[swift-evolution] Change `repeat` to loop indefinitely if no while clause is present

[Xiaodi Wu]

I think, on the contrary, it's missing the point utterly. It's up to those
proposing a new feature to justify its addition in light of what's already
here, and it's up to those proposing the removal of a feature to justify
why it should be removed.

Certainly no one is proposing the removal of the while loop. Currently, the
One Obvious Way of making an infinite loop is `while true`, and it is up to
the proponents to advance a reason why a replacement would be superior. I
cannot think of a greater non-sequitur than supplying a demonstration of
why while loops are useful.
On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 16:27 Tyler Cloutier via swift-evolution <
swift-evolution at swift.org> wrote:

> On May 10, 2016, at 2:13 PM, Harlan Haskins via swift-evolution <
> swift-evolution at swift.org> wrote:
>
> You could always do your control flow with goto’s anyway…
>
> func foo() {
>   var i = 0
>   func goto(_ label: String = "entry") {
>     switch label {
>     case "entry":
>       print("beginning loop…")
>       goto("cond")
>     case "cond":
>       goto(i < 10 ? "body" : "end")
>     case "body":
>       i += 1
>       print("\(i)")
>       goto("cond")
>     case "end":
>       break
>     default: break
>     }
>   }
>   goto()
> }
>
> Apologies,
> Harlan
>
>
>
> And isn’t this the point really. Yes there are many different ways of
> doing something, but there should be one obvious way. IMHO, there is
> nothing more obvious than just
>
> repeat {
>
> }
>
> It’s very clear. It’s not about adding complex control flow, it’s about
> simplifying current syntax. I don’t think anyone is arguing that it’s more
> powerful than what while loops currently offer.
>
>
>
> On May 10, 2016, at 2:05 PM, Taras Zakharko via swift-evolution <
> swift-evolution at swift.org> wrote:
>
> When I need a loop with complex control flow that does not fit into the
> classical while {} or repeat {} while structure, I use this:
>
> do_stuff: do {
>  …
>  continue do_stuff
> }
>
> This pattern explicit and allows very complex control flow patterns
> without the drawbacks of the unrestricted goto construct.
>
> Therefore I don’t see utility with having a repeat {} without while
> clause.
>
> Best,
>
> Taras
>
>
> On 10 May 2016, at 22:39, Dominik Pich via swift-evolution <
> swift-evolution at swift.org> wrote:
>
>
> On May 10, 2016, at 3:30 PM, Tyler Cloutier via swift-evolution <
> swift-evolution at 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?
>
> totally agree… it would be a bad first introduction, id say :)
>
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