Making Python’s `assert` throw an exception that I choose

Question

This will work. But it’s kind of crazy.

try:
    assert False, "A Message"
except AssertionError, e:
    raise Exception( e.args )

Why not the following? This is less crazy.

if not someAssertion: raise Exception( "Some Message" )

It’s only a little wordier than the assert statement, but doesn’t violate our expectation that assert failures raise AssertionError.

Consider this.

def myAssert( condition, action ):
    if not condition: raise action

Then you can more-or-less replace your existing assertions with something like this.

myAssert( {{ the original condition }}, MyException( {{ the original message }} ) )

Once you’ve done this, you are now free to fuss around with enable or disabling or whatever it is you’re trying to do.

Also, read up on the warnings module. This may be exactly what you’re trying to do.