Are Assertions in C, C , and Go a Valid Replacement for Robust Error Handling?

Discuss the Validity of Assertions in Programming

The Go language creators have expressed concerns about the use of assertions, asserting that they hinder proper error handling and reporting. Let's explore these arguments and their applicability to C and C in this article.

Go's Perspective

Go's creators believe that assertions encourage programmers to avoid proper error handling, which leads to servers crashing and imprecise error reporting. Instead, they advocate for error handling that ensures server continuity and clear error messages.

Relevance to C and C

These arguments are equally applicable to C and C . Although C and C lack built-in assert() functions, they provide debugging macros like _assert() and assert().

Pros and Cons of Assertions

Pros:

• Catch unexpected errors during debugging.
• Can pinpoint the location of logic errors.
• Prevent runtime errors and crashes.

Cons:

• May suppress legitimate errors if not used judiciously.
• Can be costly in performance-critical environments.
• Can lead to over-reliance on assertions instead of proper error handling.

Conclusion

Assertions, when used appropriately, can be valuable debugging tools. However, they should complement, not replace, proper error handling and reporting. Programmers should strive to use assertions sparingly, reserving them for detecting logical errors that should "never happen."

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