assert or throw in range members?

[Cauterite via Digitalmars-d-learn]

On Friday, 5 August 2016 at 10:25:42 UTC, Nordlöw wrote:
> Should range members front() and back() assert() or throw() on 
> emptyness?

I'm pretty sure it's assert() here. The contract is that the 
caller is responsible for checking emptiness beforehand, and the 
whole of Phobos is coded around that contract.

I think.

> If it should assert() doesn't that lead to unsafer code in 
> release mode?

That's the point of release mode. Omitting superfluous checks 
based on the assumption that your code is correct (e.g. 
assumption that the emptiness contract is respected).