[Newbies] Re: exception handling lingo

[Mark Volkmann]

On Sep 30, 2008, at 1:34 PM, nicolas cellier wrote:

> Mark Volkmann a écrit :
>> I asked this earlier, but it wasn't the first question in my email,  
>> so it may have been overlooked.
>> In Smalltalk lingo is it correct to say "signal" and "handle" in  
>> place of Java's "throw" and "catch"?
>> ---
>> Mark Volkmann
>
> He, nobody answering, seems you reached some kind of quota ;)
>
> I would say, you mostly get it, but:
> - in java/C++ etc... throw/catch try/catch are part of Syntax
> - in Smalltalk, these are just ordinary messages sent to objects...
>
> As such, you'll see some differences across dialects like #raise  
> instead of #signal for example...
> Inside a Smalltalk dialect, you'll see also some variations (browse  
> usage of #signal: in Squeak for example).
>
> Concerning #handle, i don't know where you get the information...
> #handle:do: is a compatibility message dating from very old  
> Visualworks image and is not in Squeak images, AFAIK.
> ANSI recommend using #on:do:
> Also browse usage of simpler messages like #ensure: #ifCurtailed:
>
> Also browse all possible handling actions like #reject #pass #retry  
> #return #retryWith: #return: #resignalAs:
> Maybe you'll need some good tutorial to learn the differences  
> between these actions (remember that Smalltalk can handle the  
> MethodContext call stack, so don't be amazed of rich possibilities  
> there).


Thanks! I think I understand all you said except for two things.

1) The ifCurtailed method. From just looking at the comment in the  
method and the code, I have no idea what it does.

2) The reject method. Which class are you referring to? The ones I see  
that contain that method don't seem related to exception handling.

---
Mark Volkmann