Re: [Caml-list] Static exception analysis or alternative to using exceptions

[Hans Ole Rafaelsen <hrafaelsen@gmail.com>]

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On Wed, May 26, 2010 at 7:30 PM, Dario Teixeira <darioteixeira@yahoo.com>wrote:

> Hi,
>
> > What experience does people have to using alternatives to exceptions,
> > such as option types or exception monads? Does use of third part
> > libraries that still throws exceptions make such approaches hard to use?
> > Performance wise it seems to be comparable to catching exceptions or
> > matching for options, so I guess the difference be might a question of
> > programming style?
>
> Partly yes, though I would say that in Ocaml it is tempting to use
> exceptions beyond what is reasonable, because they are so cheap and
> convenient.  As you noted, this can lead to trouble at runtime, which
> is why some libraries discourage the "exceptional style", preferring
> option types and forcing users to invoke functions suffixed by "_exc"
> if they really want to use the exception-based version.
>
> Personally, I think the litmus test hinges on whether the supposedly
> exceptional situation is truly worthy of the name.  If it's a common
> occurrence, perhaps one should reconsider the use of an "exception".
> Without meaning to start an holy war, let me just add that even on
> the Stdlib there are functions (such as Map.S.find) that raise an
> exception but which should perhaps return an option type.
>
> Btw, you didn't mention it explicitly in your message, but I trust you
> are familiar with "Catch me if you can"? [1]
>
I have just read about it, not tested it yet. Do you have any experience
using this library, especially together with other libraries that also
provides syntax extension?


>
> Best regards,
> Dario Teixeira
>
> [1]
> http://dutherenverseauborddelatable.wordpress.com/downloads/exception-monads-for-ocaml/
>
>
>
>
> Thanks,

Hans Ole

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