Handling Syntax Errors in Eval'd Code

When working with Python code, you may encounter situations where syntax errors occur within code that is dynamically evaluated using the eval function. While it is possible to catch such errors, the same is not true for syntax errors in the source code itself.

Why the Difference?

To understand this behavior, it is crucial to remember the order of execution in Python. When code is executed, the Python compiler first parses and compiles the code to generate bytecode. This bytecode is then interpreted by the Python Virtual Machine (PVM).

In the case of syntax errors in the source code, the compiler encounters the error and stops the compilation process. Consequently, the try/except blocks defined in the code never come into play.

However, when using eval, the code within the eval statement is compiled separately after the first compilation of the surrounding code. This means that any syntax errors within the eval statement occur during the second compilation run. Since the try/except blocks were already established during the first compilation, it is possible to catch syntax errors raised by the eval'd code.

Implications

The inability to catch syntax errors in the source code can be frustrating. But it is an inherent limitation of the Python implementation. The compiler must complete its first run before the try/except mechanism is active.

Workarounds

To handle syntax errors in the source code, one must find ways to trigger the compilation process multiple times. This can be achieved using techniques like:

• Wrapping the code in an eval statement
• Using the compile built-in function
• Importing the code from a separate file
• Employing exec or execfile