Exception Handling : Fundamentals and Programming

This book presents the fundamentals of exception handling with examples written in C++ and Python. Starting with its history and evolution, it explores the many facets of exception handling, such as its syntax, semantics, challenges, best practices, and implementation patterns.

The book is composed of five chapters: Chapter 1 provides an introduction, covering the history, various definitions, and challenges of exception handling. Chapter 2 then delves into the basics, offering insights into the foundational concepts and techniques. Subsequently, chapter 3 touches upon the best practices for exception handling, including the differences between errors and exceptions, the use of assertions, and how to provide meaningful error messages. Chapter 4 takes a deep dive into advanced exception-handling techniques, exploring e.g. patterns, guard clauses, and hierarchical exception handling. Eventually, chapter 5 focuses on the complexities of exception handling in real-time and embedded systems.

This book is mainly written for both students and professionals. Its readers will understand the nuances between syntax and semantic errors, learn how to employ try-catch blocks effectively, grasp the importance of logging exceptions, and delve into advanced exception-handling techniques. This way, they will be enabled to handle exceptions effectively and thus write more robust, reliable, and resilient code.

Pedro Mejia-Alvarez received his BSc degree in computer systems from ITESM, Querétaro, Mexico, in 1985, his PhD degree in Informatics from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain, in 1995. He pursued his PostDoc Research at the Computer Science Department of the University of Pittsburgh in 1999-2000. He has been a Professor with the CINVESTAV-Guadalajara since 1997. His research interests include Real-Time Systems, Software Testing and Software Engineering.

Raul E. Gonzalez Torres received his PhD in Mathematics from the University of Houston in 1987. His research interests are Formal Software Verification, Automatic Theorem Proof, Demonstration Theory for non-classical Logics and Applications of Logic in Engineering and Computing.

Susana Ortega-Cisneros received her BSc degree in communications and electronics from the Universidad de Guadalajara, México, in 1990, the MSc degree from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV), México City, México, and the PhD degree in computer science and telecommunications from the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. She is currently with CINVESTAV and specializes in the design of digital architectures based on field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), DSPs, and microprocessors.