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From: raw@math.arizona.edu
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Subject: loops in c
Keywords: loop,while,repeat,until.for
Message-ID: <1546@amethyst.math.arizona.edu>
Date: 29 Mar 90 12:39:13 GMT
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Distribution: usa
Organization: Dept. of Math., Univ. of Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721
Lines: 47

In article <4543@daffy.cs.wisc.edu> you write:
>In article <KZB#G{_@rpi.edu> night@pawl.rpi.edu (Trip Martin) writes:
>| An interesting note that might give some perspective to this issue is how
>| Plus, a little-known language that I'm somewhat familiar with, handles loops.
>| Instead of having both while and do..while forms of loops, it uses one form
>| called cycle.  Cycle is an infinite loop.  You can then stick exit statements
>| anywhere in the loop (and then can be conditional, with both flavors of tests
>| supported).  Conceptually, it's a more general way of handling loops.
>
>This is the second request I've seen for a loop construct that allows an
>exit from anywhere in the loop.  Is there something drastically wrong with:
>
>for(;;) {
>   <statements>
>   if (expr)
>      break;
>   <statements>
>}
>
>or have I missed something here?
>
>Rick (schaut@garfield.cs.wisc.edu)

The point you missed Rick, is that this is a _perversion_ of a for loop.  The
same nastiness could be written with a while or a do...while.  My point is
the cycle statement above and the the loop ... test ... repeat I talked about
are the **NATUAL** looping structures in their respective languages.  These 
constructs allow a more natural structure to a program IMNSHO and are _easier_
to use.

If I saw C code like the above for ... if then break, I would be tempted to
shoot the person and/or persons responsible.  IMO the loop should be rewritten.
The reason that code like the above is written is because to many people it is
a natural way to do it.  You have to be _trained_ *NOT* to author code like
that.

So lets make it easier on all.  Demand a loop {stmnt} test {stmnt} repeat
in ANSI C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


			Richard Walter

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			Keep on crunching those numbers

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