Change `repeat` to loop indefinitely if no while clause is present

Evolution Discussion
1

​Swift Evolution ​Community,

Currently writing an infinite loop in swift looks either something like
this:

    while true {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

Or this:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    } while true

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat`
to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

while still allowing a trailing `while` clause as in:

    repeat {
        foo += bar
    } while foo.count < limit

I also want to propose that it should be a compile time error to use single
`Bool` constants as while loop conditions, so no more `while true { ... }`
it would become `repeat { ... }`

I was thinking of drafting a short proposal if there was enough positive
feedback.

How does it sound?

- Nick

2

​Swift Evolution ​Community,

Currently writing an infinite loop in swift looks either something like
this:

    while true {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

Or this:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    } while true

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat`
to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

while still allowing a trailing `while` clause as in:

    repeat {
        foo += bar
    } while foo.count < limit

What is your motivation for this change?

I also want to propose that it should be a compile time error to use
single `Bool` constants as while loop conditions, so no more `while true {
... }` it would become `repeat { ... }`

What problems are solved by forbidding `while true`?

···

On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 2:27 AM, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution < swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

I was thinking of drafting a short proposal if there was enough positive
feedback.

How does it sound?

- Nick

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

3

​Swift Evolution ​Community,

Currently writing an infinite loop in swift looks either something like this:

    while true {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

Or this:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    } while true

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat` to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

while still allowing a trailing `while` clause as in:

    repeat {
        foo += bar
    } while foo.count < limit

What is your motivation for this change?

I also want to propose that it should be a compile time error to use single `Bool` constants as while loop conditions, so no more `while true { ... }` it would become `repeat { ... }`

What problems are solved by forbidding `while true`?

I don’t think the proposal is forbidding it, but rather making it optional. So that

repeat {

}

is equivalent to

repeat {

} while true

···

On May 10, 2016, at 12:39 AM, Xiaodi Wu via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:
On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 2:27 AM, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

I was thinking of drafting a short proposal if there was enough positive feedback.

How does it sound?

- Nick

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

4

I’d actually say that I’m strongly in favor of allowing just a repeat keyword, although I wouldn’t support making 'while true’.

Firstly it reduces clutter and makes it very clear that the the code is just supposed to repeat.
Secondly it’s a very simple way of introducing new programmers to loops. It’s IMHO more clear to a new programmer that repeat will just repeat indefinitely vs while true.
Lastly, this isn’t the first time this has been brought up on this list and there was previously discussion about the fact that when people see the repeat keyword that it should naturally repeat indefinitely unless a where clause is specified.

I also think the concern that an accidental infinite loop is any greater than it is currently.

Tyler

···

On May 10, 2016, at 1:09 PM, Erica Sadun via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

I do not see sufficiently measurable benefits to this proposal to add it to the language.
It's easy enough to roll your own `repeatForever` function with trailing closure.

I also want to thank you for bring it up on-list. Not every idea is right for Swift but it's
always refreshing to see innovative thoughts added to the discussion. Please do not be
discouraged by the generally negative feedback on this particular idea.

-- Erica

On May 10, 2016, at 1:27 AM, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

​Swift Evolution ​Community,

Currently writing an infinite loop in swift looks either something like this:

    while true {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

Or this:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    } while true

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat` to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

while still allowing a trailing `while` clause as in:

    repeat {
        foo += bar
    } while foo.count < limit

I also want to propose that it should be a compile time error to use single `Bool` constants as while loop conditions, so no more `while true { ... }` it would become `repeat { ... }`

I was thinking of drafting a short proposal if there was enough positive feedback.

How does it sound?

- Nick
_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

5

Furthermore, I also think it is a nice generalization of the

do {

}

syntax for scopes. I think it is quite intuitive that do executes a block once, and repeat executes it repeatedly.

···

On May 10, 2016, at 1:09 PM, Erica Sadun via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

I do not see sufficiently measurable benefits to this proposal to add it to the language.
It's easy enough to roll your own `repeatForever` function with trailing closure.

