Re: [PATCH 1/2] docs: python: abi_regex: catch the right exception for a bad regex

[Alison Schofield <alison.schofield@intel.com>]

On Fri, Aug 07, 2026 at 12:03:44AM +0000, sashiko-bot@kernel.org wrote:
> Thank you for your contribution! Sashiko AI review found 1 potential issue(s) to consider:
> - [Medium] The patch replaces `re.PatternError` with `re.error` rather than catching both, directly contradicting the commit message and exposing a misunderstanding of standard Python.

It does indeed catch both by simply using 're.error'.

re.PatternError is not a separate exception because re.error was
kept as an alias for backward compatibility.

So yes, a bit of secret sauce not obvious in the commit message.

I'll wait a bit and see if Maintainers want a respin with a commit
log update for that.


> --
> 
> --- Patch [1]: [PATCH 1/2] docs: python: abi_regex: catch the right exception for a bad regex ---
> commit ed601931671f151d8ef4f1bbd0e817520a34f3c5
> Author: Alison Schofield <alison.schofield@intel.com>
> 
> docs: python: abi_regex: catch the right exception for a bad regex
> 
> This commit updates the exception handling in abi_regex.py to prevent the
> script from aborting on invalid regular expressions. It aims to support
> both older and newer Python releases by handling regex errors correctly.
> 
> > Older Python releases raise re.error, while newer releases expose
> > re.PatternError. Catching only the newer name causes the scan to
> > abort when an invalid expression is encountered.
> > 
> > Catch both names so the scan continues and reports the remaining
> > results.
> 
> [Severity: Medium]
> Does the commit message accurately reflect the changes? 
> 
> The text states it will "Catch both names", but the patch replaces 
> re.PatternError with re.error entirely. While standard Python uses re.error, 
> if newer releases actually exposed re.PatternError as stated in the commit 
> message, wouldn't replacing the handler cause newer Python releases to abort?
> 
> > diff --git a/tools/lib/python/abi/abi_regex.py b/tools/lib/python/abi/abi_regex.py
> > --- a/tools/lib/python/abi/abi_regex.py
> > +++ b/tools/lib/python/abi/abi_regex.py
> > @@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ class AbiRegex(AbiParser):
> >              if self.search_string:
> >                  if what.find(self.search_string) >= 0:
> >                      print(f"What: {what}")
> > -        except re.PatternError:
> > +        except re.error:
> 
> [Severity: Medium]
> Is it intentional to only catch re.error here in regex_append(), rather
> than catching both as described in the commit message?
> 
> [ ... ]
> 
> > @@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ class AbiRegex(AbiParser):
> >  
> >                  try:
> >                      self.re_string = re.compile(self.search_string)
> > -                except re.PatternError as e:
> > +                except re.error as e:
> 
> [Severity: Medium]
> Does this __init__() block also need to catch both exceptions, or is
> replacing re.PatternError with re.error sufficient?
> 
> [ ... ]
> 
> > @@ -223,9 +223,9 @@ class AbiRegex(AbiParser):
> >                  for r, s in self.re_whats:
> >                      try:
> >                          new = r.sub(s, new)
> > -                    except re.PatternError as e:
> > +                    except re.error as e:
> >                          # Help debugging troubles with new regexes
> > -                        raise re.PatternError(f"{e}\nwhile re.sub('{r.pattern}', {s}, str)") from e
> > +                        raise re.error(f"{e}\nwhile re.sub('{r.pattern}', {s}, str)") from e
> 
> [Severity: Medium]
> Similar to the other locations, parse_abi() replaces the exception class
> instead of catching both. Does this match the intended behavior?
> 
> -- 
> Sashiko AI review · https://sashiko.dev/#/patchset/d57d3ddc0d7d883bd61ad07c6d3969b622fd446f.1786058698.git.alison.schofield@intel.com?part=1