Re: while (1) vs. for ( ;; )

"Baxter" <lbax02.spamguard@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
[...]
> Why not code it like you would read it in English:
>
> bool done = false;
> while (!done) { // while not done do
> ...
>
> bool mainloop = true;
> while (mainloop) { // while mainloop do
> ...

Because clear English is not necessarily clear C.

You've declared "done" and "mainloop" as variables, which means their
values could change. With "while (1)" (or "for (;;)") I can see at a
glance that the loop is an infinite one; with your suggestion, I can
never be sure unless I analyze the program and verify that "done" will
always be false (and then I'll wonder why the heck you used a
variable).

The clear meaning of "while (!done)" is that the variable "done"
represents a condition that will become true when the loop is meant to
terminate.

I assume that anyone reading my code either is familiar with C, or
just won't be able to understand the code.

--
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) kst-u@xxxxxxx <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
San Diego Supercomputer Center <*> <http://users.sdsc.edu/~kst>
We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this.
.

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