[Python-Dev] (try-except) conditional expression similar to (if-else) conditional (PEP 308)

[Xavier Morel]

On 6 Aug 2009, at 00:22 , Jeff McAninch wrote:
> I'm new to this list, so please excuse me if this topic has been  
> discussed, but I didn't
> see anything similar in the archives.
>
> I very often want something like a try-except conditional expression  
> similar
> to the if-else conditional.
I fear this idea is soon going to extend to all compound statements  
one by one.

Wouldn't it be smarter to fix the issue once and for all by looking  
into making Python's compound statements (or even all statements  
without restrictions) expressions that can return values in the first  
place? Now I don't know if it's actually possible, but if it is the  
problem becomes solved not just for try:except: (and twice so for  
if:else:) but also for while:, for: (though that one's already served  
pretty well by comprehensions) and with:.