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Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD!

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From	Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.java.programmer
Subject	Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD!
Date	Sat, 6 Feb 2016 09:43:46 -0500
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On 2/6/2016 9:13 AM, Martin Gregorie wrote:
> On Sat, 06 Feb 2016 08:38:23 -0500, Eric Sosman wrote:
>
>>       Read the Javadoc?  Well, no: You've already told us that listing
>> nine things in the throws clause is too much clutter to be considered
>> acceptable, so writing nine entire @throws paragraphs in the Javadoc
>> would be even more clutter, even less acceptable.  So, again: How many
>> of these nine exceptions should be Deep Dark Secrets from anyone who
>> might want to call method3()?
>>
> I have a tendency to write classes that trap the checked exceptions
> thrown by classes they call, deal with the non-fatal exceptions and use
> the remainder, along with any events my code generated and can't handle,
> to generate instances of the one or two exception types (one for fatals,
> the other for non-fatals, that my class's methods can throw. Those thrown
> as the result of lower lever fatals will contain the message etc from the
> inner exception, so they're effectively wrappers for them.
>
> This works for me and has the benefit of leaving only one or two
> exception types for outer classes to deal with, but is it generally
> considered to be a good or a bad approach?

     "Good or bad?"  Meh.  You pays your money and you takes your choice.

     Wrapping a multitude of causes into a few exception types has the
advantage of parsimony, but may impose a greater burden on the caller
who needs more detailed information.  Instead of writing separate catch
blocks for NoGoodException and FubarException and ThisSucksException,
he has to catch SomethingWentWrongException, use getCause(), and hope he
finds something recognizable.

     On the other hand, if all he's going to do is clean up and rethrow,
SomethingWentWrongException may be all the precision he needs.

     I'll also note that multi-catch

	try {
	   ...
	} catch (ThisException | ThatException | TotherException ex) {
	   ...
	}

can be an effective clutter-reducer.  And, of course, there's always
the strategy of

	class SomethingWentWrongException extends Exception {...}

	class NoGoodException extends SomethingWentWrongException {...}

	class FubarException extends SomethingWentWrongException {...}

	class ThisSucksException extends FubarException {...}

(when applicable).

     There are, of course, places where the entire exception mechanism --
checked or not -- becomes awkward.  Somebody's already mentioned how
poorly stream operations interact with exceptions; I guess the problem
of catching a whole cascade of exceptions thrown by different pipeline
stages in an asynchronous parallel stream is sort of, er, daunting.  And
I'll admit that checked exceptions cause problems of their own in some
situations: Every time I'm forced to wrap a checked exception in a
RuntimeException just because some interface's method doesn't have a
throws clause, I feel slightly dirty.  But IMO (not "proof"), checked
exceptions offer a useful prompt to coders, a reminder not to ignore
the corner cases.

-- 
esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid
"Don't be afraid of work. Make work afraid of you." -- TLM