I also want to thank you for bring it up on-list. Not every idea is right for Swift but it's
always refreshing to see innovative thoughts added to the discussion. Please do not be
discouraged by the generally negative feedback on this particular idea.

-- Erica

On May 10, 2016, at 1:27 AM, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

​Swift Evolution ​Community,

Currently writing an infinite loop in swift looks either something like this:

    while true {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

Or this:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    } while true

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat` to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

while still allowing a trailing `while` clause as in:

    repeat {
        foo += bar
    } while foo.count < limit

I also want to propose that it should be a compile time error to use single `Bool` constants as while loop conditions, so no more `while true { ... }` it would become `repeat { ... }`

I was thinking of drafting a short proposal if there was enough positive feedback.

How does it sound?

- Nick
_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

6

Secondly it’s a very simple way of introducing new programmers to loops. It’s IMHO more clear to a new programmer that repeat will just repeat indefinitely vs while true.

This point seems strange to me - why teach a new programmer about loops by first showing them a looping construct they should probably never use in actual practice until they really know what they’re doing?

That is a fair point, but it’s probably a good way of illustrating other ways of exiting a loop, without having the complication of a while condition.

···

On May 10, 2016, at 1:34 PM, Sean Heber <sean@fifthace.com> wrote:

On May 10, 2016, at 3:30 PM, Tyler Cloutier via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

l8r
Sean

7

I do not see sufficiently measurable benefits to this proposal to add it to the language.
It's easy enough to roll your own `repeatForever` function with trailing closure.

I also want to thank you for bring it up on-list. Not every idea is right for Swift but it's
always refreshing to see innovative thoughts added to the discussion. Please do not be
discouraged by the generally negative feedback on this particular idea.

-- Erica

···

On May 10, 2016, at 1:27 AM, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

​Swift Evolution ​Community,

Currently writing an infinite loop in swift looks either something like this:

    while true {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

Or this:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    } while true

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat` to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

while still allowing a trailing `while` clause as in:

    repeat {
        foo += bar
    } while foo.count < limit

I also want to propose that it should be a compile time error to use single `Bool` constants as while loop conditions, so no more `while true { ... }` it would become `repeat { ... }`

I was thinking of drafting a short proposal if there was enough positive feedback.

How does it sound?

- Nick
_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

8

This point seems strange to me - why teach a new programmer about loops by first showing them a looping construct they should probably never use in actual practice until they really know what they’re doing?

l8r
Sean

···

On May 10, 2016, at 3:30 PM, Tyler Cloutier via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

Secondly it’s a very simple way of introducing new programmers to loops. It’s IMHO more clear to a new programmer that repeat will just repeat indefinitely vs while true.

9

I’d actually say that I’m strongly in favor of allowing just a repeat
keyword, although I wouldn’t support making 'while true’.

Firstly it reduces clutter

Can you explain what clutter you see? Unless I misunderstand what you're
referring to, reducing the 10 letters in `while true` to the six letters in
`repeat` is hardly "reducing clutter."

and makes it very clear that the the code is just supposed to repeat.

I disagree here also. It is not very clear at all that the code is supposed
to repeat indefinitely, not to any audience.

First, it would not be clear to users who are experienced in Swift and
aware of this proposal. Code is meant to be read, and allowing the omission
of a trailing clause to produce two very different behaviors means that it
is not clear what `repeat {` means until you encounter the closing brace
and check for what follows. Moreover, what follows could be the keyword
`while` on the following line, and in that case you cannot know whether the
expression that follows `while` is the beginning of a new while loop until
you encounter or don't encounter a new opening brace. By contrast, `while
true {` cannot be anything other than the beginning of an infinite loop.
You already know that fact after reading 12 letters.

Second, it would not be clear to users migrating from another C-family
language. `while true { }` is immediately understood by users of any other
related language.

Third, it would not be clear based on a knowledge of English. In common
use, "repeat" does not mean repeat forever; it means to repeat once (i.e.
do something twice). If I ask you to repeat something you just said, I
should hope that you do not keep reciting it over and over until I tell you
to stop.

Secondly it’s a very simple way of introducing new programmers to loops.
It’s IMHO more clear to a new programmer that repeat will just repeat
indefinitely vs while true.

