Generic logger vs. exception pattern: Simplifying Error Handling in C+ +

Discover how to enhance error handling in C+ + by optimizing the use of generic logging and exceptions with a practical solution that reduces code repetition.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/67274161/ asked by the user 'Joel Bodenmann' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1414496/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/67274771/ provided by the user 'Bert' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/13746372/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Navigating the Challenges of Error Handling in C+ +

Error handling is one of the most crucial aspects of software development. In C+ + , developers often face a dilemma when it comes to managing errors: Should they use logging, exceptions, or a combination of both? This question is especially pertinent when working with classes that need to report failures consistently.

Consider a simple class, foo, which contains methods that check for file existence and manage errors. Depending on whether a logger is provided, the class can either log a warning or throw an exception. However, as you add more methods, this approach can quickly become cumbersome and repetitive, which leads many developers to search for a cleaner solution.

Understanding the Problem

In the provided implementation, the error handling for class foo looks something like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This code snippet is not only visually complex but also prone to errors due to its repetitive structure. Every time you need to check an error condition, you're faced with the same verbose syntax.

A More Elegant Solution

Introducing the log_or_throw Function

To streamline error handling and improve code readability, we can encapsulate the logging and exception logic into a reusable function called log_or_throw. This function will take care of whether to log a warning or throw an exception based on the situation.

Here's what the implementation of log_or_throw looks like:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Refactoring the Error Handling

With the log_or_throw function in place, you can simplify your error handling. Instead of writing repetitive blocks of code, you can replace them with a single function call.

Here’s how the previous path check can be refactored:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Benefits of This Approach

Reduced Repetition: By centralizing the error handling logic in one function, you eliminate boilerplate code.

Enhanced Readability: Your implementation becomes cleaner and more understandable at a glance.

Improved Maintainability: If you need to tweak error handling in the future, you only need to update the log_or_throw function rather than multiple sections of your class.

Conclusion

Navigating error handling in C+ + can be challenging, especially when aiming for clarity and conciseness. By utilizing a pattern like the log_or_throw function, developers can effectively manage logging and exceptions without compromising code quality.

This simple yet powerful solution can not only save time but also reduce the likelihood of errors in your codebase, leading to a more robust application.

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