Ask HN: doesn't runtime exceptions and unit tests share the same goal?

What's the alternative in your opinion? Let's say you're trying to open a file. It can fail. You've got to check this.

Also, consider that if the entire block isn't wrapped in a try/catch, those ifs are guarding against runtime errors which would crash the program for the user.

Although I do see unit tests making use of exceptions in their decision to pass/fail, it's not the only way to write a unit test-- sometimes you test for value, etc.

I have seen code that catches any exception and returns false. That is annoying although for different reasons.