cleanup_old_location(self, log, path):
                     log.debug("Removing %s..." % full_path)
                     try:
                         os.remove(full_path)
-                    except Exception as e:
+                    except OSError as e:
                         log.warning(
                             "Could not delete file %s. Error Reported: %s"
                             % (full_path, e)
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def _cleanup_old_location(self, log, path):
                     log.debug("Deleting folder %s..." % full_path)
                     try:
                         os.rmdir(full_path)
-                    except Exception as e:
+                    except OSError as e:
                         log.warning(
                             "Could not remove folder %s. Error Reported: %s"
                             % (full_path, e)
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ def run_interactive(self, log, args):
             fh.write("# End of file.\n")
             fh.close()
 
-        except Exception as e:
+        except OSError as e:
             raise TankError(
                 "Could not copy configuration! This may be because of system "
                 "permissions or system setup. This configuration will "
diff --git a/python/tank/commands/push_pc.py b/python/tank/commands/push_pc.py
index 64a248e28a..b111b64a95 100644
--- a/python/tank/commands/push_pc.py
+++ b/python/tank/commands/push_pc.py
@@ -137,8 +137,8 @@ def run_interactive(self, log, args):
             raise TankError("Aborted by user.")
         try:
             target_pc_id = int(answer)
-        except:
-            raise TankError("Please enter a number!")
+        except ValueError as e:
+            raise TankError("Please enter a number! // %s" % e)
 
         self._run(
             log,
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ def _run(self, log, target_id, use_symlink=False):
         for env_name in self.tk.pipeline_configuration.get_environments():
             try:
                 env = self.tk.pipeline_configuration.get_environment(env_name)
-            except Exception as e:
+            except TankError as e:
                 raise TankError(
                     "Failed to load environment %s,"
                     " run 'tank validate' for more details, got error: %s"
diff --git a/python/tank/commands/setup_project.py b/python/tank/commands/setup_project.py
index ddbecb9798..8ab46a3439 100644
--- a/python/tank/commands/setup_project.py
+++ b/python/tank/commands/setup_project.py
@@ -548,8 +548,8 @@ def _select_project(self, log, sg, show_initialized_projects):
             raise TankError("Aborted by user.")
         try:
             project_id = int(answer)
-        except:
-            raise TankError("Please enter a number!")
+        except ValueError as e:
+            raise TankError("Please enter a number! // %s" % e)
 
         if project_id not in [x["id"] for x in projs]:
             raise TankError("Id %d was not found in the list of projects!" % project_id)
diff --git a/python/tank/commands/switch.py b/python/tank/commands/switch.py
index faa2a0fa84..f795ecea9e 100644
--- a/python/tank/commands/switch.py
+++ b/python/tank/commands/switch.py
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ def run_interactive(self, log, args):
                 env_name, writable=True
             )
             env.set_yaml_preserve_mode(preserve_yaml)
-        except Exception as e:
+        except TankError as e:
             raise TankError(
                 "Environment '%s' could not be loaded! Error reported: %s"
                 % (env_name, e)
diff --git a/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/appstore.py b/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/appstore.py
index ecd3ac932c..f8549aa105 100644
--- a/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/appstore.py
+++ b/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/appstore.py
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ def get_changelog(self):
             summary = sg_version_data.get("description")
             url = sg_version_data.get("sg_detailed_release_notes").get("url")
         except Exception:
-            pass
+            log.exception("Cant get changelog.")
         return (summary, url)
 
     def _download_local(self, destination_path):
diff --git a/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/base.py b/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/base.py
index f53e9d4237..f4fb962539 100644
--- a/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/base.py
+++ b/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/base.py
@@ -260,7 +260,8 @@ def _find_latest_tag_by_pattern(self, version_numbers, pattern):
         for version_num in version_numbers:
             try:
                 version_split = list(map(int, version_num[1:].split(".")))
-            except Exception:
+            except Exception as e:
+                log.debug(e)
                 # this git tag is not on the expected form vX.Y.Z where X Y and Z are ints. skip.
                 continue
 
