Forum: Editorial

References: DO

Category: CLARIFICATION/CHANGE

Edit history: 2004-07-20, Version 1 by Bruno Haible

Status: For CLiki consideration

Problem Description:

According to the entry for DO, "do iterates over a group of statements while a test condition holds." But the iteration really continues until the test form returns true, which is more or less the opposite of what that sentence seems to suggest.

Proposal (DO-SEMANTICS:CLARIFY):

Change that sentence to read "do iterates over a group of statements until a test form returns true".

Test case:

Rationale:

Current practice:

Cost to Implementors:

Cost to Users:

Cost of Non-Adoption:

Benefits:

Aesthetics:

Discussion:

• Bruno Haible says: I don't agree there is a problem. The text is clear enough.

• DanMuller supports CLARIFY: As a novice that went to the CLHS for a quick refresher while coding a DO form, the referenced phrase was the first thing I saw while quickly skimming the text, and it definitely led me down the wrong path.