[jdom-interest] NoSuch*Exceptions in JDOM

[Andre Van Delft]

Alex Chaffee wrote:

> > We can have it both ways.
> > I use a util function getChild that returns a null if the child is
> > absent.
> > I prefer the Element.getChild function to behave like this.
> > The old Element.getChild functions throwing the exceptions may well be
> > renamed into mustGetChild.
> > That would do, IMHO.
>
> I'm with you.  I like the terminology "mustX", but that breaks the
> JavaBean convention of starting accesors with "get".  But I think null
> should be returned by the standard methods; Cornell&Horstmann (and
> others) taught me not to overuse exceptions where a compare will do.

Would the JavaBean convention forbid "mustGetChild"
even if there is already a "getChild"?
How about:
  getMandatoryChild - may throw NoSuch*Exception
or
getOptionalChild - may return null