async<$size_in_bytes> error

[augchan42]

Is there any solution to the following error:
/home/auchan/ic-projects/motoko_challenges/day_2/day_2.mo:130.29-130.72: type error [M0096], expression of type
async<$size_in_bytes> Text
cannot produce expected type
Text

Other than to rewrite the function that I'm calling as non-public so that it doesn't have to return an async return type?

I'm calling a function that returns async Text, and assigning to a Text variable:
var sizeInBits : Text = decimal_to_bits(Nat32.toNat(sizeInDecimal));

decimal_to_bits returns async Text:
public func decimal_to_bits ( n : Nat ) : async Text {

[augchan42]

Ok, I think best practice is to create normal non public functions that don't return async if you think the function might be useful elsewhere in your code. Then create a pub wrapper function around it if you think the same function will be called externally.

[seb-icp]

If you need to use a function in your code the way to go is to create a (private) func with a return_type that is not async otherwise you'll have to wait.