[Python-Dev] Breaking bug #411881 into manageable pieces

[Guido van Rossum]

> Why can't we simply change the default for bare except clauses?

Because there's too much code that depends on it.

> I.e.
> 
> try:
>     ...
> except:
>     ...
> 
> gets equivalent to
> 
> try:
>     ...
> except StandardError:
>     ...
> 
> To catch everything, write:
> 
> try:
>     ...
> except Exception:
>     ...

Not all exception classes derive from Exception.

> What about string exceptions?

Another good reason not to change the default.  These won't be removed
from the language until Python 3.0 -- there's simply too much legacy
code that uses it.  (We should try to issue warnings when a string
exception is raised or tested for though starting in 2.3.)

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)