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Groups > comp.lang.python > #38154

Re: LBYL vs EAFP

Date 2013-02-04 16:26 -0800
From Ethan Furman <ethan@stoneleaf.us>
Subject Re: LBYL vs EAFP
References <5110415c$0$29986$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.python
Message-ID <mailman.1344.1360025565.2939.python-list@python.org> (permalink)

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On 02/04/2013 03:16 PM, Steven D'Aprano wrote:
> The eternal conflict between "Look Before You Leap" and "Easier to Ask for
> Forgiveness than Permission" (LBYL vs EAFP) continues...
>
> I want to check that a value is a number. Let's say I don't care what sort
> of number -- float, int, complex, Fraction, Decimal, something else -- just
> that it is a number. Should I:
>
> Look Before I Leap:
>
>      from numbers import Number
>      if isinstance(x, Number):
>          ...
>      else:
>          raise TypeError
>
>
> or Ask Forgiveness:
>
>      x + 0
>      ...

As Ian mentioned, both cases are LYBL, unless of course your addition 
was just an example of some mathematical code you have further down.

Personally, I go with EAFP unless I'm trying to present friendlier error 
messages.

~Ethan~

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Thread

LBYL vs EAFP Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2013-02-05 10:16 +1100
  Re: LBYL vs EAFP Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2013-02-05 10:38 +1100
    Re: LBYL vs EAFP Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2013-02-05 03:52 +0000
      Re: LBYL vs EAFP Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2013-02-05 16:19 +1100
  Re: LBYL vs EAFP Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2013-02-04 16:46 -0700
    Re: LBYL vs EAFP Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2013-02-05 04:52 +0000
      Re: LBYL vs EAFP Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2013-02-05 16:20 +1100
        Re: LBYL vs EAFP Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2013-02-05 06:31 +0000
          Re: LBYL vs EAFP Pete Forman <petef4+usenet@gmail.com> - 2013-02-05 09:49 +0000
            Re: LBYL vs EAFP Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2013-02-05 23:04 +1100
              Re: LBYL vs EAFP Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2013-02-05 23:25 +1100
      Re: LBYL vs EAFP Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2013-02-04 22:40 -0700
  Re: LBYL vs EAFP Dave Angel <davea@davea.name> - 2013-02-04 18:55 -0500
  Re: LBYL vs EAFP Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2013-02-05 11:45 +1100
  Re: LBYL vs EAFP Ethan Furman <ethan@stoneleaf.us> - 2013-02-04 16:26 -0800
  Re: LBYL vs EAFP Oscar Benjamin <oscar.j.benjamin@gmail.com> - 2013-02-05 01:00 +0000
  Re: LBYL vs EAFP Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2013-02-05 02:53 -0500

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