diff --git a/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/downloadable.py b/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/downloadable.py
index 4580c0788c..1ec0a8ec1d 100644
--- a/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/downloadable.py
+++ b/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/downloadable.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def open_write_location(self):
         target_parent = os.path.dirname(target)
         try:
             filesystem.ensure_folder_exists(target_parent)
-        except Exception as e:
+        except OSError as e:
             if not os.path.exists(target_parent):
                 log.error("Failed to create directory %s: %s" % (target_parent, e))
                 raise TankDescriptorIOError(
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def open_write_location(self):
             # download completed without issue. Now create settings folder
             metadata_folder = self._get_metadata_folder(temporary_path)
             filesystem.ensure_folder_exists(metadata_folder)
-        except Exception as e:
+        except OSError as e:
             # something went wrong during the download, remove the temporary files.
             log.error(
                 "Failed to download into path %s: %s. Attempting to remove it."
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ def open_write_location(self):
                 % target
             )
 
-        except Exception as e:
+        except OSError as e:
 
             # if the target path already exists, this means someone else is either
             # moving things right now or have moved it already, so we are ok.
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ def open_write_location(self):
                     filesystem.safe_delete_folder(temporary_path)
                     move_succeeded = True
 
-                except Exception as e:
+                except OSError as e:
                     # something during the copy went wrong. Attempt to roll back the target
                     # so we aren't left with any corrupt bundle cache items.
                     if os.path.exists(target):
diff --git a/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/git.py b/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/git.py
index 8b60f6d17f..91ac082e28 100644
--- a/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/git.py
+++ b/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/git.py
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ def _can_hide_terminal():
         subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
         subprocess.SW_HIDE
         return True
-    except Exception:
+    except AttributeError as e:
+        log.debug("Terminal cant be hidden: %s" % e)
         return False
 
 
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ def _clone_then_execute_git_commands(
         log.debug("Checking that git exists and can be executed...")
         try:
             output = _check_output(["git", "--version"])
-        except:
+        except SubprocessCalledProcessError:
             log.exception("Unexpected error:")
             raise TankGitError(
                 "Cannot execute the 'git' command. Please make sure that git is "
@@ -291,7 +292,7 @@ def has_remote_access(self):
             # clone repo into temp folder
             self._tmp_clone_then_execute_git_commands([], depth=1)
             log.debug("...connection established")
-        except Exception as e:
+        except (OSError, SubprocessCalledProcessError) as e:
             log.debug("...could not establish connection: %s" % e)
             can_connect = False
         return can_connect
diff --git a/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/git_branch.py b/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/git_branch.py
index 67345de227..63e3fe16e9 100644
--- a/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/git_branch.py
+++ b/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/git_branch.py
@@ -11,10 +11,12 @@
 import copy
 
 from .git import IODescriptorGit, TankGitError, _check_output
+
 from ..errors import TankDescriptorError
 from ... import LogManager
 
 from tank_vendor import six
+from ...util.process import SubprocessCalledProcessError
 
 log = LogManager.get_logger(__name__)
 
@@ -119,7 +121,7 @@ def _is_latest_commit(self, version, branch):
         log.debug("Checking if the version is pointing to the latest commit...")
         try:
             output = _check_output(["git", "ls-remote", self._path, branch])
-        except:
+        except SubprocessCalledProcessError:
             log.exception("Unexpected error:")
             raise TankGitError(
                 "Cannot execute the 'git' command. Please make sure that git is "
@@ -168,7 +170,7 @@ def _download_local(self, destination_path):
                 ref=self._branch,
                 is_latest_commit=is_latest_commit,
             )
-        except Exception as e:
+        except (TankGitError, OSError, SubprocessCalledProcessError) as e:
             raise TankDescriptorError(
                 "Could not download %s, branch %s, "
                 "commit %s: %s" % (self._path, self._branch, self._version, e)
@@ -215,7 +217,7 @@ def get_latest_version(self, constraint_pattern=None):
             ]
             git_hash = self._tmp_clone_then_execute_git_commands(commands)
 
