[Bioperl-l] verbosity and error stack, was accessing EMBL database

[Mark A. Jensen]

I like this verbose/strict separability a lot. Should we go for it?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Fields" <cjfields at illinois.edu>
To: "Mark A. Jensen" <maj at fortinbras.us>
Cc: <bioperl-l at bioperl.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:30 AM
Subject: [Bioperl-l] verbosity and error stack, was accessing EMBL database


> Mark, Dave,
>
> This could be based on verbose().
>
>          Level      w     t     d    st
> verbose   < 0        -     +     -    -/+
> verbose     0        +     +     -    -/+
> verbose     1        +     +     +    +/+
> verbose   > 1        +* -> +     +    +/+
> * converts to throw()
> w = warn
> t = throw
> d = debug
> st = stack trace
>
> warn() is set up that way now, you don't get a stack trace unless verbose() is 
>  > 0.  throw() could be the same; would be a simple fix, really.
>
> My only problem with the current state of things is (I think we've delved down 
> this path before) verbosity level is tied to exception strictness as seen 
> above, and they're really two separate concepts, at least to me.  Verbosity of 
> 1 or more doesn't necessarily mean I want an elevated level of strictness 
> along with it.  For instance, one might want very strict exceptions w/o the 
> noise, or (conversely) lots of debugging output but no warnings.
>
> (aside: another small nit, but I haven't exactly liked that the global level 
> of strictness is designated by a env. variable with DEBUG in the name, but 
> that's just me).
>
> I've been thinking it would be nice to have simple separate verbose/strict 
> switches (this is the way it's implemented in Biome).  This would allow some 
> finer grained control over output:
>
>          Level      d    st
> verbose     0        -    -
> verbose     1        +    +
> Default = BIOPERLDEBUG || 0 # current situation
>
>          Level      w     t
> strict      -1       -     +
> strict      0        +     +
> strict      1        +* -> +
> * converts to throw()
> Default = BIOPERLSTRICT || 0
>
> We could even allow finer-grained control of verbosity (states which cover all 
> combinations) w/o affecting strictness.
>
> chris
>
> On Nov 19, 2009, at 8:17 AM, Mark A. Jensen wrote:
>
>> I'm inclined to agree. Lots of responses to questions here that begin
>> "Well, as the error message said, you need to check...", which means
>> people tend towards "I broke it! Write the list!". I do find it hairy when
>> my errors are way down in the object tree.
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Messina" <David.Messina at sbc.su.se>
>> To: "Mark A. Jensen" <maj at fortinbras.us>
>> Cc: <bioperl-l at bioperl.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 9:04 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Bioperl-l] accessing EMBL database
>>
>>
>>> I would agree that the error message is not really informative.
>>
>> Agreed that it could be better, but I wonder whether part of the problem with 
>> BioPerl error messages is the stack dump.
>>
>> I think a lot of eyes just glaze right over when they see a big wad of 
>> complicated stuff, with colons and slashes and line numbers, spewing out at 
>> them.
>>
>> Perhaps the stack dump should be turned off by default?
>>
>> Wouldn't this:
>>
>> ERROR: EMBL stream with no ID. Not embl in my book
>>
>>
>>
>> Be a lot clearer than this?:
>>
>> MSG: EMBL stream with no ID. Not embl in my book
>> STACK: Error::throw
>> STACK: Bio::Root::Root::throw C:/Perl/site/lib/Bio/Root/Root.pm: 368
>> STACK: Bio::SeqIO::embl::next_seq C:/Perl/site/lib/Bio\SeqIO\embl.pm: 203
>> STACK: Bio::DB::WebDBSeqI::get_Seq_by_acc 
>> C:/Perl/site/lib/Bio/DB/WebDBSeqI.pm: 194
>> STACK: trial2.pl
>>
>>
>>
>> Just a thought. This has probably been discussed before.
>> Dave
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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