Jason Spence ([info]jspence) wrote,
@ 2007-11-22 08:00:00
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One of the style things that programmers in {}; (C, Java, ...) languages run into when they enter the real world is the fight to have exceptional or non-exceptional code first. An example of exceptional-first:

rc = dostuff();
if(BAD(rc)) {
  goto out;
}

rc = do_more_stuff();
if(BAD(rc)) {
  goto out;
}

rc = yet_more_stuff();
if(BAD(rc)) {
  goto out;
}

finish_up();

out:
if(did_stuff) { free_dostuff(); }
if(did_do_more_stuff) { cleanup_do_more_stuff(); }
if(did_yet_more_stuff) { undo_yet_more_stuff(); }
The other way:

rc = dostuff();
if(GOOD(rc)) {
  rc = do_more_stuff();
  if(GOOD(rc)) {
    rc = yet_more_stuff();
    if(GOOD(rc)) {
      finish_up();
    }
    undo_yet_more_stuff();
  }
  clean_up_do_more_stuff();
}
free_dostuff();
There are many arguments for and against either style, and I'm going to analyze them over the next few days. For now, think about your initial reactions to both styles.

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