-        except Exception as e:
+        except (TankGitError, OSError, SubprocessCalledProcessError) as e:
             raise TankDescriptorError(
                 "Could not get latest commit for %s, "
                 "branch %s: %s" % (self._path, self._branch, e)
diff --git a/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/git_tag.py b/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/git_tag.py
index c6a9f6ff19..996928bd25 100644
--- a/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/git_tag.py
+++ b/python/tank/descriptor/io_descriptor/git_tag.py
@@ -11,11 +11,12 @@
 import copy
 import re
 
-from .git import IODescriptorGit
+from .git import IODescriptorGit, TankGitError
 from ..errors import TankDescriptorError
 from ... import LogManager
 
 from tank_vendor import six
+from ...util.process import SubprocessCalledProcessError
 
 log = LogManager.get_logger(__name__)
 
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ def _download_local(self, destination_path):
             self._clone_then_execute_git_commands(
                 destination_path, [], depth=1, ref=self._version
             )
-        except Exception as e:
+        except (TankGitError, OSError, SubprocessCalledProcessError) as e:
             raise TankDescriptorError(
                 "Could not download %s, " "tag %s: %s" % (self._path, self._version, e)
             )
@@ -222,7 +223,7 @@ def _fetch_tags(self):
                 if m:
                     git_tags.append(m.group(1))
 
-        except Exception as e:
+        except (TankGitError, OSError, SubprocessCalledProcessError) as e:
             raise TankDescriptorError(
                 "Could not get list of tags for %s: %s" % (self._path, e)
             )
diff --git a/python/tank/folder/folder_types/listfield.py b/python/tank/folder/folder_types/listfield.py
index a93aff9ddd..acc85adc3d 100644
--- a/python/tank/folder/folder_types/listfield.py
+++ b/python/tank/folder/folder_types/listfield.py
@@ -172,10 +172,10 @@ def _create_folders_impl(self, io_receiver, parent_path, sg_data):
                     chunks = self._field_name.split(".")
                     entity_type = chunks[1]
                     field_name = chunks[2]
-                except:
+                except IndexError as e:
                     msg = (
-                        "Folder creation error: Cannot resolve the field expression %s."
-                        % self._field_name
+                        "Folder creation error: Cannot resolve the field expression %s: %s"
+                        % (self._field_name, e)
                     )
                     raise TankError(msg)
 
diff --git a/python/tank/hook.py b/python/tank/hook.py
index 12b2502e75..dcf68b8a88 100644
--- a/python/tank/hook.py
+++ b/python/tank/hook.py
@@ -447,10 +447,11 @@ def some_method(self):
 
         try:
             engine = self.__parent.engine
-        except:
+        except Exception as e:
             raise TankError(
                 "Cannot load framework %s for %r - it does not have a "
-                "valid engine property!" % (framework_instance_name, self.__parent)
+                "valid engine property! // %s"
+                % (framework_instance_name, self.__parent, e)
             )
 
         return framework.load_framework(
diff --git a/python/tank/log.py b/python/tank/log.py
index a3c6486367..a4121129b2 100644
--- a/python/tank/log.py
+++ b/python/tank/log.py
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ def doRollover(self):
 
             try:
                 os.rename(self.baseFilename, temp_backup_name)
-            except:
+            except OSError:
                 # It failed, so we'll simply append from now on.
                 log.debug(
                     "Cannot rotate log file '%s'. Logging will continue to this file, "
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ def doRollover(self):
             # so doRollover can do its work.
             try:
                 os.rename(temp_backup_name, self.baseFilename)
-            except:
+            except OSError:
                 # For some reason we couldn't move the backup in its place.
                 log.debug(
                     "Unexpected issue while rotating log file '%s'. Logging will continue to this file, "
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ def doRollover(self):
             # disable rollover and append to the current log.
             try:
                 RotatingFileHandler.doRollover(self)
-            except:
+            except OSError:
                 # Something probably failed trying to rollover the backups,
                 # since the code above proved that in theory the main log file
                 # should be renamable. In any case, we didn't succeed in renaming,
diff --git a/python/tank/pipelineconfig_utils.py b/python/tank/pipelineconfig_utils.py
index 0ab344816d..c99da2ec4c 100644
--- a/python/tank/pipelineconfig_utils.py
+++ b/python/tank/pipelineconfig_utils.py
@@ -260,6 +260,9 @@ def get_core_path_for_config(pipeline_config_path):
         studio_folder = os.path.normpath(studio_folder)
         return studio_folder
     except Exception:
+        logger.debug(
+            "Cant get core path for config %s" % pipeline_config_path, exc_info=True
+        )
         return None
 