I can speak to this a little bit, having introduced a new programmer to
loops very recently and having done so in the past as well. I have not
encountered anyone who has trouble with the *concept* of looping--i.e. the
idea that the same code can be run over and over.

Where things get tricky is the difficulty of mastering the syntax of the
while loop and, more problematic, the syntax of the classic for;; loop.
Introducing a simple way to make something repeat forever does not solve
this learning hurdle, because students will continue to have to contend
with these other types of loops in order to be productive in the language.
A special syntax for repeating forever is especially unhelpful because it
is just functional enough that a discouraged student may choose to avoid
learning other types of loops and instead combine the infinite loop with
if, continue, and break.

Lastly, this isn’t the first time this has been brought up on this list
and there was previously discussion about the fact that when people see the
repeat keyword that it should naturally repeat indefinitely unless a where
clause is specified.

I do believe that this is the first time this suggestion has been
introduced to the list. I do not recall any previous discussion focused on
infinite loops; they have been about repeating a finite number of times,
using proposed syntax such as `repeat 3 times { }` or variations on that
theme.

I also think the concern that an accidental infinite loop is any greater
than it is currently.

Code gets refactored and edited. We're discussing on another thread
changing the rules about dangling commas in parameter lists for that very
reason. If you try to move a block of code with a repeat...while loop but
accidentally leave behind the last line, this syntax will cause you grief.

···

On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 3:30 PM, Tyler Cloutier via swift-evolution < swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

Tyler

On May 10, 2016, at 1:09 PM, Erica Sadun via swift-evolution < > swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

I do not see sufficiently measurable benefits to this proposal to add it
to the language.
It's easy enough to roll your own `repeatForever` function with trailing
closure.

I also want to thank you for bring it up on-list. Not every idea is right
for Swift but it's
always refreshing to see innovative thoughts added to the discussion.
Please do not be
discouraged by the generally negative feedback on this particular idea.

-- Erica

On May 10, 2016, at 1:27 AM, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution < > swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

​Swift Evolution ​Community,

Currently writing an infinite loop in swift looks either something like
this:

    while true {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

Or this:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    } while true

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat`
to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

while still allowing a trailing `while` clause as in:

    repeat {
        foo += bar
    } while foo.count < limit

I also want to propose that it should be a compile time error to use
single `Bool` constants as while loop conditions, so no more `while true {
... }` it would become `repeat { ... }`

I was thinking of drafting a short proposal if there was enough positive
feedback.

How does it sound?

- Nick
_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

10

Nicholas wrote that he would like `while true` to be a compile-time error.
I'm curious as to why.

···

On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 13:47 Tyler Cloutier <cloutiertyler@aol.com> wrote:

On May 10, 2016, at 12:39 AM, Xiaodi Wu via swift-evolution < > swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 2:27 AM, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution < > swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

​Swift Evolution ​Community,

Currently writing an infinite loop in swift looks either something like
this:

    while true {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

Or this:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    } while true

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat`
to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

while still allowing a trailing `while` clause as in:

    repeat {
        foo += bar
    } while foo.count < limit

What is your motivation for this change?

I also want to propose that it should be a compile time error to use
single `Bool` constants as while loop conditions, so no more `while true {
... }` it would become `repeat { ... }`

What problems are solved by forbidding `while true`?

I don’t think the proposal is forbidding it, but rather making it
optional. So that

repeat {

}

is equivalent to

repeat {

} while true

I was thinking of drafting a short proposal if there was enough positive
feedback.

How does it sound?

- Nick

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

11

-1 from me on both counts; the thing I like about while true is that it’s explicit about what I meant, whereas a repeat block with no while clause is indistinguishable from me forgetting to include one, or me wanting an infinite loop.

An alternative could be to add a new “forever” keyword or something similar, replacing while true wherever applicable, but personally I don’t think it’s that important.

···

On 10 May 2016, at 08:27, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat` to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

12

totally agree… it would be a bad first introduction, id say :)

···

On May 10, 2016, at 3:30 PM, Tyler Cloutier via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

Secondly it’s a very simple way of introducing new programmers to loops. It’s IMHO more clear to a new programmer that repeat will just repeat indefinitely vs while true.

