From: Robert Dober <robert.dober@...>
Date: 2009-04-08T17:56:25+09:00
Subject: Re: Exceptions : should I else or not ?

On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 9:34 PM, Paganoni <noway@fakenullvoid.com> wrote:
> Hello, when writing stuff like that
Hmm I am speaking up againts very learned folks, so I might be wrong (
but that is true anyway ;).

Now I think that

begin
   do_stuff
   other_stuff
except
    whatever
end

is easier to read than

begin
   do_stuff
 except
   whatever
 else
    other_stuff
end

This however does not invalidate the very sound reasons Joel et altri
have given to move some code into the else clause.
What to do then? Maybe it all depends on the context (thank you Andy;)?
If you are catching a very general exception e.g.
  except
  except StandardError
  except Exception
it is probably indeed wise to chose the else for your "ordinary" code.

However if do_stuff might raise a very specific exception I would
prefer the "simpler"

begin
   do_stuff
   other_stuff
except SpecificException => se
   whatever se
end

Just my micromoney.
Cheers
Robert


There are some people who begin the Zoo at the beginning, called
WAYIN, and walk as quickly as they can past every cage until they get
to the one called WAYOUT, but the nicest people go straight to the
animal they love the most, and stay there. ~ A.A. Milne (from
Winnie-the-Pooh)