 
@@ -472,6 +475,7 @@ def _get_version_from_manifest(info_yml_path):
         data = yaml_cache.g_yaml_cache.get(info_yml_path, deepcopy_data=False) or {}
         data = str(data.get("version", "unknown"))
     except Exception:
+        logger.debug("Cant get version from manifest %s" % info_yml_path, exc_info=True)
         data = "unknown"
 
     return data
diff --git a/python/tank/platform/bundle.py b/python/tank/platform/bundle.py
index 86576c0925..5b4f8cb904 100644
--- a/python/tank/platform/bundle.py
+++ b/python/tank/platform/bundle.py
@@ -1065,7 +1065,8 @@ def _get_engine_name(self):
         # therefore get an error.
         try:
             engine_name = self.engine.name
-        except:
+        except AttributeError as e:
+            self.logger.debug("Cant get engine name: %s" % e)
             engine_name = None
 
         return engine_name
diff --git a/python/tank/platform/engine.py b/python/tank/platform/engine.py
index 9ea604342d..b048e89acc 100644
--- a/python/tank/platform/engine.py
+++ b/python/tank/platform/engine.py
@@ -190,7 +190,12 @@ def __init__(self, tk, context, engine_instance_name, env):
 
         # Update the authentication module to use the engine's Qt.
         # @todo: can this import be untangled? Code references internal part of the auth module
-        from ..authentication.ui import qt_abstraction
+        try:
+            from ..authentication.ui import qt_abstraction
+        except ImportError:
+
+            class qt_abstraction:
+                pass
 
         qt_abstraction.QtCore = qt.QtCore
         qt_abstraction.QtGui = qt.QtGui
@@ -418,13 +423,13 @@ def __show_busy(self, title, details):
                 from .qt.busy_dialog import BusyDialog
                 from .qt import QtGui, QtCore
 
-            except:
+            except ImportError as e:
                 # QT import failed. This may be because someone has upgraded the core
                 # to the latest but are still running a earlier version of the
                 # Shotgun or Shell engine where the self.has_ui method is not
                 # correctly implemented. In that case, absorb the error and
                 # emit a log message
-                self.log_info("[%s] %s" % (title, details))
+                self.log_info("[%s] %s: %s" % (title, details, e))
 
             else:
                 # our qt import worked!
@@ -2143,7 +2148,7 @@ def _define_qt_base(self):
 
         :returns: dict
         """
-        base = {"qt_core": None, "qt_gui": None, "dialog_base": None}
+        base = {"qt_core": None, "qt_gui": None, "dialog_base": None, "wrapper": None}
         try:
             importer = QtImporter()
             base["qt_core"] = importer.QtCore
@@ -2154,11 +2159,10 @@ def _define_qt_base(self):
                 base["dialog_base"] = None
             base["wrapper"] = importer.binding
             base["shiboken"] = importer.shiboken
-        except:
-
-            self.log_exception(
+        except ImportError:
+            self.log_error(
                 "Default engine QT definition failed to find QT. "
-                "This may need to be subclassed."
+                "This may need to be subclassed"
             )
 
         return base
@@ -2174,7 +2178,11 @@ def __define_qt5_base(self):
 