This point seems strange to me - why teach a new programmer about loops by first showing them a looping construct they should probably never use in actual practice until they really know what they’re doing?

13

Oh you are right, I totally missed that, thanks.

···

On May 10, 2016, at 12:10 PM, Xiaodi Wu <xiaodi.wu@gmail.com> wrote:

Nicholas wrote that he would like `while true` to be a compile-time error. I'm curious as to why.

On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 13:47 Tyler Cloutier <cloutiertyler@aol.com> wrote:

On May 10, 2016, at 12:39 AM, Xiaodi Wu via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 2:27 AM, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:
Swift Evolution Community,

Currently writing an infinite loop in swift looks either something like this:

    while true {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

Or this:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    } while true

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat` to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

while still allowing a trailing `while` clause as in:

    repeat {
        foo += bar
    } while foo.count < limit

What is your motivation for this change?

I also want to propose that it should be a compile time error to use single `Bool` constants as while loop conditions, so no more `while true { ... }` it would become `repeat { ... }`

What problems are solved by forbidding `while true`?

I don’t think the proposal is forbidding it, but rather making it optional. So that

repeat {

}

is equivalent to

repeat {

} while true

I was thinking of drafting a short proposal if there was enough positive feedback.

How does it sound?

- Nick

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

14

Agreed. I'm not convinced that this actually prevents any more errors than
it might cause (forgot to finish writing my "repeat" block, and now my app
is unresponsive), and I don't think there's enough of an expressivity win
to add another keyword.

Austin

···

On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 1:04 PM, Haravikk via swift-evolution < swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

On 10 May 2016, at 08:27, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution < > swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat`
to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

-1 from me on both counts; the thing I like about while true is that it’s
explicit about what I meant, whereas a repeat block with no while clause is
indistinguishable from me forgetting to include one, or me wanting an
infinite loop.

An alternative could be to add a new “forever” keyword or something
similar, replacing while true wherever applicable, but personally I don’t
think it’s that important.

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

15

Agreed. I'm not convinced that this actually prevents any more errors than it might cause (forgot to finish writing my "repeat" block, and now my app is unresponsive), and I don't think there's enough of an expressivity win to add another keyword.

Certainly it’s not adding a new keyword, however it is changing the meaning of a keyword.

···

On May 10, 2016, at 1:10 PM, Austin Zheng via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

Austin

On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 1:04 PM, Haravikk via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

On 10 May 2016, at 08:27, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat` to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

-1 from me on both counts; the thing I like about while true is that it’s explicit about what I meant, whereas a repeat block with no while clause is indistinguishable from me forgetting to include one, or me wanting an infinite loop.

An alternative could be to add a new “forever” keyword or something similar, replacing while true wherever applicable, but personally I don’t think it’s that important.

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

16

Sorry, I was trying to quote Haravikk but I didn't do it very clearly.

Austin

···

On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 1:32 PM, Tyler Cloutier <cloutiertyler@aol.com> wrote:

On May 10, 2016, at 1:10 PM, Austin Zheng via swift-evolution < > swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

Agreed. I'm not convinced that this actually prevents any more errors than
it might cause (forgot to finish writing my "repeat" block, and now my app
is unresponsive), and I don't think there's enough of an expressivity win
to add another keyword.

Certainly it’s not adding a new keyword, however it is changing the
meaning of a keyword.

Austin

On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 1:04 PM, Haravikk via swift-evolution < > swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

On 10 May 2016, at 08:27, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution < >> swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat`
to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

-1 from me on both counts; the thing I like about while true is that it’s
explicit about what I meant, whereas a repeat block with no while clause is
indistinguishable from me forgetting to include one, or me wanting an
infinite loop.

An alternative could be to add a new “forever” keyword or something
similar, replacing while true wherever applicable, but personally I don’t
think it’s that important.

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

17

As am I. I like that the while clause can be optional, but I don't see the point of banning "while true".

