Method Call in Exception

[Kent Johnson]

Carl Banks wrote:
> mwt wrote:
>> In my latest attempt at some Python code, I've been tempted to write
>> something in the form of:
>>
>> try:
>>     [...] #doing some internet stuff
>> except IOError:
>>     alternate_method_that_doesnt_need_internet()
>>
>> This works when I try it, but I feel vaguely uneasy about putting
>> method calls in exception blocks. So tell me, Brave Pythoneers, is this
>> evil sorcery that I will end up regretting, or is it just plain good
>> ol' Python magic?
> 
> It's ok.  In fact a lot of Pythonistas recommend this way over the
> alternative, even when you don't have to.  For example, a lot of people
> recommend this:
> 
> try:
>     name = record.name
> except AttributeError:
>     name = "Freddy"
> 
> instead of this:
> 
> if hasattr(record,"name"):
>     name = record.name
> else:
>     name = "Freddy"

or maybe
name = getattr(record, 'name', 'Freddy')

Kent