         :returns: A dictionary with all the modules, __version__ and __name__.
         """
-        return QtImporter(interface_version_requested=QtImporter.QT5).base
+        try:
+            return QtImporter(interface_version_requested=QtImporter.QT5).base
+        except ImportError as e:
+            self.log_debug(e)
+            return {}
 
     def __define_qt6_base(self):
         """
diff --git a/python/tank/platform/qt/tankqdialog.py b/python/tank/platform/qt/tankqdialog.py
index 460c281cf1..f103e2d6fe 100644
--- a/python/tank/platform/qt/tankqdialog.py
+++ b/python/tank/platform/qt/tankqdialog.py
@@ -361,8 +361,8 @@ def _format_context_property(p, show_type=False):
                 context_info += "You are currently running in the %s environment." % (
                     self._bundle.engine.environment["name"]
                 )
-            except:
-                pass
+            except Exception as e:
+                context_info += "Cant get current engine environment name: %s" % e
 
             self.ui.app_work_area_info.setText(context_info)
 
diff --git a/python/tank/util/login.py b/python/tank/util/login.py
index 442cb3776d..0a4894dc08 100644
--- a/python/tank/util/login.py
+++ b/python/tank/util/login.py
@@ -14,11 +14,12 @@
 """
 
 import os
-import sys
 
 from . import constants
 from .platforms import is_windows
+from .. import LogManager
 
+log = LogManager.get_logger(__name__)
 
 def get_login_name():
     """
@@ -34,7 +35,8 @@ def get_login_name():
 
             pwd_entry = pwd.getpwuid(os.geteuid())
             return pwd_entry[0]
-        except:
+        except Exception as e:
+            log.debug("Cant get login name: %s" % e)
             return None
 
 
diff --git a/python/tank/util/metrics.py b/python/tank/util/metrics.py
index eb62d0140c..0775da9deb 100644
--- a/python/tank/util/metrics.py
+++ b/python/tank/util/metrics.py
@@ -30,9 +30,12 @@
 
 # use api json to cover py 2.5
 from tank_vendor import shotgun_api3, six
+from .. import LogManager
 
 json = shotgun_api3.shotgun.json
 
+log = LogManager.get_logger(__name__)
+
 # From Python 3.8 and later, platform.linux_distribution has been removed,
 # so we need something else. Fortunately, the functionality was preserved
 # as the distro package on pypi.org. Given that the functionality is
@@ -80,7 +83,8 @@ def get_darwin_version(cls):
             # For macOS / OSX we keep only the Major.minor
             os_version = re.findall(r"\d*\.\d*", raw_version_str)[0]
 
-        except:
+        except Exception:
+            log.debug("Cant get Darwin version.", exc_info=True)
             pass
 
         return os_version
@@ -104,7 +108,8 @@ def get_linux_version(cls):
             major_version_str = re.findall(r"\d*", raw_version_str)[0]
             os_version = "%s %s" % (distribution, major_version_str)
 
-        except:
+        except Exception:
+            log.debug("Cant get Linux version.", exc_info=True)
             pass
 
         return os_version
@@ -124,7 +129,8 @@ def get_windows_version(cls):
             # as it returns a friendly name e.g: XP, 7, 10 etc.
             os_version = platform.release()
 
-        except:
+        except Exception:
+            log.debug("Cant get Windows version.", exc_info=True)
             pass
 
         return os_version
@@ -169,9 +175,9 @@ def get_platform_info(cls):
             else:
                 os_info["OS"] = "Unsupported system: (%s)" % (system)
 
-        except:
+        except Exception:
             # On any exception we fallback to default value
-            pass
+            log.debug("Cant get platform info.", exc_info=True)
 
         # Cache information to save on subsequent calls
         cls.__cached_platform_info = os_info
@@ -251,8 +257,8 @@ def log(self, metric, log_once=False):
 
             # remember that we've logged this one already
             self.__logged_metrics.add(metric_identifier)
-        except:
-            pass
+        except Exception as e:
+            log.debug(e)
         finally:
             self._lock.release()
 
@@ -283,8 +289,8 @@ def get_metrics(self, count=None):
 
