Exceptions are a specific solution to a specific problem. E.g. you're an OS an you're pushing out a minor-version maintenance update which tightens security pol

Exceptions are a specific solution to a specific problem. E.g. you're an OS an you're pushing out a minor-version maintenance update which tightens security policy, adding new failure codes. You cannot expect every user application to be recompiled. Exceptions ensure that a loosely-coupled interruption channel exists in user code by compiler-fiat. Other uses are specious, but let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.