Why do Java people frequently consume exceptions silently?

Question

I never did any serious Java coding before, but I learned the syntax, libraries, and concepts based on my existing skills (Delphi & C#). One thing I hardly understand i

Answer 1

I have to say I slightly resent the tone that implies this sort of lax error-handling behaviour is something fundamental to Java programmers. Sure, Java programmers can be lazy, just like every other programmer, and Java's a popular language, so you'll probably see a lot of code swallowing exceptions.

Also, as has been pointed out elsewhere, there are understandable frustrations with Java's enforced declaration of checked exceptions, although personally I don't have a problem with that.

What I have a problem with, I guess, is that you're breezing through a bunch of articles and code snippets on the web without bothering to consider the context. The truth is, when you're writing a technical article trying to explain how some particular API works, or how to get started with something, then you're very likely to skip over some aspects of the code - the error handling that's not directly related to what you're demonstrating is a likely candidate for disposal, especially if the exception is unlikely to occur in the example scenario.

People who write articles of that nature have to maintain a reasonable signal-to-noise ratio, and rather fairly, I think, that means they have to assume you know some basics about the language you're developing in; how to deal properly with errors, and a bunch of other things. If you come across an article and notice a lack of proper error checking, then that's fine; just make sure that when you incorporate those ideas (but of course, never the exact code itself, right?) into your production code, you'll deal with all those bits and bobs that the author sensibly left out, in a manner that's most suited to what you're developing.

I do have a problem with very high-level introductory articles that breeze over such issues without ever returning to them, but please be aware that there's not some particular "mindset" of Java programmers regarding error handling; I know of plenty of your beloved C# programmers who don't bother dealing with all their problems, either.