FAQ fodder (Re: exceptions and distinguishing between failures and errors)

> hi all...
> 
> i've been reading some of the threads regarding testing for
> thrown exceptions, and read the wiki page http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?
> CodingJavaUnitExceptionTests.  i'm wondering whether, in the face
> of exceptions (or otherwise), anyone really distinguishes between
> failures and errors.

Yes. If code throws an Exception that it shouldn't through, even under 
exceptional circumstances, I treat that as an error rather than a failure.

One could argue that throwing the wrong exception type is a failure and not 
an error, but since it's impossible to distinguish between simply throwing 
the wrong exception type and something going horribly wrong, it is easiest to 
treat them both as errors.

Mike, this is probably a FAQ. :)

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J. B. Rainsberger,
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