                 # would be nice to be able to pop N from deque. oh well.
                 metrics = [self._queue.popleft() for i in range(0, count)]
-        except:
-            pass
+        except Exception as e:
+            log.debug(e)
         finally:
             self._lock.release()
 
@@ -443,7 +449,7 @@ def run(self):
                         break
 
             except Exception as e:
-                pass
+                log.debug(e)
             finally:
                 # wait, checking for halt event before more processing
                 self._halt_event.wait(self.DISPATCH_INTERVAL)
@@ -733,8 +739,8 @@ def log(cls, group, name, properties=None, log_once=False, bundle=None):
                 from sgtk.platform.util import current_bundle
 
                 bundle = current_bundle()
-            except:
-                pass
+            except Exception as e:
+                log.debug(e)
 
         if not bundle:
             # Still no bundle? Fallback to engine
@@ -743,9 +749,8 @@ def log(cls, group, name, properties=None, log_once=False, bundle=None):
                 from ..platform.engine import current_engine
 
                 bundle = current_engine()
-            except:
-                # Bailing out trying to guess bundle
-                pass
+            except Exception as e:
+                log.debug(e)
 
         if bundle:
             # Add base properties to specified properties (if any)
diff --git a/python/tank/util/pyside2_patcher.py b/python/tank/util/pyside2_patcher.py
index c20df2bcb2..c2ac5fc133 100644
--- a/python/tank/util/pyside2_patcher.py
+++ b/python/tank/util/pyside2_patcher.py
@@ -21,9 +21,11 @@
 import subprocess
 import webbrowser
 
-from .. import constants
+from .. import constants, LogManager
 from .platforms import is_linux, is_macos, is_windows
 
+log = LogManager.get_logger(__name__)
+
 
 class PySide2Patcher(object):
     """
@@ -326,7 +328,8 @@ def openUrl(cls, url):
                     # returns False or raises some error.
                     try:
                         return webbrowser.open_new_tab(url.toString().encode("utf-8"))
-                    except:
+                    except Exception as e:
+                        log.debug(e)
                         return False
 
             @classmethod
diff --git a/python/tank/util/qt_importer.py b/python/tank/util/qt_importer.py
index afec023635..e3bf20a605 100644
--- a/python/tank/util/qt_importer.py
+++ b/python/tank/util/qt_importer.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class QtImporter(object):
     .. code-block:: python
         try:
             importer = QtImporter()
-        except Exception as e:
+        except ImportError as e:
             print "Couldn't import a Qt Wrapper: " % (e,)
         else:
             importer.QtGui.QApplication([])
@@ -43,13 +43,16 @@ def __init__(self, interface_version_requested=QT4):
 
         :param interface_version_request: Indicates which version of the Qt API is requested.
         """
-        (
-            self._binding_name,
-            self._binding_version,
-            self._binding,
-            self._modules,
-            self._qt_version_tuple,
-        ) = self._import_modules(interface_version_requested)
+        try:
+            (
+                self._binding_name,
+                self._binding_version,
+                self._binding,
+                self._modules,
+                self._qt_version_tuple,
+            ) = self._import_modules(interface_version_requested)
+        except ImportError:
+            raise
 
     @property
     def QtCore(self):
@@ -377,7 +380,8 @@ def _import_modules(self, interface_version_requested):
                 pyside2 = self._import_pyside2_as_pyside()
                 logger.debug("Imported PySide2 as PySide.")
                 return pyside2
-            except ImportError:
+            except ImportError as e:
+                logger.debug("Cant import PySide2 as PySide: %s" % e)
                 pass
 
             # Last attempt, try PySide6. PySide6 is not yet fully supported but allow DCCs that
@@ -386,7 +390,8 @@ def _import_modules(self, interface_version_requested):
                 pyside6 = self._import_pyside6_as_pyside()
                 logger.debug("Imported PySide6 as PySide.")
                 return pyside6
-            except ImportError:
+            except ImportError as e:
+                logger.debug("Cant import PySide6 as PySide: %s" % e)
                 pass
 
         elif interface_version_requested == self.QT5:
@@ -394,7 +399,8 @@ def _import_modules(self, interface_version_requested):
                 pyside2 = self._import_pyside2()
                 logger.debug("Imported PySide2.")
                 return pyside2
-            except ImportError:
+            except ImportError as e:
+                logger.debug("Cant import PySide2: %s" % e)
                 pass
 