- Dave Sweeris

···

On May 10, 2016, at 14:10, Xiaodi Wu via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

Nicholas wrote that he would like `while true` to be a compile-time error. I'm curious as to why.

On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 13:47 Tyler Cloutier <cloutiertyler@aol.com> wrote:

On May 10, 2016, at 12:39 AM, Xiaodi Wu via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 2:27 AM, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:
​Swift Evolution ​Community,

Currently writing an infinite loop in swift looks either something like this:

    while true {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

Or this:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    } while true

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat` to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

while still allowing a trailing `while` clause as in:

    repeat {
        foo += bar
    } while foo.count < limit

What is your motivation for this change?

I also want to propose that it should be a compile time error to use single `Bool` constants as while loop conditions, so no more `while true { ... }` it would become `repeat { ... }`

What problems are solved by forbidding `while true`?

I don’t think the proposal is forbidding it, but rather making it optional. So that

repeat {

}

is equivalent to

repeat {

} while true

I was thinking of drafting a short proposal if there was enough positive feedback.

How does it sound?

- Nick

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

18

I’d actually say that I’m strongly in favor of allowing just a repeat keyword, although I wouldn’t support making 'while true’.

Firstly it reduces clutter

Can you explain what clutter you see? Unless I misunderstand what you're referring to, reducing the 10 letters in `while true` to the six letters in `repeat` is hardly "reducing clutter.”

I’m just referring to 'repeat {} while true’ -> 'repeat {}'

and makes it very clear that the the code is just supposed to repeat.

I disagree here also. It is not very clear at all that the code is supposed to repeat indefinitely, not to any audience.

First, it would not be clear to users who are experienced in Swift and aware of this proposal. Code is meant to be read, and allowing the omission of a trailing clause to produce two very different behaviors means that it is not clear what `repeat {` means until you encounter the closing brace and check for what follows.

This is just as true of all types of loops. If I have

repeat {
    ...
} while ...

I still have to scroll down to check the condition.

If I have

while true {
    ...
}

I still have to scan the entire body for different ways of exiting the loop.

Moreover, what follows could be the keyword `while` on the following line, and in that case you cannot know whether the expression that follows `while` is the beginning of a new while loop until you encounter or don't encounter a new opening brace.

This is true, but it’s not ambiguous and any reasonable style would make it clear what the intension is. However, this does sound difficult for the compiler to parse, I will admit. This whole thing might be a moot point if can’t be integrated into the grammar. I don’t think I’m qualified to comment on the implications there.

By contrast, `while true {` cannot be anything other than the beginning of an infinite loop. You already know that fact after reading 12 letters.

As I’ve said above, this is not true. I can break out of the loop at any time.

Second, it would not be clear to users migrating from another C-family language. `while true { }` is immediately understood by users of any other related language.

repeat as a keyword is already unfamiliar to users from other C-family languages. If they can grok the repeat-while loop, they can definitely understand repeat immediately.

Third, it would not be clear based on a knowledge of English. In common use, "repeat" does not mean repeat forever; it means to repeat once (i.e. do something twice). If I ask you to repeat something you just said, I should hope that you do not keep reciting it over and over until I tell you to stop.

Secondly it’s a very simple way of introducing new programmers to loops. It’s IMHO more clear to a new programmer that repeat will just repeat indefinitely vs while true.

I can speak to this a little bit, having introduced a new programmer to loops very recently and having done so in the past as well. I have not encountered anyone who has trouble with the *concept* of looping--i.e. the idea that the same code can be run over and over.

Where things get tricky is the difficulty of mastering the syntax of the while loop and, more problematic, the syntax of the classic for;; loop. Introducing a simple way to make something repeat forever does not solve this learning hurdle, because students will continue to have to contend with these other types of loops in order to be productive in the language.

You’re saying that we should not have a simple syntax because they will eventually have to understand more complex syntax? Or am I misunderstanding?

A special syntax for repeating forever is especially unhelpful because it is just functional enough that a discouraged student may choose to avoid learning other types of loops and instead combine the infinite loop with if, continue, and break.

