Re^2: Why is the null while-loop condition expression true?

I have to agree the infinitude of while () { ... } does seem a bit counterintuitive

I agree with your reaction, but not your conclusion. With while(1){ doing the intuitively obvious,

I can see absolutely no justification for equivalence between that and while(){

Seems most likely to be a bug that slipped through rather than a deliberate act; and remains because of some misguided backward compatibility justifiction; despite that no one in their right mind would code an infinite loop that way in order to save 1 character.

A bug masquerading as a feature is my assessment.

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Re^3: Why is the null while-loop condition expression true? by Anonymous Monk on Mar 28, 2016 at 22:45 UTC
The source code from v1 seems to make it pretty clear it was deliberate, never a bug. I am with AnomalousMonk. While `while(){}` is an odd synonym at first blush for `while(1){}` the idea of ever writing `while(){}` to mean… all the enclosed code is just for laughs because I never want it to run is even sillier.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^4: Why is the null while-loop condition expression true? by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Mar 28, 2016 at 22:51 UTC
the idea of ever writing while(){} to mean… all the enclosed code is just for laughs because I never want it to run is even sillier. Hm. That would mean `if( 0 )` & `while( 0 )` were silly also, yet the Perl sources, amongst many others, are littered with innumerable examples of both. Countering a conclusion, because it happens to have been drawn by me, is the very definition of "silly". In every other case empty parens `()` mean false; to deem `while()` to mean the opposite, is...; well, it starts with s and is somewhat stronger than "silly". With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday' Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error. "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority". I knew I was on the right track :) In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^5: Why is the null while-loop condition expression true? by soonix (Canon) on Mar 29, 2016 at 08:28 UTC
it starts with s and is somewhat stronger than "silly". … "sinconsistent"? Ah, no, "sinful" :-)	[reply]


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