Thread

Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-04 07:18 -0800
  Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Douglas <e.d.programmer@gmail.com> - 2016-02-04 08:15 -0800
    Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Silvio <silvio@internet.com> - 2016-02-04 17:57 +0100
      Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Douglas <e.d.programmer@gmail.com> - 2016-02-04 10:09 -0800
        Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Silvio <silvio@internet.com> - 2016-02-04 21:01 +0100
          Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Douglas <e.d.programmer@gmail.com> - 2016-02-04 12:14 -0800
          Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-04 15:16 -0500
            Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Silvio <silvio@internet.com> - 2016-02-04 21:37 +0100
              Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Douglas <e.d.programmer@gmail.com> - 2016-02-04 13:08 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! 4ndre4 <4ndre4@4ndre4.com.invalid> - 2016-02-04 21:16 +0000
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Douglas <e.d.programmer@gmail.com> - 2016-02-04 13:28 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2016-02-04 23:11 +0000
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! a.laforgia@gmail.com - 2016-02-05 04:21 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2016-02-05 13:07 +0000
              Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-04 18:04 -0500
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Gene Wirchenko <genew@telus.net> - 2016-02-05 11:40 -0800
          Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Sebastian <news@seyweiler.dyndns.org> - 2016-02-04 23:22 +0100
          Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! ruben <ceo@iran.gov> - 2016-02-15 11:45 +0000
      Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-04 11:57 -0800
        Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Silvio <silvio@internet.com> - 2016-02-04 21:07 +0100
    Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-04 11:10 -0800
      Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Douglas <e.d.programmer@gmail.com> - 2016-02-04 11:28 -0800
        Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-04 11:33 -0800
          Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! 4ndre4 <4ndre4@4ndre4.com.invalid> - 2016-02-04 21:08 +0000
          Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2016-02-04 16:09 -0800
  Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-04 12:00 -0500
  Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Marcel Mueller <news.5.maazl@spamgourmet.org> - 2016-02-04 19:28 +0100
    Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-04 11:15 -0800
      Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-04 14:51 -0500
  Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! 4ndre4 <4ndre4@4ndre4.com.invalid> - 2016-02-04 21:07 +0000
    Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-04 14:36 -0800
      Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! a.laforgia@gmail.com - 2016-02-05 05:28 -0800
  Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-04 15:31 -0800
    Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-05 08:20 -0500
      Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-05 08:25 -0800
        Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Douglas <e.d.programmer@gmail.com> - 2016-02-05 08:47 -0800
          Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-05 16:09 -0800
            Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-06 08:38 -0500
              Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2016-02-06 14:13 +0000
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Silvio <silvio@internet.com> - 2016-02-06 15:23 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Sebastian <news@seyweiler.dyndns.org> - 2016-02-07 14:49 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exceptions Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2016-02-07 21:55 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exceptions boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-07 14:39 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exceptions Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2016-02-08 13:30 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exceptions boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-08 06:14 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exceptions Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2016-02-08 20:55 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exceptions Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2016-02-08 16:06 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exceptions boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-08 18:38 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exceptions Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2016-02-09 12:15 +0000
                Re: Java Checked Exceptions boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-09 04:59 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exceptions Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2016-02-10 12:13 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exceptions boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-10 19:00 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exceptions Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2016-02-11 12:18 +0000
                Re: Java Checked Exceptions leif.roar@dimnakorr.com - 2016-02-11 04:43 -0600
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-07 14:34 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-07 14:11 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2016-02-07 23:19 +0000
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-07 15:42 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-06 09:43 -0500
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-07 14:14 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-08 09:22 -0500
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-08 11:01 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-08 11:08 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Sebastian <news@seyweiler.dyndns.org> - 2016-02-08 22:02 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-07 14:09 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2016-02-07 23:29 +0000
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Sebastian <news@seyweiler.dyndns.org> - 2016-02-08 21:49 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-08 17:23 -0500
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-08 18:46 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Sebastian <news@seyweiler.dyndns.org> - 2016-02-09 08:21 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-09 04:58 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-09 08:17 -0500
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-09 07:57 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Sebastian <news@seyweiler.dyndns.org> - 2016-02-10 02:37 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-10 18:58 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-11 08:13 -0500
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2016-02-11 14:02 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-11 16:41 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Sebastian <news@seyweiler.dyndns.org> - 2016-02-10 02:31 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-10 18:47 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2016-02-09 12:26 +0000
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-09 04:57 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2016-02-09 18:27 +0000
              Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-07 20:19 -0800
            Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2016-02-06 16:01 +0100
              Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! 4ndre4 <4ndre4@4ndre4.com.invalid> - 2016-02-06 15:10 +0000
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Kevin McMurtrie <mcmurtrie@pixelmemory.us> - 2016-02-06 17:59 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! 4ndre4 <4ndre4@4ndre4.com.invalid> - 2016-02-07 09:34 +0000
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-07 14:23 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-07 20:52 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-07 21:13 -0800
              Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-07 14:19 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2016-02-07 23:42 +0000
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2016-02-08 13:17 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-08 04:39 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2016-02-08 16:05 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-08 18:35 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-08 19:10 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-08 19:12 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Silvio <silvio@internet.com> - 2016-02-11 16:37 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-11 12:00 -0500
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Silvio <silvio@internet.com> - 2016-02-11 19:01 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Sebastian <news@seyweiler.dyndns.org> - 2016-02-11 20:32 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-11 15:20 -0500
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Silvio <silvio@internet.com> - 2016-02-11 23:53 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-11 18:21 -0500
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2016-02-11 15:45 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Silvio <silvio@internet.com> - 2016-02-12 01:19 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2016-02-11 19:18 -0800
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Sebastian <news@seyweiler.dyndns.org> - 2016-02-12 08:31 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Silvio <silvio@internet.com> - 2016-02-12 15:33 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Silvio <silvio@internet.com> - 2016-02-12 15:41 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Silvio <silvio@internet.com> - 2016-02-12 15:42 +0100
                Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2016-02-08 21:19 +0000
        Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> - 2016-02-05 13:00 -0500
  Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-04 15:51 -0800
    Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-04 15:59 -0800
      Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! boxzou@gmail.com - 2016-02-04 16:03 -0800
    Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Eric Douglas <e.d.programmer@gmail.com> - 2016-02-05 05:33 -0800
  Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Kevin McMurtrie <mcmurtrie@pixelmemory.us> - 2016-02-04 21:05 -0800
  Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! ynseo <yeori.seo@gmail.com> - 2016-02-08 01:05 -0800
  Re: Java Checked Exception is BAD! Sebastian <sebastian.millies@softwareag.com> - 2016-02-19 03:43 -0800

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