Lastly, this isn’t the first time this has been brought up on this list and there was previously discussion about the fact that when people see the repeat keyword that it should naturally repeat indefinitely unless a where clause is specified.

I do believe that this is the first time this suggestion has been introduced to the list. I do not recall any previous discussion focused on infinite loops; they have been about repeating a finite number of times, using proposed syntax such as `repeat 3 times { }` or variations on that theme.

Yes, that's the discussion I was referring to, and you can see that proponents had very similar arguments to the one I’m presenting now.

https://lists.swift.org/pipermail/swift-evolution/Week-of-Mon-20151207/001144.html

I also think the concern that an accidental infinite loop is any greater than it is currently.

Code gets refactored and edited. We're discussing on another thread changing the rules about dangling commas in parameter lists for that very reason. If you try to move a block of code with a repeat...while loop but accidentally leave behind the last line, this syntax will cause you grief.

This is also true of repeat-while loops with more than one condition

repeat {

} while this
&& that

Should we require parentheses on repeat-while loops to avoid this? Or should we err on the side of less noisy syntax?

Tyler

···

On May 10, 2016, at 3:13 PM, Xiaodi Wu <xiaodi.wu@gmail.com> wrote:
On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 3:30 PM, Tyler Cloutier via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

Tyler

On May 10, 2016, at 1:09 PM, Erica Sadun via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

I do not see sufficiently measurable benefits to this proposal to add it to the language.
It's easy enough to roll your own `repeatForever` function with trailing closure.

I also want to thank you for bring it up on-list. Not every idea is right for Swift but it's
always refreshing to see innovative thoughts added to the discussion. Please do not be
discouraged by the generally negative feedback on this particular idea.

-- Erica

On May 10, 2016, at 1:27 AM, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

​Swift Evolution ​Community,

Currently writing an infinite loop in swift looks either something like this:

    while true {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

Or this:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    } while true

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat` to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

while still allowing a trailing `while` clause as in:

    repeat {
        foo += bar
    } while foo.count < limit

I also want to propose that it should be a compile time error to use single `Bool` constants as while loop conditions, so no more `while true { ... }` it would become `repeat { ... }`

I was thinking of drafting a short proposal if there was enough positive feedback.

How does it sound?

- Nick
_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

19

I’d actually say that I’m strongly in favor of allowing just a repeat keyword, although I wouldn’t support making 'while true’.

Firstly it reduces clutter

Can you explain what clutter you see? Unless I misunderstand what you're referring to, reducing the 10 letters in `while true` to the six letters in `repeat` is hardly "reducing clutter."

and makes it very clear that the the code is just supposed to repeat.

I disagree here also. It is not very clear at all that the code is supposed to repeat indefinitely, not to any audience.

First, it would not be clear to users who are experienced in Swift and aware of this proposal. Code is meant to be read, and allowing the omission of a trailing clause to produce two very different behaviors means that it is not clear what `repeat {` means until you encounter the closing brace and check for what follows. Moreover, what follows could be the keyword `while` on the following line, and in that case you cannot know whether the expression that follows `while` is the beginning of a new while loop until you encounter or don't encounter a new opening brace. By contrast, `while true {` cannot be anything other than the beginning of an infinite loop. You already know that fact after reading 12 letters.

Second, it would not be clear to users migrating from another C-family language. `while true { }` is immediately understood by users of any other related language.

Third, it would not be clear based on a knowledge of English. In common use, "repeat" does not mean repeat forever; it means to repeat once (i.e. do something twice). If I ask you to repeat something you just said, I should hope that you do not keep reciting it over and over until I tell you to stop.

Secondly it’s a very simple way of introducing new programmers to loops. It’s IMHO more clear to a new programmer that repeat will just repeat indefinitely vs while true.

I can speak to this a little bit, having introduced a new programmer to loops very recently and having done so in the past as well. I have not encountered anyone who has trouble with the *concept* of looping--i.e. the idea that the same code can be run over and over.

