Why doesn't Python (error msg) tell me WHAT the actual (arg) values are ?

[Peter J. Holzer]

On 2023-02-25 21:58:18 +0000, Weatherby,Gerard wrote:
> I only use asserts for things I know to be true.

Yeah, that's what assers are for. Or rather for things that you *think*
are true.

> In other words, a failing assert means I have a hole in my program
> logic.

Yes, if you include your assumptions in your definition of "logic".


> For that use, the default behavior –telling me which line the assert
> is on, is more than sufficient. Depending on the circumstance, I’ll
> re-run the code with a breakpoint or replace the assert with an
> informative f-string Exception.

That may not always be practical. Things that we know (or think) are
true often have *are* true in most cases (otherwise we wouldn't think
so). So the case where the assumption fails may not be easily
reproducable and the more information you can get post-mortem the
better. For example, in C on Linux a failed assertion causes a core
dump. So you can inspect the complete state of the program.

        hp

-- 
   _  | Peter J. Holzer    | Story must make more sense than reality.
|_|_) |                    |
| |   | hjp at hjp.at         |    -- Charles Stross, "Creative writing
__/   | http://www.hjp.at/ |       challenge!"
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