[Python-ideas] "while:" for the loop

[Rhodri James]

On 02/10/18 12:31, Jonathan Fine wrote:
> Mikhail V has suggested "while:" as a shorthand for "while True:".
> He's also provided a helpful list of URLs for related discussion. I'd
> like to suggest another approach.

Before we hare off into the middle distance, could you show that there 
is a problem that needs to be addressed here?  I killfiled Mikhail a 
long time ago, so I haven't actually seen any justification here beyond 
"I don't want to have to type five more characters."

> My suggestion is to improved documentation and help.  For me a search for
>      python "while True"
> produces as the top result https://wiki.python.org/moin/WhileLoop.
> 
> Please take a look at this page. I don't think it's suitable for
> novices. In particular, about 25% of the page compares "while 1:" to
> "while True:" and changes between Python2 and Python3.

Is it intended solely for novices?

> 
> Searching for
>      site:docs.python.org "while True"
> produces as top result https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/controlflow.html.
> 
> Please also look at this page. It has two examples of "while True:",
> but does not say that "while True:" means loop forever (unless there
> is a break or an exception).

This is an invidious example.  "while" is actually introduced on the 
previous page, as the first paragraph says.  Expecting a statement of 
the blindingly obvious here is inappropriate, surely.  (And yes, my 
experience with early teens is that it *is* blindingly obvious.)

> 
> Today I saw https://blog.codeclub.org.uk/2018/06/13/how-to-move-from-scratch-to-python-in-code-club/
> 
> On this page, a Code Club volunteer gives as debugging advice
> <quote>
> I use comparisons of Scratch to Python at the beginning, for example
> to explain that ‘while True’ is the same as the ‘Forever’ block. I
> also have some Python cheat sheets which give examples of common
> Python code. Some of the learners find it easier to debug Python than
> Scratch, because Python gives you error messages to indicate what went
> wrong. It’s usually down to spelling errors!
> </quote>

Um, yay?  I'm not sure what your point here is.  So Scratch has a 
Forever block, so what?

> My final URL is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJ8tE9lAeE.
> This is a 3 minute video: Python For Beginners - How to use a While
> True Loop in Python.
> 
> Something that can be done now, which can soon bring benefit to many,
> is to find or write material that will help novices master Python
> idioms such as "while True:". I'm sure the Code Club would like to put
> such material on its web site.

I'm sorry, but I find the idea that idioms like "while True:" need to be 
*mastered* a tad patronising.  I have genuinely not had to take more 
than five minutes to get it through to an uninterested and not 
particularly technical 12-year old.

-- 
Rhodri James *-* Kynesim Ltd