Where things get tricky is the difficulty of mastering the syntax of the while loop and, more problematic, the syntax of the classic for;; loop. Introducing a simple way to make something repeat forever does not solve this learning hurdle, because students will continue to have to contend with these other types of loops in order to be productive in the language. A special syntax for repeating forever is especially unhelpful because it is just functional enough that a discouraged student may choose to avoid learning other types of loops and instead combine the infinite loop with if, continue, and break.

I’d also like to point out Chris’ comments on the

repeat X {

}

discussion.

“
This is a very valid use case.

FWIW, “repeat N {}” was originally designed and scoped into the Swift 2 implementation of the feature, but was cut due to schedule limitations. There is precedent for this sort of feature in many teaching oriented languages (e.g. Logo).

I’d say that the pro’s and con’s of this are:

+ Makes a simple case very simple, particularly important in teaching.
+ Even if you aren’t familiar with it, you can tell at first glance what the behavior is.
- It is “just syntactic sugar”, which makes the language more complex.
- It is a very narrow feature that is useful in few practical situations.

-Chris
“

In this case, I would say it’s not making the language any more complex given that repeat-while is a current construct. Admittedly it is a very narrow feature, but it’s also a small one.

···

On May 10, 2016, at 3:13 PM, Xiaodi Wu <xiaodi.wu@gmail.com> wrote:
On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 3:30 PM, Tyler Cloutier via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

Lastly, this isn’t the first time this has been brought up on this list and there was previously discussion about the fact that when people see the repeat keyword that it should naturally repeat indefinitely unless a where clause is specified.

I do believe that this is the first time this suggestion has been introduced to the list. I do not recall any previous discussion focused on infinite loops; they have been about repeating a finite number of times, using proposed syntax such as `repeat 3 times { }` or variations on that theme.

I also think the concern that an accidental infinite loop is any greater than it is currently.

Code gets refactored and edited. We're discussing on another thread changing the rules about dangling commas in parameter lists for that very reason. If you try to move a block of code with a repeat...while loop but accidentally leave behind the last line, this syntax will cause you grief.

Tyler

On May 10, 2016, at 1:09 PM, Erica Sadun via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

I do not see sufficiently measurable benefits to this proposal to add it to the language.
It's easy enough to roll your own `repeatForever` function with trailing closure.

I also want to thank you for bring it up on-list. Not every idea is right for Swift but it's
always refreshing to see innovative thoughts added to the discussion. Please do not be
discouraged by the generally negative feedback on this particular idea.

-- Erica

On May 10, 2016, at 1:27 AM, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

​Swift Evolution ​Community,

Currently writing an infinite loop in swift looks either something like this:

    while true {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

Or this:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    } while true

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat` to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

while still allowing a trailing `while` clause as in:

    repeat {
        foo += bar
    } while foo.count < limit

I also want to propose that it should be a compile time error to use single `Bool` constants as while loop conditions, so no more `while true { ... }` it would become `repeat { ... }`

I was thinking of drafting a short proposal if there was enough positive feedback.

How does it sound?

- Nick
_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

20

I’d actually say that I’m strongly in favor of allowing just a repeat keyword, although I wouldn’t support making 'while true’.

Firstly it reduces clutter

Can you explain what clutter you see? Unless I misunderstand what you're referring to, reducing the 10 letters in `while true` to the six letters in `repeat` is hardly "reducing clutter."

and makes it very clear that the the code is just supposed to repeat.

I disagree here also. It is not very clear at all that the code is supposed to repeat indefinitely, not to any audience.

First, it would not be clear to users who are experienced in Swift and aware of this proposal. Code is meant to be read, and allowing the omission of a trailing clause to produce two very different behaviors means that it is not clear what `repeat {` means until you encounter the closing brace and check for what follows. Moreover, what follows could be the keyword `while` on the following line, and in that case you cannot know whether the expression that follows `while` is the beginning of a new while loop until you encounter or don't encounter a new opening brace. By contrast, `while true {` cannot be anything other than the beginning of an infinite loop. You already know that fact after reading 12 letters.

Second, it would not be clear to users migrating from another C-family language. `while true { }` is immediately understood by users of any other related language.

Third, it would not be clear based on a knowledge of English. In common use, "repeat" does not mean repeat forever; it means to repeat once (i.e. do something twice). If I ask you to repeat something you just said, I should hope that you do not keep reciting it over and over until I tell you to stop.