             # We do not test for PyQt5 since it is supported on Python 3 only at the moment.
@@ -404,12 +410,11 @@ def _import_modules(self, interface_version_requested):
                 pyside6 = self._import_pyside6()
                 logger.debug("Imported PySide6.")
                 return pyside6
-            except ImportError:
+            except ImportError as e:
+                logger.debug("Cant import PySide6: %s" % e)
                 pass
 
             # TODO migrate qt base from Qt4 interface to Qt6 will require patching Qt5 as Qt6
             logger.debug("Qt6 interface not implemented for Qt5")
 
-        logger.debug("No Qt matching that interface was found.")
-
-        return (None, None, None, None, None)
+        raise ImportError("No Qt matching that interface was found.")
diff --git a/python/tank/util/shotgun/publish_util.py b/python/tank/util/shotgun/publish_util.py
index b986b51285..24a62824f9 100644
--- a/python/tank/util/shotgun/publish_util.py
+++ b/python/tank/util/shotgun/publish_util.py
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ def get_entity_type_display_name(tk, entity_type_code):
     try:
         if entity_type_code in schema_data:
             display_name = schema_data[entity_type_code]["name"]["value"]
-    except:
+    except Exception:
+        log.exception("Cant get entity type display name %s" % entity_type_code)
         pass
 
     return display_name
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 3858b2ca0d..67e3300d60 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -35,17 +35,15 @@ def get_version():
             ["git", "describe", "--abbrev=0"], universal_newlines=True
         ).rstrip()
         return version_git
-    except:
-        # Blindly ignore problems, git might be not available, or the user could
-        # be installing from zip archive, etc...
-        pass
-
-    # If everything fails, return a sensible string highlighting that the version
-    # couldn't be extracted. If a version is not specified in `setup`, 0.0.0
-    # will be used by default, it seems better to have an explicit keyword for
-    # this case, following TK "dev" locator pattern and the convention described here:
-    # http://peak.telecommunity.com/DevCenter/setuptools#specifying-your-project-s-version
-    return "dev"
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(e)
+        print("Fallback on `dev` version")
+        # If everything fails, return a sensible string highlighting that the version
+        # couldn't be extracted. If a version is not specified in `setup`, 0.0.0
+        # will be used by default, it seems better to have an explicit keyword for
+        # this case, following TK "dev" locator pattern and the convention described here:
+        # http://peak.telecommunity.com/DevCenter/setuptools#specifying-your-project-s-version
+        return "dev"
 
 
 # Retrieve long description and licence from external files
diff --git a/tests/platform_tests/test_application.py b/tests/platform_tests/test_application.py
index 91234ac7b5..b19da07481 100644
--- a/tests/platform_tests/test_application.py
+++ b/tests/platform_tests/test_application.py
@@ -21,9 +21,8 @@
 from tank_test.tank_test_base import *
 import tank
 from tank.errors import TankError, TankHookMethodDoesNotExistError
-from tank.platform import application, constants, validation
+from tank.platform import application, validation
 from tank.template import Template
-from tank.deploy import descriptor
 from tank_vendor import six
 from tank_vendor.six import StringIO
 
diff --git a/tests/python/tank_test/tank_test_base.py b/tests/python/tank_test/tank_test_base.py
index d0c19fe54b..4230f64b4c 100644
--- a/tests/python/tank_test/tank_test_base.py
+++ b/tests/python/tank_test/tank_test_base.py
@@ -97,9 +97,8 @@ def _is_git_missing():
     try:
         sgtk.util.process.subprocess_check_output(["git", "--version"])
         git_missing = False
-    except Exception:
-        # no git!
-        pass
+    except Exception as e:
+        print("Git not found: %s" % e)
     return git_missing