[Python-Dev] Deprecating string exceptions

[Guido van Rossum]

> http://python.org/sf/518846 reports that new-style classes cannot be
> used as exceptions. I think it is desirable that this is fixed, but I
> also believe that it conflicts with string exceptions.

Can you explain this conflict?  Couldn't this be worked around by
making an exception for strings?

> So I would like
> to propose that string exceptions are deprecated for Python 2.3, in
> order to remove them in Python 2.4, simultaneously allowing arbitrary
> objects as exceptions.

I think string exceptions are used enough that we should deprecate
them on a slower schedule.

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