Exceptions in the Rainforest

Ned Batchelder: Exceptions in the rainforest is a response to Joel Spolsky’s article on exceptions. He had a nice little breakdown of system code to go with his explanation of why exceptions are “better”:

In my experience, there are three layers to real code (from bottom to top, so this list might look upside-down):

• Adapting the software beneath you.

• Building pieces of your system.

• Combining it all together.

I agree with Ned’s article here. This is why exceptions are good. I think Ned is also making the argument for either using unchecked exceptions or for just transparently passing the exceptions all the way back up to the C layer.