Use if then else structure, help

[paul]

Hi, When developing some logic to see if something exists and if it doesn't, then create it, he thinks the following solution is the preferred one:

Code:

OurObject obj;
// create a reference to the object if it exists, if it doesn't exist, the method just returns null
obj = someotherobject.somemethodwhichreturnsthe-existingobject(argument)
try {
  // next call will throw exception if object was not found in before call
  obj.somemethod();
} catch (Exception e) {
  // apparently the object did not exist, so let's create it
  obj = someobject.createobject(arguments);
}

i think its more correct to do it this way:

Code:

OurObject obj;
// create a reference to the object if it exists, if it doesn't exist, the method just returns null
obj = someotherobject.somemethodwhichreturnsthe-existingobject(argument)
if (object == null) {
  // apparently the object did not exist, so let's create it
  obj = someobject.createobject(arguments);
}

what do you think is better, faster, whatever.
Thanks

[coco]

I think it depends on the context of the overall program and what you're doing. For example whether you think it's better for a method to throw an exception for breaking reasons or if you need it to continue.

Personally just looking at that code I'd say the second one is faster assembly wise as well as more logical looking. But the first one has various uses which could extend to several different applications.

Time wise? You'll probably not notice any real significance unless you're building a very poorly written program, to which it'll spread out.

You could always test it by using timers to see how long execution of a particular statement is.

Greetings.