Date parsing alternative

date_parsing.rb

# A lot of times, dates will be handled like this:
# 
# parsed_date = Date.parse(maybe_date) rescue nil
#
# This is an alternative, faster strategy that doesn't rely on a catch-all, less performant
# (in error conditions at at least; backtraces aren't generated), rescue behavior
def parse_date_string(maybe_date)
  return if maybe_date.blank?

  catch(:date) do
    parsed_date = Date._parse(maybe_date).slice(:year, :mon, :mday)

    throw :date, Date.new(*parsed_date.values) if parsed_date.size == 3
  end
end