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Python Python Basics Functions and Looping Raise an Exception

Posted by Nick Evershed
Nick Evershed
570 Points

Stuck

I've made a function that creates brand new product names using artificial intelligence.

I have a problem though, people keep on adding product ideas that are too short. It makes the suggestions look bad.

Can you please raise a ValueError if the product_idea is less than 3 characters long? Thanks in advance!

I'm pretty confused at this point, and python is overwhelming me, I really want to complete this course

suggestinator.py 
def suggest(product_idea):
    return product_idea + "inator"
if product_idea < 3:
    raise ValueError("Oof")
Leon Silcott
Leon Silcott
27,584 Points

Hey,

I'm not sure if this helps. But I would have done something like. 

class ProductNameTooShort(Exception):
   pass

...

if len(product_idea) < 3:
    raise ProductNameTooShort()

2 Answers

Jeff Muday
MOD
Jeff Muday
Treehouse Moderator 28,722 Points
Jeff Muday
Jeff Muday
Treehouse Moderator 28,722 Points

See how close you were! :-) This will work.

def suggest(product_idea):
    if len(product_idea) < 3:
        raise ValueError("Oof")
    return product_idea + "inator"
Jeff Muday
MOD
Jeff Muday
Treehouse Moderator 28,722 Points
Jeff Muday
Jeff Muday
Treehouse Moderator 28,722 Points

A few things to work on:

1) to test the length of a string, you should use the len() function.

    if len(product_idea) < 3:
        raise ValueError("some error message that would make sense")

2) Make sure to always indent to ensure your statement is inside the desired program block. In this case the "if" clause is not inside the function block

3) Program flow. You need to check the length of the product idea and raise the error FIRST, rather than just return the concatenated string.

If you make those changes, you can pass the challenge.

Good luck and enjoy your courses.

Nick Evershed
Nick Evershed
570 Points

Ugh I tried this and its still not working :(