Secondly it’s a very simple way of introducing new programmers to loops. It’s IMHO more clear to a new programmer that repeat will just repeat indefinitely vs while true.

I can speak to this a little bit, having introduced a new programmer to loops very recently and having done so in the past as well. I have not encountered anyone who has trouble with the *concept* of looping--i.e. the idea that the same code can be run over and over.

Where things get tricky is the difficulty of mastering the syntax of the while loop and, more problematic, the syntax of the classic for;; loop. Introducing a simple way to make something repeat forever does not solve this learning hurdle, because students will continue to have to contend with these other types of loops in order to be productive in the language. A special syntax for repeating forever is especially unhelpful because it is just functional enough that a discouraged student may choose to avoid learning other types of loops and instead combine the infinite loop with if, continue, and break.

I’d also like to point out Chris’ comments on the

repeat X {

}

discussion.

“
This is a very valid use case.

FWIW, “repeat N {}” was originally designed and scoped into the Swift 2 implementation of the feature, but was cut due to schedule limitations. There is precedent for this sort of feature in many teaching oriented languages (e.g. Logo).

I’d say that the pro’s and con’s of this are:

+ Makes a simple case very simple, particularly important in teaching.
+ Even if you aren’t familiar with it, you can tell at first glance what the behavior is.
- It is “just syntactic sugar”, which makes the language more complex.
- It is a very narrow feature that is useful in few practical situations.

-Chris
“

https://lists.swift.org/pipermail/swift-evolution/Week-of-Mon-20151207/001234.html

···

On May 10, 2016, at 3:56 PM, Tyler Cloutier via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org> wrote:

On May 10, 2016, at 3:13 PM, Xiaodi Wu <xiaodi.wu@gmail.com <mailto:xiaodi.wu@gmail.com>> wrote:
On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 3:30 PM, Tyler Cloutier via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

In this case, I would say it’s not making the language any more complex given that repeat-while is a current construct. Admittedly it is a very narrow feature, but it’s also a small one.

Lastly, this isn’t the first time this has been brought up on this list and there was previously discussion about the fact that when people see the repeat keyword that it should naturally repeat indefinitely unless a where clause is specified.

I do believe that this is the first time this suggestion has been introduced to the list. I do not recall any previous discussion focused on infinite loops; they have been about repeating a finite number of times, using proposed syntax such as `repeat 3 times { }` or variations on that theme.

I also think the concern that an accidental infinite loop is any greater than it is currently.

Code gets refactored and edited. We're discussing on another thread changing the rules about dangling commas in parameter lists for that very reason. If you try to move a block of code with a repeat...while loop but accidentally leave behind the last line, this syntax will cause you grief.

Tyler

On May 10, 2016, at 1:09 PM, Erica Sadun via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

I do not see sufficiently measurable benefits to this proposal to add it to the language.
It's easy enough to roll your own `repeatForever` function with trailing closure.

I also want to thank you for bring it up on-list. Not every idea is right for Swift but it's
always refreshing to see innovative thoughts added to the discussion. Please do not be
discouraged by the generally negative feedback on this particular idea.

-- Erica

On May 10, 2016, at 1:27 AM, Nicholas Maccharoli via swift-evolution <swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>> wrote:

​Swift Evolution ​Community,

Currently writing an infinite loop in swift looks either something like this:

    while true {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

Or this:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    } while true

But I think it might be best to change the syntax / behaviour of `repeat` to loop
indefinitely if no trailing while clause is present:

    repeat {
        if ... { break }
        //...
    }

while still allowing a trailing `while` clause as in:

    repeat {
        foo += bar
    } while foo.count < limit

I also want to propose that it should be a compile time error to use single `Bool` constants as while loop conditions, so no more `while true { ... }` it would become `repeat { ... }`

I was thinking of drafting a short proposal if there was enough positive feedback.

How does it sound?

- Nick
_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution

_______________________________________________
swift-evolution mailing list
swift-evolution@swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution@swift.org>
https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution