[Python-Dev] Chaining try statements: eltry? (original) (raw)

Tim Peters tim.peters at gmail.com
Thu Jul 7 21:17:39 CEST 2005

[Guido]

OTOH I don't particularly like code that requires flag variables;

Me neither; that's indeed why this one isn't a slam dunk.

they often make me squirm because the same condition (flag) is tested multiple times where it could be tested just once if more sophisticated flow control (e.g. an else clause :) was available.

What burns me (far) more often in practice is "simulating" a multi-level break or continue. Then multiple flag variables get introduced, set, and tested multiple times at multiple "logical indent levels" too. That can also be viewed as stemming from a lack of more sophisticated flow control. One-loop found-it-or-didn't kinds of flag variables have spatial locality that makes them (IME) quite easy to live with, in comparison.

How would a PEP to remove this feature fare today?

Easy: it would be rejected, but with a note that it should be reconsidered for Python 3000.

Unhelpfully,

your-opposite-in-oh-so-many-ways-ly y'rs - tim

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