Python style: exceptions vs. sys.exit()

[Grant Edwards]

On 2008-09-24, Steven D'Aprano <steven at REMOVE.THIS.cybersource.com.au> wrote:
> On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:25:26 -0700, Drake wrote:
>
>> I have a general question of Python style, or perhaps just good
>> programming practice.
>> 
>> My group is developing a medium-sized library of general-purpose Python
>> functions, some of which do I/O. Therefore it is possible for many of
>> the library functions to raise IOError Exceptions. The question is:
>> should the library function be able to just dump to sys.exit() with a
>> message about the error (like "couldn't open this file"), or should the
>> exception propagate to the calling program which handles the issue?
>> 
>> Thanks in advance for anyone who can either answer my question or point
>> me to where this question has already been answered.
>
>
> Presumably somebody has suggested that calling sys.exit() was a good 
> option. I'm curious to what possible reason they could give for such a 
> poor choice.

Same here.  It's like an automotive engine controls designer
asking if a failed O2 sensor should turn on the check engine
light or blow up the car.

-- 
Grant Edwards                   grante             Yow! Mr and Mrs PED, can I
                                  at               borrow 26.7% of the RAYON
                               visi.com            TEXTILE production of the
                                                   INDONESIAN archipelago?