Re: [Caml-list] Uncaught exceptions in function type.

["Daniel Bünzli" <daniel.buenzli@erratique.ch>]

Le mardi, 27 mai 2014 à 10:49, Goswin von Brederlow a écrit :
> Sometimes arguments are computed and suddenly exceed aceptable
> parameters. E.g. the user specifies a data file that needs to be read
> into a string. If the file is too large you get Invalid_argument.
> Programms can catch and handle such cases, at least to the point of
> giving a good error message.


Bad api. Neither exceptional error, neither programming error, *should* not raise Invalid_argument, of course you’ll have to handle it but don't forget to send hate emails to the API designer.  

> That is a matter of taste and with recursions in the mix exceptions
> can be a great way to abort the recursion while keeping the code flow
> simple. They also allow you to use things like List.fold_left and
> abort early.

It’s not a matter of taste. What you are describing here is usage of exceptions by a programmer that wants to shoot himself in the foot. Libraries themselves should never disrupt the control flow of clients.  

Best,

Daniel