[Python-Dev] (try-except) conditional expression similar to (if-else) conditional (PEP 308)

[Russell E. Owen]

In article <D28975E8-6706-4515-9C9E-FB7F90775CA5 at masklinn.net>,
 Xavier Morel <catch-all at masklinn.net> wrote:

> On 6 Aug 2009, at 00:22 , Jeff McAninch wrote:
> > I'm new to this list, so please excuse me if this topic has been  
> > discussed, but I didn't
> > see anything similar in the archives.
> >
> > I very often want something like a try-except conditional expression  
> > similar
> > to the if-else conditional.
> I fear this idea is soon going to extend to all compound statements  
> one by one.
> 
> Wouldn't it be smarter to fix the issue once and for all by looking  
> into making Python's compound statements (or even all statements  
> without restrictions) expressions that can return values in the first  
> place? Now I don't know if it's actually possible, but if it is the  
> problem becomes solved not just for try:except: (and twice so for  
> if:else:) but also for while:, for: (though that one's already served  
> pretty well by comprehensions) and with:.

I like this idea a lot.

-- Russell